Tune of the Month

G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The tune is not widespread, according to Alan Jabbour, found only in western Virginia and parts of West Virginia. Most modern "revival" versions seem to stem from West Virginia fiddler Franklin George's version, popularized by fiddler and violin-maker Armin Barnett, as well as George Wilson and Allan Block. A version of "Ebenezer" called "West Virginia Highway" was recorded by fiddler Kahle Brewer of Galax, Va., in 1926 (Victor 20237), although only guitarist Ernest V. Stoneman's name is on the record label. Galax fiddler Uncle Charlie Higgins called it "West Virginia Farewell." Glen Lyn, Virginia fiddler Henry Reed recorded it for Alan Jabbour twice in the 1960's—although he did not have a name for it the first time, on the second occasion he called it "Alabama Gals Give the Fiddler a Dram" (AFS 13037a22). Bob Buckingham remarks that a neighbor and fiddler, Bob Hill plays "Ebenezer," and told him that his father had played it when Bob was young in Chillhowie, Virginia, calling it "Professor Wise." "Ebenezer" was played by "all the old timers" in the key of 'F', according to Kerry Blech, and cites F. Rafe Brady, "one of the survivors, (who) played it on his Heritage LP Cherokee Rose" (Fiddle-L 11.23.05).

Alan Jabbour remarks that The Hollow Rock String Band (of which he was a member) learned Henry Reed's version, but played and recorded it under the Brewer/Stoneman title "West Virginia Highway." The tune has the feel of a country rag, in Jabbour's opinion, and shares some melodic content with the late-19th century popular song "Climbing Up the Golden Stair." See also Charlie Stripling's related "Mayflower (1)."

Source:  https://tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Ebenezer