Chinese Breakdown
Notation:
Standard Notation
ABC Notation
Mandolin Tablature
Violin Tablature
traditional
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Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
"Chinese breakdown" is also known as "Chinese Rag" although it has no<br> resemblance to Chinese music. It does bear a resemblance to "The<br> Merry-Go-Round Broke Down", a song written in 1937 by Cliff Friend and<br> Dave Franklin which was best known as the theme tune for the Looney Tunes<br> cartoon series. The origins of this tune are unclear, although it is<br> widespread from the South to Midwest, the North and Canada and even to<br> England and Scotland.<br> "Chinese Breakdown" was first recorded by the "Dixie String Band" in 1925<br> followed by a recording in Atlanta in 1927 by the Scottdale String Band.<br> It is possible that the tune was composed by Fred Roe of the Walker Mt.<br> String Band. "Chinese Breakdown" was recorded from Ozark Mountain fiddlers by<br> musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph for the Library of Congress in the<br> early 1940's. <br> It was also recorded by The New Lost City Ramblers (1964), Ed Hayley, the<br> Skillet Lickers (1934), The Arm and Hammer String Band, Dan Gellert & Shoofly,<br> Adam Hurt and others.<br> I learned it from the New Lost City Ramblers' and Adam Hurt's recordings.<br>
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