The Fiddler’s Companion

© 1996-2008 Andrew Kuntz

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[COMMENT1] [COMMENT2] 

AI - ALI

[COMMENT3] 

Notation Note: The tunes below are recorded in what is called “abc notation.” They can easily be converted to standard musical notation via highlighting with your cursor starting at “X:1” through to the end of the abc’s, then “cutting-and-pasting” the highlighted notation into one of the many abc conversion programs available, or at concertina.net’s incredibly handy “ABC Convert-A-Matic” at

http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html 

 

**Please note that the abc’s in the Fiddler’s Companion work fine in most abc conversion programs. For example, I use abc2win and abcNavigator 2 with no problems whatsoever with direct cut-and-pasting. However, due to an anomaly of the html, pasting the abc’s into the concertina.net converter results in double-spacing. For concertina.net’s conversion program to work you must remove the spaces between all the lines of abc notation after pasting, so that they are single-spaced, with no intervening blank lines. This being done, the F/C abc’s will convert to standard notation nicely. Or, get a copy of abcNavigator 2 – its well worth it.   [AK]

 

 

[COMMENT4] 

AI VIST LOU LOUP. French, Bouree D'Auvergne ((3/8 time). D Dorian. Standard tuning. AABB. Stevens (Massif Central), 1988; No. 43.

                       

AIE YE YAILLE, ADEA, COGNE P'US SU' MA TETE (Oh It Hurts, Adea, Quit Thumping on My Head". AKA and see "Casse Pas ma Tete."

                       

AIGHNEAS AG AN gCROSGHOTHAR, AN t-. AKA and see "The Dispute at the Crossroads."

                       

AIGO DE ROTZO, L'. French, Scottish (2/4 time). France, Central France. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Stevens (Massif Central), 1987; No. 8.

                       

AIKEN DRUM [1]. Scottish, March. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Carlin (Gow Collection), 1986; No. 583.

 

AIKEN DRUM [2]. English, Morris Dance Tune (Polka Step). G Major. Standard tuning. AB. Similar to version #1, especially in one part, though the parts are reversed. Wade (Mally’s North West Morris Book), 1988; pg. 24.

                       

AILBE GRACE’S. Irish, Polka. A Minor. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: Ailbe Grace, a button accordion player and set dancer from Tipperary living in England [Taylor/Tweed]. Taylor (Traditional Irish Music: Karen Tweed’s Irish Choice), 1994; pg. 37.

                       

AILEEN ALANNA. Irish, Waltz. F Major. Standard. Three parts. Roche Collection, 1982; vol. III, pg. 57.

                       

AILEEN AROON. AKA and see "Eileen Aroon."

                       

AILEEN BONNER’S. AKA and see “Belles of Ballinderry,” “The Blue Ocean.”

                       

AILEEN MAVOOURNEEN. Irish, Air. D Major. Standard. AB. Composed by Alex D. Roche. Roche Collection, 1982; Vol. I, pg. 11.

                       

AILEOG BHEAG, AN. AKA and see "The Little Swallow."

                       

AILLEOG BEAG, AN. AKA and see "The Little Swallow."

                       

AILLILLIU MO MHAILIN. See "Alas My Little Bag."

                       

AILLTE MOTAIR UA RUADAIN. AKA and see "The Cliffs of Moher."

                       

AILNE NA h-EIREANN. AKA and see "The Beauties of Ireland."

                       

AIM NOT TOO HIGH. AKA and see "Fortune [2]," "Fortune My Foe [2]," "Dr. Faustus."

                       

AIMER ET PERDRE (Love and Lose). Cajun, Waltz. USA, southwestern Louisiana. C Major. Standard tuning. One part. Related songs include Leo Soileau's "Ma Chere 'Tite Fille" and "La Valse de la Rosa," and Nathan Abshire's "Cher 'Tit Monde." Source for notated version: accordionist Joseph Falcon (La.) [Francois]. Francois (Yé Yaille Chère!), 1990; pgs. 10-12. Old Timey Records OT-108, Joseph Falcon.

                       

AIMSIR AERACH NA CÁSCA. AKA and see “The Merry Days of Easter.”


