Mahmoth's Music 4: The Old Love
John Hartford, "On Christmas Eve", from Oh Me Oh My How The Time Does Fly (compilation, unfortunately), 1987
Link.
As some of you may know, one of my most abiding loves in music is bluegrass, semi-invented some sixty years ago by the great, if somewhat domineering, Bill Monroe. Over that time, there've been thousands of musicians, plucking and playing various adaptations of the same overall pluck'n'play style, with changes according to taste and time. Among the great fiddle (almost exactly like a violin, but tuned higher and stunningly annoying if played badly) and overall musicians of the time is the above, the unfortunately late, unquestionably great John Hartford, multi-instrumentalist, occasional sillyist, steamboat pilot. Much can be said about him, but all that is necessary to say is that he really is That Damn Good, and that the music world needs more people accompanying themselves with foot percussion
As for the song, this is one of those exceptions that proves the rule, as the majority of 'grass is the screaming, speeding and banjo-led or some adaptation thereof, this simple tune, composed of a few strands of short notes, played slow and quiet is still bluegrass in style, content and delivery. On its own, it's a simple, but good piece of work, on which little more needs to be said.