Orange Blossom Special - The Fiddler's National Anthem?
Comin' down that railroad track
Hey, look a-yonder comin'
Comin' down that railroad track
It's the Orange Blossom Special
Bringin' my baby back.
The Orange Blossom Special . . . a legend in railroading circles and the aspiration of a true fiddler. And a test of that fiddler's ability. Seen by many as a true demonstration of quick, accurate fingering, steady rhythm, mastery of double-stops and a steady bow hand, as well as outstanding aerobic fitness, the song has been played by many, and aspired to by most. Ask the average person to name a fiddle tune, and if he doesn't say "Turkey in the Straw" he'll probably mention "Orange Blossom Special."
Orange Blossom Special -- The Song
Orange Blossom Special has been referred to as been "The Fiddlers' National Anthem," and that may not be far from the truth. If you've ever been to Branson, Missouri you've undoubtedly heard it! And if you ask most folks who are beginning to play fiddle what songs they want learn to play, you'll definitely find Orange Blossom Special in the top five or six.
If you're a fiddler, or if you're a bluegrass band, or if you sing Country Music chances are good that you've recorded (or at least performed) Orange Blossom Special, or you've at least considered it.
If you call yourself a bluegrass fan and don't want to hear Orange Blossom Special again, you might want to reconsider using that appellation. (I guess after hearing it 10 or 12 times in a row with 4 or 5 different versions you may want to take a little break, but short of that . . .)
Sure You Can Play Orange Blossom Special!
You've Worked Hard to Master It and You're Proud of Your Fiddling -- Let Folks Know
Wanna Hear Bill Monroe Play Orange Blossom Special?
Now's Your Chance! Here's the MP3!
Bill Monroe -- The Father of Bluegrass
Bluegrass on CafePress
It Ain't Just Mountain Music!
Didja Know?
In Bill Monroe's Classic Recording of Orange Blossom Special the Fiddle Was Played By Art Wooten!
Orange Blossom Special -- The Train
The Orange Blossom Special was a deluxe passenger train running between New York City and Miami, Florida. It was operated by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad. A section went to Tampa and St. Petersburg, as a winter season only service.
Inaugurated on November 21, 1925, the service was famous for both speed and luxury. At the time, Florida was experiencing rapid growth, and was much in favor in the eyes of the the well-to-do in the Northeast. SAL president S. Davies Warfield wanted to take advantage of this, especially among the wealthy, influential clientele.
Although service was suspended during World War II so that the equipment could be used to transport troops, the Orange Blossom Special took to the rails again when the war was over. The train's last run took place in 1953. The route is now handled by Silver Meteor.
The Song is Born
Orange Blossom Special was first recorded by Ervin and Gordon Rouse the very next year. A breakthrough in popularity occurred in 1942 when Bill Monroe recorded the tune. But it was not until Johnny Cash made Orange Blossom Special the title track of his 1965 album that the song really skyrocketed in popularity among the general population.
Learn the Sad Story of Ervin Rouse and Chubby Wise
Orange Blossom Special -- Johnny Cash
San Quentin Prison
Johnny Cash's Classic Album
The Album That Made The Public Love the Song!
It Ain't Me Babe, Wildwood Flower, Orange Blossom Special, Mama, You've Been on my Mind, The Long Black Veil, The Wall and more!
"Besides the excellent Dylan covers, the cool thing about this CD is that it includes an example of just about everything Cash was famous for. Old-time country (Orange Blossom Special and Wildwood Flower), contemporary country (Long Black Veil, which sounds old-timey but was written in 1959, and I'm Proud the Baby is Mine, very contemporary), a prison song (The Wall, a classic), train songs (Engine 143 and Orange Blossom Special), a protest song (All God's Children Ain't Free) . . . the arrangements are tasteful and, at times, beautiful. And once Cash starts singing you can't really hear anything else. What a presence."
Want the Sheet Music?
Advanced Fiddling By Craig Duncan. For fiddle. Solos. Bluegrass & Country. Includes Orange Blossom Special, Sally Goodin, Whiskey Before Breakfast (Not On CD), Jack Of Diamonds, Under The Double Eagle (Not On CD), Wild Fiddler's Rag and 33 more! Level: Intermediate-Advanced. Book/CD Set. 120 pages. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc. See more info...
Hot Licks For Bluegrass Fiddle Edited by Stacy Phillips. Instructional book and examples CD for fiddle. Music Theory For Hot Licks; Music Notation; Some Thoughts On Bluegrass Fiddle Technique; Scale Snippets, Arpeggios, And The Blues;Double Stops; Connecting Licks; Kickoffs, Tags, End-of-Line Fills; Licks Using Upper Positions; Orange Blossom Special. 128 pages. Published by Oak Publications. See more info...
Orange Blosssom Special
A Great Video for You To See Those Flying Fingers.
Wonderful Warm Up!
No matter what genre of music you play, Orange Blossom Special is a Wonderful Warm Up. Get those fingers moving! Get that timing right! And it impresses your fellow musicians as well!
I Have Such a Headache--Please Don't Make Me Watch This Again!
Actually It's Fun, But Thinking of OBS on Ukelele Makes Me Shudder!
More Bluegrass on CafePress
Orange Blossom Special Lyrics
Here are the words so that you can sing along!
Comin' on down the track
Well look a-yonder comin'
Comin' on down the track
It's the Orange Blossom Special
Bringin' my baby back
2. Well talk about her ramblin'
She's the fastest train on the line
Well talk about her travellin'
She's the fastest train on the line
She's the Orange Blossom Special
Rollin' down the seaboard line
3. Well, I'm going down to Florida
Get some sand in my shoes
Or maybe California
Get some sand in my shoes
I'll ride the Orange Blossom Special
And lose those New York blues
You and Orange Blossom Special
Do You Want to Learn to Fiddle?
