November From The Editor

 

November marks the second anniversary of the Knoxville Old Time website

Thank you for subscribing to the newsletter and visiting the website!

 

Tune History

This month’s Tune History is “Big Sciota.” It’s a very popular tune and has acquired a lot of variations over the years. We played this at a local jam recently, and when I sang the lyrics, people looked at me funny. It was not the singing (this time), it was because most everyone had never heard the lyrics for this tune. So it made sense to put it on the Tune History page with some info about where the name and the tune came from, and include the most common lyrics. That being said, there were no “original” lyrics that we know of, so feel free to continue the “folk process” and do your own thing.

 

Worth A Listen

This is usually where I list a few Old Time recordings that you might find interesting, but this month we go to YouTube as a resource for tunes. There are many good sites - here are a few to get you started:

 

Ben Kiser

Almost 300 videos: fiddle, banjo, dulcimer, ballads, duets

https://www.youtube.com/@benkisermusic

 

Jesse Maw

130+ videos

https://www.youtube.com/c/JesseMaw

 

Bruce Molsky

150+ videos

https://www.youtube.com/@BruceMolskyMusic/featured

Old Time Tiki Parlour

 

David Bragger

Over 300 videos

https://www.youtube.com/@OldTimeTikiParlour/featured

 

Paul Kirk/Old Time Tune Of The Week

450+ videos

https://www.youtube.com/@PaulKirkFiddle

 

George Jackson

265+ videos

Videos from Tune Hash, Tall Poppy String Band

 https://www.youtube.com/@GeorgeJacksonMusic/featured

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What is PPT?

 Preferred Perceptual Tempo is the rate of a series of sounds that sounds "just right" to most people - not too fast, not too slow. Why do our brains prefer certain tempos for listening? Clue: our brains do not like to work too hard! 

In a follow-up to last month's analysis of Spontaneous Motor Tempo, (the tempo at which we prefer to perform rhythmic motor activities), banjo playing neurologist Josh Turknett moves from the performance tempo aspect to the listening side of the equation.  See how science confirms the surprisingly narrow "sweet spot" in tempo that makes nearly everyone's brain happy. 

 

Women In Old Time

Don’t forget to visit The East Tennessee Historical Society’s traveling exhibition "I've Endured: Women In Old Time Music” that runs through April 19, 2026. This exhibition, organized by The Birthplace Of Country Music Museum, is "A look into the past, present, and future of the genre and the integral role women played in the development of country music as we know it today." ETHS is located at 601 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902

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FALL BACK!  Time change is on Sunday, November 2nd. 

 

Mark​

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