‘Man of Constant Sorrow’ (downloadable PDF)

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A pipe-adaptation of a song attributed to Dick Burnett of Kentucky, U.S.A. (ca. 1913). Please see further below for more information and audio and video samples.

Description

This song, made famous in the film ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’, is attributed to Dick Burnett of Kentucky, U.S.A. (ca. 1913). This particular version comes from Ed Haley of West Virginia, by way of Pete Sutherland, and is perhaps a more authentic version than what was featured on the ‘O Brother..’ film. The adaptation here is set in the key of A-modal, as performed at the 2011 Upper Potomac Piper’s Weekend and published in ‘An Appalachian Collection’ tune book. (Chord symbols and lyrics are not included.) [NB: This tune requires the use of a C-natural. For chanters that do not have C-natural keys or an extra C-natural soundhole, this note may be produced using ‘forked’ fingering and/or by applying a piece of tuning tape over the majority of the C-soundhole.]

A video from the 2011 Upper Potomac Piper’s Weekend, featuring the Scottish smallpipes (with a taped C):