                       

AIN KIND DEARIE. AKA ‑ "Ain Kind Deary O,” “My Ain Kind Dearie,” "Own Kind Deary O." Scottish, Reel. A Major. Standard tuning. AAB. The tune was known, as are many Scots tunes, in County Donegal, Ireland, as evidenced by the old diary entry of a fiddler named William Allingham, employed as a customs officer but whose vocation was traditional music. He visited a poor fiddler named Tom Read in the (probably Ballyshannon) poorhouse who played for him both “Ain Kind Dearie” and “Paudeen O Rafferty” in November of 1847, the time of the famine. Allingham gave George Petrie several tunes which appear in the latter’s collection of Irish music. Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 408. Gow (Complete Repository), Part 3, 1806; pg. 24. Seattle (William Vickers), 1987, Part 2; No. 294 (appears as "Own Kind Deary O").

X:1

T:Ain Kind Dearie

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:Gow – 3rd Repository  (1806)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A

B|A>F EF A2 AB|(A/B/c) B>A BFF>B|AFEF A2 Aa|f2 ec eAA:|

f|(ef/g/) ae fe ac|B/B/B c>A BFF>B|A>FEF A2 Aa|f2 ec eAAf|

(ef/g/) ae f>e ac|B/B/B c>A BFFB|AFEF ABce|faef cAA||

                       

AIN MAIDINI NDE (Yesterday Morning, and I about to sleep). Irish, Air (6/8 time). F Major. Standard tuning. AB. Source for notated version: “Set from T. MacMahon, 1857" [Petrie]. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 1076, pg. 273.

                       

AINDEAR AN MUILLEORA. AKA and see "The Miller's Maid."

                       

AINDEAR AG AN GCUNNEOIG, AN. AKA and see "The Maid at the Churn."

                       

AINDEAR AR AN b-FAITCE, AN. AKA and see "The Maid on the Green."

                       

AINDEAR MEIDREAC, AN. AKA and see "The Merry Maiden."

                       

AINDEAR MIC SEOIN</a.. AKA and see "Jackson's Maid."

                       

AINDEAR NAR FEUD INNSIN, AN. AKA and see "The Maid That Dare Not Tell."

 

AINDEAR UA CEANN-SAILE, AN. AKA and see "The Maid of Kinsale."

 

AINDIR SA CRANN-SILIN, AN. AKA and see "The Maid in the Cherry Tree."

 

AINDIR UA AT-LUAIN, AN. AKA and see "The Maid of Athlone."

 

AINDIR UA FIADCOILL, AN. AKA and see "The Maid of Feakle."

 

ÁINE BHÓIDHEACH. AKA and see "Bonnie Ann."

 

ÁINE MHAISEACH. AKA and see “Lovely Anne.”

 

AINEEN'S DOUBLE. AKA and see “Banish Misfortune” [2], “Coffee and Tea [2],” "The Cherry Grove," "Jimmy the Tailor," "Ah Ghaoth Aniar Andeas."

 


AINNIR AN GHLEANNA. AKA and see “The Maid of the Glen.”

 

AINNIR TÍ AN GHEATA. AKA and see "The Gatehouse Maid."

 

AIN'T GOING TO WORK TOMORROW. Old‑Time, Breakdown and Song. USA, western Virginia. D Major. Marimac 9009, Earnest East ‑ "Old Time Friends" (1987). Rounder 0058, Marshall, Cole & Hall ‑ "Old Originals, Vol. 2" (1978).

 

AIN'T GONNA GET NO SUPPER HERE TONIGHT. AKA and see "Not Gonna Get No Supper Here Tonight". Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, Texas. Learned from Texas fiddler John Wills (Bob Wills' father) via mandolinist Kenny Hall and fiddler Pete Sutherland. The original key was A Major, though Sutherland plays it in 'G'. A tune called "Not Gonna Have No Supper Tonight," also played in G Major, was recorded for the Library of Congress in 1939 by Tishomingo County, Mississippi fiddler John Brown. Rounder 0132, Bob Carlin ‑ "Fiddle Tunes for Clawhammer Banjo" (1979).

 

AIN'T GONNA RAIN NO MORE. Old‑Time, Breakdown. D Major. Standard tuning. ABB. Johnson (Kitchen Musician No. 2: Old Timey Fiddle Tunes), 1982 (revised 1988, 2003); pg. 7. Johnson (The Kitchen Musician's Occasional: Waltz, Air and Misc), vol. 1, 1991; pg. 7. Sweet (Fifer’s Delight), 1964/1981; pg. 11. Marimac 9064D, Lauchlin Stamper & A.C. Overton - “Sally with the Run Down Shoes” (1996).

