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"Betty Baker" is an American reel in cut time and G Major. It is played in GDad fiddle tuning.
The parts are played AABB.
The tune has been called a 'West Virginia standard' but versions also were played in east Kentucky. This version of the tune is from Copen, Braxton County, central W.Va., fiddler Melvin Wine (1909-2003) and it was in the repertoire of Ernie Carpenter (related to, not closely, French Carpenter), who learned the reel from legendary fiddler Uncle Jack McElwain (1856-1938) of Webster County, W.Va. Wine learned the tune from Tom Allen a member of a musical family from around Napier, Braxton County. Gerry Milnes (Play of a Fiddle, 1999) says at least six members of the family were fiddlers, although all have since died. The banjo tablature is by John Letscher. His comment: Initially from the playing of Tom, Brad and Alice. Latest modifications from listening to Mr. Wine. No one more engaging!It was recorded by Melvin Wine on Hannah at the Springhouse (1989) and Christian Wig & Mark Ward on Come Back Boys & Feed the Horses: Fiddling on the Frontier (2011). |