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Notes

Jehile Kirkhuff was a blind fiddler who lived on a mountain in Northeast Pennsylvania. He was a good match for the stereotype of the Southern Appalachian fiddler, apart from the geography. His area is, in fact, near the northern limits of the Appalachian range. For years, Jehile had traveled a few circuits in Pennsylvania and New York, where people looked forward to the next square dance he would play. He had lost his sight in his teens (I believe -- I'm not sure of the chronology.). He played quite slowly and clearly -- it was easy to learn tunes from him, especially since he was very generous with his tunes and his time. Many of his tunes were from Cole's 1000 tunes, a reprinting of Ryan's 1050 Tunes (1880s). I had asked his to play local tunes, rather than book tunes, when he gave me this one.

Source

Jehile Kirkhuff, Susquehanna Co., PA

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ABC

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X:1
T:Westville Polka
S:Jehile Kirkhuff, Susquehanna Co., PA
Z:Joel Shimberg  tradtunes 2001-03-06
N:
N:Jehile Kirkhuff was a blind fiddler who lived on a mountain in Northeast
N:Pennsylvania. He was a good match for the stereotype of the Southern
N:Appalachian fiddler, apart from the geography. His area is, in fact, near
N:the northern limits of the Appalachian range. For years, Jehile had
N:traveled a few circuits in Pennsylvania and New York, where people looked
N:forward to the next square dance he would play. He had lost his sight in
N:his teens (I believe -- I'm not sure of the chronology.).
N:
N:He played quite slowly and clearly -- it was easy to learn tunes from him,
N:especially since he was very generous with his tunes and his time. Many of
N:his tunes were from Cole's 1000 tunes, a reprinting of Ryan's 1050 Tunes
N:(1880s). I had asked his to play local tunes, rather than book tunes, when
N:he gave me this one.
Q:400
M:C
L:1/8
K:G
B>A | G2DG B2GB | d2Bd g3g | f2 e2 ed^cd | e2d2 dcBA |
    | G2DG B2GB | d2Bd g3g | f2 e2 ecAF  | G2B2 G2:|
K:D
|: zG | A2f2 f3A | G2e2 e3e | d2c2 BA^GA | B2A2 A2z2 |
      | A2f2 f3A | G2e2 e3d | d2c2 B2c2 |d6 :|

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