To hear Jean Ritchie sing "Sourwood Mountain" accompanying herself on the dulcimer, download the song from Folkways Records, Children's Songs and Games from the Southern Mountains, Jean Ritchie (FW07054 / FC 7054), www.folkways.si.edu.
Instructions
According to the great American folk singer Jean Ritchie, this song is claimed by communities throughout North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia from the small peaks in all those places named Sourwood Mountain. "Sourwood" is the name given the Sorrel tree, a small tree that grows throughout the Appalachian area. The song gives us a humorous look at love and courting, and some say that the nonsense refrain is an attempt to imitate the sound of a banjo.
Note: these activities are intended to be used over several days/lessons. Repeat any activity as needed for practice and internalization of the learning.
Day One: Listen to the sung (sung a cappella or via recording). Show a signal (raise hands, thumbs up, etc.) when you hear the repeated phrase. (Hey dee-ing dum, diddle-ally-ay)
Sing only on the repeated phrase.
Add a body percussion ostinato that reinforces the rhythm: Clap, pat left, pat right, clap. Snap left, Snap right, clap, rest. (Taa Ti Ta Ta. Ti-Ti, Ti-Ti, Ta, Rest)
Day Two: Echo-clap the rhythm patterns of the first verse. Speak the words in rhythm and/or rhythm syllables.
Chickens crowing on Sourwood Mountain. So many pretty girls, I can't count 'em.
Ta Ta Ti-Ti Ta. Ta Ta Ta Ta. Ta Ti-Ti Ti-Ti Ta. Ta Ta Ta Ta
Tap the rhythm of verse 1, then perform the body percussion ostinato of the refrain (from Day One).
Sing the entire song as a group while tapping the rhythm and performing the body percussion ostinato.
Day Three: Learn the harmony parts by echo-singing in solfege, then with the lyrics.
Do Do Mi Mi Fa Fa Fa So: Sing this harmony part for my true love's a brown-eyed daisy and she won't come and I'm too lazy.
Do Re Mi Mi Fa-Fa Fa Mi Do: Sing this harmony part for my true love lives over the river, and a few more jumps and I'll be with her.
So So So So So-So Fa-Fa Mi: Sing this harmony part for hey deeing dum diddle ally ay.
Do Do Do Do So-So Fa-Fa Mi: Sing this harmony part for hey deeing dum diddle ally ay AFTER big dog bark and little one bite you.
Divide the class into two groups (melody and harmony). Sing without the recording several times until comfortable singing in harmony, then sing with the recording.
Day Four: Learn the ending in 3 parts (optional), singing slowly in solfege, and then adding the words. Sing the entire song together with harmonies and body percussion ostinato.
Perform: "Sourwood Mountain" lends itself well to live performance. You may also invite community members who play dulcimer, fiddle, mandolin, bass or banjo to participate.
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