Tombigbee Waltz (Traditional)

[@marcsmith7037]

I just love this tune. Tommy Jackson, attributed in the history of the tune, used to drop by our house occasionally when we lived in Tennessee. I picked up my banjo style from his playing. John Hartford recorded possibly the source tune "Gum Tree Canoe" (by A.F Winnimore & S.S. Steele, 1847) on his album of the same name. It wouldn't surprise me if John H. transmogrified it into The Tombigbee Waltz...he was always doing stuff like that with old minstrel tunes.' I'm glad I found your youtube channel. I'm going thru The Waltz Book and arranging my favorites for Viola (which, at 64, I'm learning). Thank you!

[@patriciajrs46]

Good for you learning now. Good job.

[@harvstersmusic6320]

Sounds so good. You inspire me to be more disciplined when I play my music. I dont play fiddle but I learn alot from you and I am grateful.

[@RedDesertFiddle]

Waltzes are fun whether you play fiddle or not....they sort of "cross-over" many musical styles. Thanks for watching!

[@BAM-jc7uy]

I'm 74 from Albuq. NM and we sang this from our 6th grade school song book---On the...Julie so true... thanks for the recall and music. The reason I am here is because in the nation's weather report tonight 3/22/21, the Tom Big B River was mentioned several times----who knew it really existed. Lovely and haunting melody--all these years the words to first stanza are still with me. Thank you for your lovely rendition. 😍

[@RedDesertFiddle]

How INTERESTING that you heard about the Tombigbee on the weather report! And amazing that the words are still etched into your memory! (music has a way of etching things) Take care!

[@Honkytonkcatzsunnystuart]

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO 🤗

[@RedDesertFiddle]

I'm really happy if others enjoy my small efforts. (thank you, Helen!)

[@thepressleygirls]

You have a really nice version. I really enjoyed it! Thanks!

[@RedDesertFiddle]

Well, "my version" is just "The Waltz Book" version, so I can't take any credit. But I"m glad you like it!

[@mikelisacarb]

White settlers mispronounced the native river name, and it now sounds like the river was named after a person! The river name, "Tombigbee" comes from Choctaw /itumbi ikbi/, meaning "box maker, coffin maker", from /itumbi/, "box, coffin", and /ikbi/, "maker".[1] The river formed the eastern boundary of the historical Choctaw lands, from the 17th century when they coalesced as a people, to the forced Indian Removal by the United States in the 1830s.[2]

[@RedDesertFiddle]

Gosh, the history that can be derived from most tunes is simply awe inspiring. Thanks for this info!

[@patriciajrs46]

What is a pick up? Please what does that mean in violin music?

[@loralynstaples5483]

Hi Patricia, thanks for asking. A "pickup" is a note BEFORE beat one in a song . So it's like a little orphan note all by itself prior to beat 1. You can sometimes have 2 or 3 pickup notes. You'll develop an instinct for them. Think of the song "Happy Birthday". THe first 2 notes of that song are pickups. Beat one comes on BIRTH. You Are My Sunshine has pickups. Can you guess how many? We wish you a merry christmas has one pickup note. Hope that helps!

[@patriciajrs46]

@@loralynstaples5483 It does help thank you.