 

AIN'T GOT NO HONEY BABE NOW. Old-Time, Breakdown. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. The source for the tune is Frank Blevins and the Tar Heel Rattlers. Source for notated version: Jere Canote [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 14.

                                   

AIN’T THAT SKIPPIN’ AND A FLYIN’. Old-Time, Breakdown. A Major. Standard tuning. AB. Source for notated version: Bruce Reid [Silberberg]. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; pg. 3.

                       

AIR BHRUACH NA CARRAIGE BAINE. AKA and see "On the Brink of the White Rock."

                                   

AIR BY HAYDN. English, Scottish, New England; Jig. G Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 3; No. 405, pg. 44. Laufman, OK, Let's Try a Contra (CDSS).

X:1

T:Air by Haydn

M:6/8

L:1/8

S:Kerr – Merry Melodies, vol. 3, No. 405  (c. 1880’s)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

D|DGB d2d|dcB A2c|BGd cAe|G3 F2D|DGB d2d|dcB A2c|cBG BAF|A3G2:|

G|GBd ggg|gfe d2d|ecA Ace|G3F2A|AB^c def|B^cd efg|fed ed^c|

ded def|gdB GBd|dcB A2A|Bcd ecA|G3 F2D|DGB ddd|dcB A2c|cBG BAF|A3 G2||

                       

AIR ÉIRE NÍ ‘NEÓSAINN CIA h-Í. See “For Ireland I Won’t Say Her Name [1].”

                       

AIR EN RÉ d’HENRI LANDRY (Tune in D by Henry Landry). French- Canadian, Polka. D Major. Standard tuning. AA’BB’. A ‘crooked’ tune: the ‘A’ part has six measures while the ‘B’ part has eight, though the next to last has an extra beat. Source for notated version: Henri Landry (Pontbriand, near Thetford Mines, Québec) via fiddler Lisa Ornstein [Remon & Bouchard]. Remon & Bouchard (25 Crooked Tunes, vol. 2: Québec Fiddle Tunes), vol. 2, 1997; No. 14. Les Têtes de violon - “Le talencourt.”

                       

AIR FAILLIRINN ILLIRINN.  AKA and see “Ealaidh Ghaoil.”

 

AIR M' FHALLUINN BHEIRINN POG DHI. AKA and see "I'll Kiss the Bonny Lassie, Oh."

                       

AIR (AR) MAIDIN A NAE ‘S (INNE) MÉ GO MOCH (Yesterday morning early when I was). Irish, Air (cut time, “Lively”). G Major. Standard tuning. AB. Source for notated version: a manuscript collection dated 1861 compiled by James Goodman, a Church of Ireland cleric who collected primarily in County Cork [Shields]. Shields (Tunes of the Munster Pipers), 1998; No. 24, pg. 13.

                       

AIR (AR) MO GHABHAIL DHOM AN M-BÓTHAR SHLIGIGH AKA and see "As I Walked On the Road to Sligo."

                                   

AIR (AR) MO GHABHAIL DHOM TAOIBH BHAILE-ÁTHA-CLIATH. AKA and see "As I Was Walking Beside Dublin."

                       


AIR RACES. See “Ayr Races.” 

                       

AIR TUNE, THE. Irish, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Composed by Chicago fiddler Liz Carroll. Holland (The Second Collection). Green Linnet GLCD 1159, Trian – “Trian II.”

X:1

T:Air Tune, The

R:reel

S:Liz Carroll

Z:Bill Reeder

H:I heard this on the internet and then found it on a cd I already owned.

H:Go figure!

N:Sharon Shannon recording? Fire In our bellies?

D:Trian II

Z:From the internet recording, not Trian II

M:C|

L:1/8

Q:1/4=120

K:D

Affe f2ed|f/g/a de f2ed|Beed fded|BA~A2 BAFG|

Affe f2ed|(f/g/a de f2ed|dBBe dBcd|FEED D4:||

a2ga fgef|edcd FADA|Beed fded|BA~A2 BAFA|

a2ga fgef|edcd FADA|GBBA B/c/d BA|Affe d4:||

                       

AIRCHIE BROWN. Scottish, Reel. A Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Composed by James Scott Skinner (1843-1927). MacDonald (The Skye Collection), 1884; pg. 20.

