“The Road to Malvern” was composed by the Virginia fiddler Jim Childress, who named it for his wife, born in Malvern, Arkansas. He first recorded it in the early 2000s with the old-time string band Uncle Henry’s Favorites.
A crooked tune — one whose phrases run irregular lengths — “Road to Malvern” is a newly written piece in the old-time mold. Often played in a cross-tuning, it has spread among players who favor newer tunes in the traditional style.
The tune has become widely known among acoustic musicians.
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