Old-Time TOTW

Old-Time TOTW #285 is Elzic's Farewell and is based on the playing of David "French" Carpenter (7 January 1899--5 March 1965) and Frank "Doc" White (6 Feb 1889--13 June 1974), both of Clay Co., WV.

Carpenter was the son of Thomas Benton Carpenter (1863-1942) and Mary Perkins (1877-1907), and was descended from Nathaniel Carpenter, who was born in 1667 at Long Island, NY. There is a discrepancy with the date of French's death. Ancestry and Wikipedia say 22 May 1965, but his grave says 5 March 1965. (source: Ancestry)

For generations, the Carpenter family was known for their musical ability. French learned most of his music directly from his father, Tom, a fiddling preacher, and Tom had learned from his father, Solly "Devil Sol" Carpenter. Sol is said to have been a very influential fiddler, and gained his freedom from a Union prision during the Civil War for his rendition of a tune that is now known as Camp Chase. More on that in a future installment of Old-TIme TOTW when we feature that tune.

Thie tune has been described as "an old bagpipe tune, " and Carpenter claimed his ancestor (the Elzic or Elzick of the title) played the melody as a farewell before going to fight in the Civil War. Wilson Douglas, who was distantly related to French Carpenter (his grandfather and Carpenter's father were half-brothers), thought that Elzic was from Wood County, WV. The tune's origins have been researched by Jim Comstock of Richwood, WV, and were published by him in the West Virginia Songbag (1974). Comstock says the tune was written by Harvey G. Elswick (more about him in a moment). Elswick fought in the Civil War, after which he returend to Pike County. In 1875 he and his family moved to Kanawha County, WV, to live on 80 acres in Malden and Elk districts, and it was there that he wrote the melody now known as Elzic's Farewell, in April 1889. Comstock cites the research of a descendent, Rev. Albert Elswick of Wallkill, NY, which states that Harvey Elswick played the tune at the request of his mother on her deathbed. (source for this paragraph of information: Traditional Tune Archive)

Doc White was the son of James William White (1838-1926) and Nancy Ann Conley (1856-1900). His third spouse was Locie V. Ater (1894-1992). They were married 25 December 1914). Source: public documents.

White was a "jack of all trades" who served the community as a justice of the peace, doctor, dentist, and midwife without any formal medical training. He apprenticed under local doctors and dentists. He delivered over 1,800 babies throughout Clay County.

Harvey George Elswick (19 January 1838--10 May 1915) was the son of John Tike Elswick (1809-1882) and Mary Polly Hackney (1818-1889). His ancestor John Elswick (b. 1677 Lancashire, England, d. 1759, Hampshire, VA) settled in Maryland by 1712 and moved to Virginia by 1720. Harvey Elswick married Amanda B. Epling on 12 March 1859 in Pike County, KY. (source: Ancestry)

There seems to be many different interpretations of the tune, which can include up to four parts. French Carpenter's recording includes two parts: https://www.slippery-hill.com/recordi.... For our recording, we played four parts.

Joining me are friends Stephen Rapp on banjo (Kent, OH) and Michael Seiser on guitar (Cleveland, OH.

Paul Kirk has been playing bowed string instruments since 1980 and has been teaching them privately, in classroom settings, and in workshop formats since 1988. He studied music theory, composition, music education, music history, and musicology at Cleveland State University. While at CSU, Paul played violas da gamba, krummhorns, and recorders in early music ensembles. He was a founding member of Good Company: A Vocal Ensemble and has founded many of his own bands over the years including A Hundred Thousand Welcomes Celtic Ensemble, Knives and Forks English Country Dance Ensemble, and Down the Road Old-Time String Band. He has composed over 500 folk tunes in a variety of styles.

Paul has closely studied the music from Appalachia, the history of American old-time fiddling, source fiddlers, as well as the social aspects of the music. Since July 1, 2018, he has been creating and sharing videos each Sunday through his Old-Time Tune of the Week series on YouTube. Paul puts a great focus on fiddle bowing patterns and techniques and has devised practical methods for teaching with excellent results. One of his specialties is teaching old-time fiddle to crossover students, especially those coming from a background in classical violin and other musical traditions.

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In 2022, Paul was designated as a master old-time fiddler and received a Traditional Arts grant from the Ohio Arts Council to work with an apprentice of his choice.