Notes & Queries – September 2022

Queries Q: We’re having a little controversy in our bluegrass community regarding the definition of the title of the fiddle tune “June Appal.” Is it simply a misspelled reference to certain apples that will bloom early or is it a reference, somewhat in abbreviation, to the word Appalachia? Or is it something else? Hope you can help! Joe Fili, via email A: The overwhelming number of recordings of this tune list it as “June Apple,” as opposed to “June Appal.” A visit to the Bluegrass Discography website shows 58 entries for “June Apple” and only 1 for “June Appal.” And, a scan of the first 15 years of Bluegrass Unlimited shows zero references to the fiddle tune “June Appal,” but does have numerous references to “June Apple.”  While the tune has a relatively long history in the Mt Airy, North Carolina / Galax, Virginia region, it didn’t make its debut on record until 1967 (unlike tunes like “Fire on the Mountain” and “Blackberry Blossom