Cluck Old Hen

"Cluck Old Hen" is a popular Appalachian fiddle and banjo tune in the mixolydian or dorian mode (as in the score below which is in A dorian). It is played either as an instrumental or with lyrics, which vary from one version to another. One of the earliest reported transcriptions of the tune dates from 1886.^[1] The earliest recording is attributed to Fiddlin' John Carson, in 1923.

Score

$<< \new ChordNames \chordmode { \set chordChanges = ##t a2:m g |%1 a2:m g |%2 a2:m g |%3 e2:m a:m |%4 a2:m c |%5 a2:m g |%6 a2:m c |%7 e2:m a:m |%8 } \new Staff \relative c''{ \key a \dorian \time 4/4 \repeat volta 2 { e4 a8( e g4) a8 g( e4) a8 e d4 fis e4 a8 e g( fis) g fis( e8) d( c4) a2 } \break \repeat volta 2 { a4 a c2 a4 a g2 a4 a8( b c) b c d( e8 d) c4 a a } } >>$

^[2]

References

^ Yates, Mike. "Far in the Mountains : Volumes 1 & 2 of Mike Yates' 1979-83 Appalachian Collection". Musical Traditions. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
^ Brody, David (1983). The Fiddler's Fake Book. New York: Oak Publications. p. 70. ISBN 0-8256-0238-6.

External links

History

Description in "Traditional Ballad Index of Folk Songs from the English-Speaking World", Folklore department, California State University, Fresno
Discussion thread regarding lyrics and origins, from Mudcat Café