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I am working towards my grand public debut, well at least playing solo in public for a couple of dozen friends sitting around a campfire (summer 2023- I know, I'm a slow learner). I tend to favor gospel and old-time tunes but want to broaden that and come up with a playlist/ fake book of campfire favorites. Is there a book out there? How about some of your favorite camp songs?
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Ripton,
I like your style for camp fire. Maybe add a couple slow Irish tunes like oh Danny boy, Hector the hero, maybe Jay Unger's lover waltz, blue river waltz.
Mark
Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.
Albert Sammons
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@Ripton -
You mentioned you'd be playing for friends - what kind of music do THEY like?
If it was me, I'd learn "American Pie". ...I really do need to learn this one.
Sheet music possibilities for viola:
https://www.virtualsheetmusic......386.html
Some free versions with Viola that might work at musescore.
https://musescore.com/sheetmus.....0-%20viola
A little inspiration.
AND, I love "The House of The Rising Sun". Now that I'm bringing it up, maybe I'll even get around to learning it this year! 🙄
Several free scores for Viola at musescore:
https://musescore.com/sheetmus.....0-%20Viola
There's some wicked violin versions played on YouTube, but here's a VIOLA one for you.
For just relaxing around the fire, "Creep" by Radiohead is beautiful.
Listen & read the sheet music here, at musescore, for VIOLA:
https://musescore.com/guiguila.....es/6604841
Does Violaman have versions of the 'A Tune A Week' tutorials that are here? Many good, popular pieces!
How about some John Denver tunes?
Maybe brush up on your double stops so you can just pick out some chords to play when everyone sings something you don't know?
There are 3 Hal Leonard Viola books that would be perfect to choose 'easy-to-play' solo pieces from!
101 Popular Songs: for Viola
101 Hit Songs: for Viola
101 Movie Hits: for Viola
...good thing you have a few months to learn some music!
- Emily
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Great suggestions. Keep them coming. I have a lot of new music to learn. Maybe I'll start a party come this spring... Oh, #500
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Ambitious Ripton. I love it!
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Oh heck - sorry Stevie ( @Ripton ) - not hijacking your thread - and I WILL get back with suggestions - but heck - when anyone ( and I blame Emily for this LOL @ELCBK hahaha) mentions fiddle or other string-covers of House of the Rising Sun - I have to go back and revisit the EV cover by Jo A. Ram - which - posted to YT in June 2014 was about 3 months into my own "fiddle journey" ( and at THAT time I owned only the old SkyLark (now a fake viola) and a Thomann (cheap as chips) EV. I found Ram's post and boy, did I amp-up the EV........ didn't manage to get anything near how she played (probably close to it now, I'll have to revisit it !!!! Thanks, Emily !!!! hahaha) - so as a complete aside to your post Steve, but I just HAD to share this -
I believe I actually posted the link way back in 2014 when I first discovered it, and someone actually had the cheek to suggest it was the lassie playing that caught my attention - trust me - it was ALL about the ROCK E-VIOLIN - bring it on, any time you like!!!!!
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - 
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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@BillyG -
Apologies up front - this isn't going to help Ripton in any way, shape, or form... and I was going to just let this go, but... (lol)
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LOL @ELCBK - both are awesome - still prefer the solid-rock-ev by Jo A Ram - but that's just me - old rocker... but aye cool rock-fiddle there nonetheless - no denying it! Yeah!
( and sorry again Stevie @Ripton - it's the last I'll intrude on your thread till I have something to add to your request!!!! )
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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@BillyG, not like that's going to happen... Lol
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@Ripton -
I just ran across some YouTube videos that are 'play-along' support for the "Traditional Music Library"!
Here's a HUGE page of 'Summer Camp' and 'Campfire' songs!
Scroll to the bottom of the page to find sheet music.
Summer Camp & Campfire Song-book with Chords & Lyrics
Rod Smith was the former owner of the "Traditional Music Library". He has a YouTube site with 'play-along' music videos (synchronized lyrics) to support some of the tunes in the 'Library'!
Rod Smith - Historic Hymns Playlists
Here's one of the playlists you might be interested in.
National & Patriotic Folk Songs & Hymns - Lyrics & Music
What's on your list so far?
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@ELCBK THANKS! going to work on these this week. Now I'm super excited but hoping I can stay focused.
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Okay, I'm trying to be more helpful with VIOLA play-along videos!
Tunes that people might actually want to sing along with! (lol)
Surprised myself, found an EASY VIOLA version of "House of the Rising Sun"!
What about "Scarborough Fair"?
Anyway, Peter Edvinsson has an AMAZING, diverse playlist of NINETY-TWO, EASY play-along videos you can chose from!
Free Viola Sheet Music Playlist - Peter Edvinsson
...Kumbayah? ...Home on The Range? ...Greensleeves?
- Emily
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Awesome, dude-ette!
The old curmudgeon!
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No blizzard tunes available, sorry but did get some short campfire playing in his weekend. Sorry no video. 
fire from my finger tip..
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you planning on visiting johnny down in Georgia again!? 🤣
yall can have all that snow @Ripton !
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Ripton
Cool pic, play hard my friend.
Mark
Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.
Albert Sammons
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@Ripton -
COOL PHOTO!
Might be a good reason to consider a Carbon Composite instrument!
My Brother's in Massachusetts, down near Providence - got over 2 feet of snow!
Maybe good you left for the weekend, or did you end up with more?
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Here in southern Vermont mountains the storm was blah. We got maybe 2 or 3 inches on top of whatcwe already had. Great day on snowshoes in the back country. My daughter at home was left with the 2ft clean up. Couldn't have planned it better
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@Ripton -
Have you gotten to practice any playing around a campfire, yet?
Hope the Southern Vermont Mountains aren't infested with ticks like what my Brother told me about his time-share in New Hampshire - takes all the fun out of being an 'Outdoorsman'. 😳
When I was young I hiked all over Michigan, mostly the lower Peninsula, but also did plenty in the UP. I NEVER ONCE saw a tick on me, my dogs or other animals, no one hardly even talked about having to look for them! ...probably impossible to say about anywhere, today.
I never did find Viola sheet music for "American Pie" - this is the best I could do, and I haven't subscribed anywhere to transcribe anything yet (just another thing on my list). You might like noodling around with it - let's face it, couple iconic riffs here.
We have a large firepit out back, and I was told the mosquitoes aren't bad this year! 🤗
29 Incredible Campfire Recipes
- Emily
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