The Maple Leaf Two-Step, from 1953, was Ottawa Valley fiddle great Ward Allen’s first recording, a 78 rpm record on Alvina. I started learning this one on triple row button accordion in between trick-or-treaters tonight, based on a score I stumbled upon on a fiddle site. I’m playing it in C and the fingering isn’t too difficult. In a couple spots I’m not sure if I really should be pushing or pulling air, but as I get my speed up with this tune, it should be obvious. I think it’s going to take some work to get the inflection just right too.  This song is going to be a lot of fun to play, and I hope to learn to squeeze it out it pretty well, but my amateur button accordion playing will never approach Ward Allen’s fiddle.

Here is Ward Allen with The Maple Leaf Two-Step

http://youtu.be/we0xXM1yrSw

Now let’s listen to the flip side of the record, the CNE Breakdown.

http://youtu.be/uhvjUo28hjQ