JCCFS Dance Musician’s Week – David Kaynor standing at mike; Chitter and Chatter at far right of photo
It was during the month of December that I told you about the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra playing the song Chitter wrote for Pap-Spider Web Canyon. I was so very excited (still am) that the orchestra played Spider Web Canyon that I failed to mention David had written a song about Pap too; actually David’s song is about all of us and the place where we live Wilson Holler.
The girls and I met David in 2012 during the John C. Campbell Folk School’s Summer Dance Musician’s Week. That was the first year Chatter and Chitter got to take the class and we really had no idea what to expect. We all wondered if the girls would be able to keep up in class and wondered what the teachers would be like.
Turns out all our wondering and worries were for nothing. The girls loved the class. They gained tons of musical knowledge, made life long friendships with the teachers and the other students, and had a ball of fun while doing it!
Due to the great generosity of some anonymous people and the folk school itself, the girls have gotten to attend every Summer Dance Musician’s Week since that first one. Over those years they’ve been able to strengthen their friendship with David.
The week is always a whirlwind of class, music, and dancing during the daytime with dancing every night of the week as well. All the busyness doesn’t leave much time for venturing off the folk school’s campus.
Early last Spring, David was teaching a different music class at the folk school and he had some extra time one afternoon. He came over to the house and ate with us and then was able to ride over to the Martins Creek Community Center where we had a gig. We invited David up on the stage and he played some harmony fiddle with Chitter on a few of our songs. David also got to meet Pap that night.
A month or so later as David thought about Pap’s passing and our sorrow he was inspired to compose the fiddle tune Wilson Holler about our family and our home.
I hope you enjoyed David’s composition and the great performance by the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra.
Tipper
I know you are proud and honored to have this song written about your family.
Thank you for posting the video, Tipper. What a lovely, loving tribute to Pap and to all of you, and to your home. As impressive as it is to hear it played by all those instruments in that big church, I bet it would sound just as sweet with one fiddle and one flute, by the light of a woodstove or on a porch on a summer’s evening.
Awesome! What a wonderful gesture on David’s part.
Very Nice
what a wonderful tradItion you have enabled others to partake in. I would love to have met your pap as well. May God bless all those in Wilson’s hollor.
Lots of memories in that HOLLER !!
You and your family are blessed in so many ways; and I’m sure all your friends (musicians, readers, writers, crafters, etc.) feel mutually blessed.
Fabulous! Such an honor to your family!
Tipper,
That’s a beautiful tune and a fitting tribute to all the folks in Wilson Holler. Pap will always be “my friend’.
It has been Snowing over here at Granny Squirrel all morning. But I don’t think those little, fine flakes will amount to anything much. I love to see it coming down tho. …Ken
That was real nice. I’ve been learning Spider Web Canyon. I’ve about got it, but haven’t tried to tackle Wilson Holler yet.
That was real nice. I’ve been learning Spider Web Canyon. I’ve about got it, but haven’t tried to tackle Wilson Holler yet.
That was real nice. I’ve been learning Spider Web Canyon. I’ve about got it, but haven’t tried to tackle Wilson Holler yet.
That was real nice. I’ve been learning Spider Web Canyon. I’ve about got it, but haven’t tried to tackle Wilson Holler yet.
What a beautiful, beautiful tune, and what a wonderful tribute to your family!
Pam
scrap-n-sewgranny.blogspot.com
Really nice, I can detect a weee bit of Irish tone to it.. Bet yall were excited..
Both David’s song and the Wilson family just absolutely awesome!
What an amazing tribute to an amazing family.
And the very same for Spiderweb Canyon!
A very heartfelt piece with an upbeat undertone—and by a complete strings orchestra, no less! (plus the one flute) I felt I was listening to a ballad without lyrics. The Ballad of Wilson Holler.
Tipper: Davis’a tune music was a gentle and sweet rendition of music you could listen to day or night! You all have captured and wonderful tune and tradition that your father would have approved! It reminded me of my Uncle Johnny’s style!
Thanks for sharing!
Eva Nell
Well you all sure have influence far beyond Wilson Holler. What a nice tribute.
I have to smile that he asked how to spell ‘holler’. It wouldn’t have been a question to us. We ‘just know’. But I expect Vermonters could turn the tables on us as well. Ever notice how if you are not at home you need to hear the natives say the names? Out in west Kentucky there is a community named ‘Cadiz’. But if you ever get out that way just know they call it ‘Katys’.
What a beautiful, soulful piece of music! And it is such a lovely tribute to your wonderful family, Tipper.
Pap is never gone from us, he’s right here,right now!
Now ain’t that something. All of you must be proud as punch and grinnin’ like a family of ‘possums up a persimmon tree. That’s a moving honor to Pap (and to the Wilson clan).
Jim Casada