Thank you, John, that was beautiful.  It's fascinating how a tune can change. 

You've given us the perfect solution to our dilemna: 

Q: Which version to play? 

A: All of them! 

Quick demo of 4 different version of this song.

Tuning is A'AA

 

1st is the Tommy Jarrell/Bruce Molsky - As Time Draws Near.

2nd is from Sweeney's Men - My Dearest Dear.



3rd is Cath and Phil Tyler - Dearest Dear.

https://cathandphiltyler.bandcamp.com/track/dearest-dear

4th is Sharon Kraus - The Blackest Crow.

https://sharronkraus.bandcamp.com/track/the-blackest-crow

 

updated by @john-p: 09/01/15 08:29:37AM

Seamus, you could actually use Robin's tab to play my version, just tune to D-G-d instead of D-a-a.  The fret postiions are the same, but because of the tuning the key is different, so the written notes will be different.  If you stick to the fret numbers and rhythm it should work.

--
Bob
Site Moderator

The greatest music is made for love, not for money -- Greg Lake

I worked up an easy noter drone version of the tune in DAA a couple of years ago to play at the local open mic as a duet with the daughter of some friends - Ella Morgan.  We recorded the tune as we were learning it, to see how it was going.  I think I used my small bodied Ed Thomas repro strung with piano wire and played with noter and thumb strum to try and get as trad a sound as possible for the dulcimer part.

http://k001.kiwi6.com/hotlink/jvdd6bucnv/blackest_crow_-_ella_31_oct_13a.mp3

I've attached a TAB for this version.

 Let me see if I can put something together for you...

--
Bob
Site Moderator

The greatest music is made for love, not for money -- Greg Lake

Seamus, here is my version.  I'm tuned D-G-d

https://soundcloud.com/bob-reinsel/blackest-crow

 

--
Bob
Site Moderator

The greatest music is made for love, not for money -- Greg Lake

Seamus--It isn't tabbed out, but Robin Clark did a couple of versions of the tune, including a version with a young lady on vocals.  I don't know if they made it over during the FOTMD transfer (I downloaded them some time ago).  I began to learn the song with the aforementioned tabbed version provided by Strumelia on the noter/drone blog and hear Robin's versions and a version by a duo from Michigan called Red Tail Ring easily found on YouTube (because it is quite slow and makes internalized the melody easier) when I am playing.

updated by @rick-kennedy: 08/30/15 01:18:59AM

Tommy Jarrells version is my favorite. Its the sound I hear in my head when I play it on dulcimer. Robert.

Hi Seamus,

The earliest recording of the most well known of these I've found is probably by Tommy Jarrell, you'll find it on youtube under the title 'As Time Draws Near'

Bruce Molsky has produce some of Tommy's work in a more accessable style and the most well known version(and the basis of much that followed) is with Julie Fowles, also on youtube.

I did a recording of 'Dearest Dear' by Cath & Phil Tyler a while back, you'll find it in my audio list. I'll try and do a sound clip of the others when the block's a bit quieter.

Another Tommy Jarrell I've been looking at lately is Train on the Island, also covered by Bruce Molsky. Nearly got it.
Similar story here, there are a heap of bluegrass style recordings of this tune, as well as it being sung to the tune of 'June Apple'.
Here's my favourite played on Nepalese Sarangi and clawhammer banjo - https://soundcloud.com/hilary-dirlam/train-on-the-island-american-fiddle-tune


[edit] looks like you need to click the second part of the link

 

updated by @john-p: 08/29/15 10:26:47PM

I'm with Rob!

Hi. Laura Elder sings a very slow poignant version with baritone dulcimer. On you tube I think.

Seamas, one of the members of my local dulcimer group shared a pretty and simple arrangement with us. I normally wouldn't feel fre to share his arrangments, but he did give me permission to post it on our website. You can find it on the RCD Songlist page at www.rivercitydulcimers.com .

 

--
Dusty T., Northern California
Site Moderator

As a musician, you have to keep one foot back in the past and one foot forward into the future.
-- Dizzy Gillespie

John P...  I'm interested if no one else is!

 

Hi Seamus,

There are a fair number of tunes and sets of words used for this. The words are usually put together from a selection of 'floating' verses and go by names like The Blackest Crow, (My)Dearest Dear  etc.

I'm thinking you're looking for different arrangements of the same tune, and can't really help there.

However, I do regularly play four different tunes, all drone style, one each of Ionian, Dorian, Mixalydian and Aeolian if these are of interest to you.

Drone style, courtesy of our intrepid hostess: http://dulcimer-noter-drone.blogspot.com/2009/05/blackest-crow.html