Ray Major's Harmonica: Polkas, Waltzes, and Fiddle Tunes from Southern Indiana

Abstract

As a teenager, Ray Major worked for Harold Baudendistel, a Franklin County farmer who loved to fiddle. After a day’s work, the German American elder would say, “Grab your guitar and we’ll play a few tunes.” These informal jam sessions sparked Ray’s lifelong passion for music—especially thepolkas, waltzes, schottisches, and fiddle tunes once popular across Southern Indiana.

Ray picked up the harmonica in 1983 after a hand injury sidelined his guitar playing for several months. He soon began entering harmonica con- tests in Indiana and Kentucky, where he met Colonel Irving Royal, widely regarded as the region’s best player. Royal’s skill and encouragement inspired Ray to keep playing. After Royal’s passing, Ray won the harmonica contest at the prestigious Indiana State Picking and Fiddling Contest—the same event where they had first met.

When Ray moved to Ferdinand, he became neighbors with Hilary and LaVerne Begle, who played traditional dance tunes once common in Dubois County. Ray began performing the old German melodies on harmonica while accompanying himself on guitar. Imitating LaVerne stumpf fiddle, which she played alongside Hilary, Ray added foot percussion to his performances.

After retiring in 2022, Ray relocated to Bloomington but continues to return to Dubois County to perform at area events like Strassenfest and Ferdinand’s Christkindlmarkt.

We recorded Ray Major’s straight-harp harmonica playing over two rainy days in November 2023. Between his workshop and shelves of canned vegetables, we set up a temporary studio in his basement. As Ray played, each tune recalled a story or led to another melody. Many of the songs we captured are familiar at regional music jams, but others are distinct to Ray’s repertoire.

His carefully curated collection draws from songbooks, recordings, friendships, and the German American songs once common in the region. Throughout the recording sessions, we often found ourselves smiling as this one-man band blew life into each melody. Ray Major’s Harmonica aims to convey those joyful moments and highlight the player’s deep respect for Southern Indiana’s rich history of harmonica music and the tunes once played at community dances.

RECORDING NOTES

Recorded live at the home of Ray and Deborah Major with a matched pair of Neumann KM184 microphones in an XY pattern placed directly in front of Ray’s guitar. A Neumann TLM 102 large diaphragm microphone was also placed in front of Ray’s harmonica rack. The signal was amplified and panned to match the stereo response on a Sound Devices MixPre-3. No artificial reverb or other effects were used in the production of this recording.

Elder Music Series

Instruments Used: Hohner Golden Melody Harmonicas, Epiphone Master Built EF 500, Left-footed Farmer Foot Drum.

“Hilary Begle played the guitar and put the harmonica in the rack and strummed the chords. He played waltzes, and polkas, and old-time music.” ~ Ray Major

1. Who stole the Keeshka? (Key: D) 0:57; Walter Dana & Walter Solek, 1949

2. Butcher Hannes Waltz / Wo ist Mein Schatz (Key: C,G) 3:31; Joe Altman & the Spaasmachers, 1961, Traditional, undated

3. Seven Step Schottische (Key: D,G) 0:56; Traditional, undated

4. Military Schottische / Happy Boy (Key: D) 4:00; Traditional, undated

5. Dratenik (Tinker Polka) (Key: G,C) 3:12; Bačova Česka Kapela, 1929

6. Tight Squeeze (Key: C) 1:56; John Goodin, circa 1980

7. Ragtime Annie (Key: D) 1:15; Traditional, undated

8. Ach Du Lieber Augustin (Key: C) 1:44; Traditional, 1815

9. Sally Ann (Key: G) 1:22; Traditional, undated

10. Beautiful Brown Eyes (Key: G) 1:10; Alton Delmore & Arthur Smith, 1937

11. In Lauterbach hob’ ich mein’ Strumpf Verlorn (Key: A) 0:52; Traditional, undated

12. Molly Bloom (Key: A) 1:16; Alan Munde, 1969

13. Saint Anne’s Reel; or Quadrille du loup garou - 4ème partie) (Key: D) 1:49; Willie Ringuette, 1927

14. Kiss Waltz (Key: G) 3:13; Traditional, 1880

15. Tarantella Napoletana (Key: G) 0:43; Traditional Italian Dance, undated

16. Off She Goes / Bonnie Blue Flag /; Pop Goes the Weasel (Key: D) 3:14; Traditional Nursery Rhymes and Military Marches, undated

17. Robin Red Breast (Key: Eb) 0:58; Nursery Rhyme Song, undated

Production Team Jon Kay: Project Director, and Field Recording Engineer Spencer Schaefer: Project Manager, and Field Recording Engineer Kyle Fulford: Mastering Engineer Emily Bryant: Graphic Designer