You'll Need An Instrument.
Playing the silent piano wasn't a very good way to learn to play piano, and there's no substitute to having a violin if you want to learn to fiddle! Here are some fiddles listed on eBay that you might want to look at. I own 4 right now, and I still get fascinated looking at some of the gorgeous instruments that show up here even if I'm not going to bid! Take a look! Have Some Fun!
A Funny Orange Blossom Special Story
At Least it Makes Me Smile
Not long ago I went to a local performance of the play Fiddler on the Roof with my wife, my daughter, and my neice. We were discussing the characters, the storyline, and the music from the show when I asked one of the ladies I was with, "What is your favorite Fiddler song?" Her immediate response?"Orange Blossom Special!"
We all laughed, but the answer got me thinking. Maybe it goes something like this.
Look a Yonder Comin'
Slidin' down that Roof real high!
Look a Yonder Comin'
Slidin' down that Roof real high!
It's the Orange Blossom Special
Biddin' Anatevka good bye!
Parts of a Fiddle
Have you ever taken a good look at a fiddle? It really is an amazing piece of work. Intricately carved wood over which is stratched four metal strings! And from that, we get that gorgeous sound.
Take a look at this picture, it's one of the better fiddle diagrams you'll ever see.
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Some Helpful Pages About Bowed Stringed Instruments
- Fiddlesticks
- A place for fiddlers of all sorts to hang out, have fun, and learn.
- Funny Viola Jokes
- Just a place to have some fun with folks who play the viola.
- How to Tune a Violin
- Instructions and Links!
- Violin Care: Eleven Tips That Could Save Your Violin
- Keep your instrument looking and sounding good!
Learn to Play Fiddle -- DVD's and CD's To Help You Learn!
The American Fiddle Method, Volume 1 - Fiddle Beginning Fiddle Tunes and Techniques. By Brian Wicklund. By Brian Wicklund. For Fiddle. Methods. American Fiddle Method. Bluegrass & Country. Level: Beginning. Book+CD+DVD. 64 pages. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc. See more info...
The American Fiddle Method, Volume 2 - Fiddle Intermediate Fiddle Tunes and Techniques. By Brian Wicklund. By Brian Wicklund. For Fiddle. Methods. American Fiddle Method. Bluegrass & Country. Level: Intermediate. Book/CD Set. 64 pages. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc. See more info...
Learning Bluegrass Fiddle - Video One By Kenny Kosek. This edition: VDKOSBF01. Homespun Tapes (Instructional). Video cassette. Published by Homespun Video. See more info...
Fiddle for Kids - 2-Video Set Video Two. By Jenny Anne Bulla, Luke Bulla. This edition: VDBULFI02. Homespun Tapes (Instructional). Video cassette. Published by Homespun Video.
See more info...
Learn to Play Old-Time Fiddle - Video One By Brad Leftwich. This edition: VDLEFFI01. Homespun Tapes (Instructional). Video cassette. Published by Homespun Video.
See more info...
Learn to Play Old-Time Fiddle - Video Two: Intermediate Level By Brad Leftwich. This edition: VDLEFFI02. Homespun Tapes (Instructional). Video cassette. Published by Homespun Video. See more info...
Keep up with The Violin Blog via Twitter
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Bluegrass Fiddle in the Blogosphere
- Erica Brown, her bluegrass band will give two concerts
- CARTHAGE ? Erica Brown, known for combining the precision of classical music with the spontaneity of country and bluegrass fiddle, will play Wednesday, Feb. 29, at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center. She and her band, The Bluegrass Connection, ...
- Acts to catch at the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival
- If you're partial to the hardcore sounds of trad bluegrass, you'll find it with fiddle virtuoso Michael Cleveland and his band Flamekeeper, with the high-energy sound of the Steep Canyon Rangers (gaining exposure recently through their collaboration ...
- Bluegrass First Class brings stars to Asheville
- ASHEVILLE ? Bluegrass First Class is a musical homecoming for the region, kicking off the festival season indoors before the outdoor music starts. With all the amenities of an outdoor festival except the weather, headliners Rhonda Vincent and the Rage ...
Does This Lens Really Set Your Strings Ringing?
I Hope So!
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Please Let Us Know You Were Here!
What Did You Think? What Would You Like to See Added? How'd YOU Learn to Play Orange Blossom Special. Reader Input is EAGERLY Desired Here.
Thanks for Stopping By!
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rauspitz
Dec 14, 2011 @ 6:10 pm | delete
- Super lens, lot of fun. I do love that song and have a couple of versions of it.
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rauspitz
Dec 14, 2011 @ 6:10 pm | delete
- Super lens, lot of fun. I do love that song and have a couple of versions of it.
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SecondHandJoe
Dec 12, 2011 @ 8:25 pm | delete
- Brigid Bibbins! Wow hott and awesome fiddle player! I wake up in the morning thinking I can play it...but sadly I can not. :'( great lens!
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RobinDM
Nov 30, 2011 @ 7:56 am | delete
- The videos were great, but I loved the response to Fiddler on the Roof the best! Thanks!
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cffutah
Sep 27, 2011 @ 8:47 am | delete
- I enjoyed the videos that you have on your lens, thank you!
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by ViolinStudent
Arthur Haule was raised on Long Island, learning to play the violin in school. He formed a string quartet in college and played first violin. Having...
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