“Half Past Four” is an old-time fiddle tune from the Kentucky fiddler Ed Haley, preserved on home recordings made by his family in the 1940s. Haley wrote the tune, it is said, to mark the death of his newborn son, who passed at half past four in the morning.
Despite its sorrowful origin, the tune is a flowing, intricate piece. Its quiet beauty and its room for melodic playing have made it a favorite among modern fiddle and mandolin players.
The tune has been carried into the present by acoustic musicians.
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