'Little Gold Fiddle' Banjo Lesson (Mal Gibson)

We learned "Little Gold Fiddle" from George Gibson of Knott County, Kentucky. George learned it from his father, Malvin Gibson (b. 1900). The song is a very old cante-fable from England in which a fiddler and his wife take a journey in a merchant’s ship, and the two men make a wager regarding the chastity of the woman. I've found it printed under various titles such as "Merchant and the Fiddler's Wife" and "The Fiddler's Bitch." The only American examples I have found were sung by Mal Gibson of Knott County, Kentucky, and an unidentified singer in Indiana documented during the 1940s.

References:
"The Merchant-man and the Fidlers wife To a Pleasant Northen Tune" (Fr. Coles, Thos. Vere, J. Wright, J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passinger (1680 or 1681)

The Diary of Samuel Pepys, volume 4, page 163 (1663)

English Broadside Ballad Archive # 21825

[mondocain]

You are not only one of my favorite musicians a fantastic historian. I love the way you are keeping these traditional songs alive!

[noisebox]

This is such a wonderful video. In 12 short minutes you explored 300 years of history. The lesson on the story was worth the watch. You performance was the perfect introduction while the tutorial was the the icing on the cake. I've been playing this every day since you posted this video. Please, post more videos in this exact format for other songs.

[landonshanerthebanjokid]

Played this for my Dad and My Grandpaw once i learned the song they got a kick out of it 😂

[JohnyG]

Interesting that these old English tunes are being kept alive in America whilst they're all but lost in my homeland. Especially so considering the animosity between us since the revolution.

Thanks again.

[daveburklund]

Cante fable is your great great great grandaddy rapping.

[davidjerezgomez]

Just found this! Excellent piece explaining the ballad and its genre. Well done! I love this stuff and the quality of your work. This tale reminds of the female empowered theme in the Mediterranean tradition. It’s all over the place from North Africa to Russia. The woman is actually who stands out for her wit and skills to turn a hostile situation to her favor. Thanks for mentioning the double C tuning, and those awesome banjos from George’s collection. Man, I’m so sorry I missed that chance to get one! Did you play any of them in a video?

[Peter-gwur]

I'd be interested in a banjo if they are not yet accounted for, many thanks, Pete

[mrgildons]

It's a nice song and a very interesting story! By the way I remember to have heard the line "Be true be true my own true love" sung on a similar tune but I don't remember where

[bereaben]

Interested in one of the banjos if you can get one to Beijing!