Angeline the Baker (string crossing variation)

This is an old standard fiddle tune for sure, and was authored by Steven Foster (who also wrote Camptown Races, Buffalo Gals etc). As for its history, it has the dubious distinction of having been popular in minstrel shows in the 1800’s (so I’ve read) it seems to me that perhaps it had a some racist overtones, with its lyrics about a pretty slave girl. I think this is an important thing to note…our American fiddle music shows us our mixed bag of history. In any case, it is a great melody.

Notes on playing the tune

• Try to use the smallest motion possible for the string crossings, playing in the middle of the bow, using the whole arm (which ends up making circles in the air as you play up and down on different strings)

• Try to hear the basic melody (which I need to post, in case you need it) within the running notes. This arrangement is somewhat like a Scruggs-style banjo approach, where the melody is worked in among running 8th notes across a few different strings.

• You can also add an open D drone to the last note of the measure in measures 5, 6 and 7. I didn’t write those in because I thought it would make it difficult to read, but you’ll hear it in the video and it adds a lot of interest.

• You could use this technique of adding a lower open string and try it in pieces with slower (quarter note speed) melodies like Old Joe Clark.

For a slightly more advanced variation, see Stuart Duncan’s version which I transcribed, here.