The Missouri fiddle tune Zack Wheat’s Piece has become an old-time music standard. I’ve heard it from Pennsylvania to the Golden Gate and everywhere in between. It comes from the Old-Time Fiddlers Repertory Vol. 1 by R. P. Christeson.
According to the annotation in R. P.’s book:
As played by George Helton. This is another instance of a tune known only by the name of a man who played it. Zack Wheat was an earlier fiddler of some renown who lived near Argyle, Missouri.
Here’s Zack Wheat’s played by yours truly with Emily and Dennis Buckhannon and featuring Cousin Curt Buckhannon on mandolin. Recorded live September 29, 2013, at the Chidgrove Country Dancers contra dance in Maplewood, MO.
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Now Zack Wheat is not that common a name, wouldn’t you agree? It happens there was a Hall of Fame ballplayer for the Brooklyn from Hamilton in NW Missouri named Zack Wheat. Don’t suspect there is connection, but Missouri has to hold the record for having two Zack Wheats!
This ARTICLE will tell you more about Zack Wheat – the farmer, ballplayer and veteran than you can find anywhere.
You can access two complimentary lessons on my patreon with the links below. Each post will have a transcription of the tune attached.
ZACK WHEAT’S PIECE - MANDOLIN LESSON
ZACK WHEAT’S PIECE - FIDDLE LESSON
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