George P. Knauff and the Publishing of His Virginia Reels, the First Collection of Southern Fiddle Tunes
George P. Knauff and the Publishing of His Virginia Reels, the First Collection of Southern Fiddle Tunes
This introductory chapter provides a background of George P. Knauff and his Virginia Reels, the first printed collection to contain lots of tunes and tune titles known to fiddlers in the American South today. Knauff himself was a fascinating individual, but he did not achieve the level of celebrity that leaves bold traces in the historical record. His most notable accomplishment, publishing the Virginia Reels, was a modest venture for him, one among many small sources of income. He was a musician and merchant trying to support his family. Ultimately, his combination of an original mind with a high-powered work ethic led him to publish this unusual and important tune collection. The Virginia Reels themselves present a complicated picture due to their having been issued several times, and by two publishers.
Keywords: Virginia Reels, George P. Knauff, southern tunes, fiddle tunes, fiddling, American South
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