X:1

T:Airchie Brown

M:C

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:MacDonald – Skye Collection

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A

f|(eA)ce a2 ec|Bcde f(BB)f|eAce a2 ec|Bcde cAA:|

f|e(aga faea)|da ca bBBf|e(aga faea)|da Ba c(AA)f|

e(aga faea)|da ca b(BB)d|(cA)ce a2 ec|Bcde cAA||

                                               

AIRDE CUAN. Irish, Air (4/4 time). B Minor. Standard tuning. One part. Ó Canainn (Traditional Slow Airs), 1995; No. 49, pg. 44. Rounder 3067, Alan Stivell ‑ "Renaissance of the Celtic Harp" (1982).

                       

AIRGEAD CAILLIGHE. AKA and see "The Old Woman's Money."

                       

AIRGEAD IN GAC POCA. AKA and see "Money in Both Pockets [1]."

                       

AIRGEAD RÉALACH (Sixpenny Money). AKA and see "The Madcap," "Sixpenny Money."

                       

AIRGIOD CAILLIGHE. See “Old Woman’s Money.”

                       

AIRIDH NAM BADAN. AKA and see "The Glen of Copsewood."

                       

ÁIRÍTEAR MAR DHÍTH CÉILLE É. AKA and see "It Goes as Follies."

 

AIRTHREY LOCH. Shetland, Jig. A Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Composed by Tom Anderson (1982). Anderson (Ringing Strings), 1983; pg. 94.

 

AISDEAR FAOI SOLAS NA RE. AKA and see "(A) Moonlight Ramble."

 

AISGAIRM AN AONACDA. AKA and see "Repeal of the Union [1]."

 

AISGHAIRM NA hAONTACHTA (The Repeal of the Union). AKA and see “The Repeal of the Union [1].”

 

AISLEAN AN OIGFEAR. AKA and see “The Young Man’s Dream,” “Danny Boy.”

 

AISLING AN DIABAIL. AKA and see "The Devil's Dream."

 

AISLING GHEAL (A Bright Vision). Irish, Air (4/4 time). D Major. Standard tuning. One part. The song was recovered from the Martin Freeman collection by Seán Ó Riada, according to Tomás ÓCanainn (A Lifetime of Notes, 1996), originally collected in the west Cork gaeltacht from the singing of a woman in the late 19th century. Cranitch (Irish Fiddle Book), 1996; pg. 104. Ó Canainn (Traditional Slow Airs of Ireland), 1995; No. 60, pg. 54

 

AISLING MHÁIRE. AKA and see “Mary’s Dream.”

 

AISLING MAOR MAELMOICEIRGE. AKA and see "Sergeant Early's Dream."

 

AISLING PAIDIN UÍ RIAIN. AKA and see "Paddy Ryan's Dream."


 

AISLING UÍ CHIARDHA (Carey’s Dream). AKA and see “Carey’s Dream.”.

 

AITBEODAD GAEDEALAC, AN. AKA and see "The Gaelic Revival."

                       

AITH RANT. Shetland, Jig. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. A "trowie," or fairy, tune, which tradition holds was heard by a Cunningsburgh carptenter in about 1790, as he was coming home one night after celebrating the completion of a sixareen, or small fishing boat. Hearing sounds emanating from a green mound, the man crept up to it and through a crack in the rock in the moonlight was amazed to spy trowie dancers cavorting to the melody. "Being a noted fiddler, he managed to take down the tune in sol‑fa, and when he got gome he played it on his fiddle" (Anderson & Georgeson). Source for notated version: J. Irvine (Roadside, Cunningsburgh, Shetland) [Anderson & Georgeson]. Anderson & Georgeson (Da Mirrie Dancers), 1970; pg. 14. Hunter (Fiddle Music of Scotland), 1988; No. 365.

 

AITHERNIE LODGE.  AKA and see “Old Adam.” Scottish, Jig. Scotland, Orkney Islands. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB’. Source for notated version: fiddler Tommy Mainland (b. 1938, Orkney) [Martin]. Martin (Traditional Scottish Fiddling). 2002; pg. 103.

                       

AKEROYDE’S PAD. English. The tune appears in the 11th edition of Playford’s English Dancing Master (1701), marking the taking over of the series by Henry Playford from John Playford.

                       

AKSLA-BITEN (Shoulder Bite). Norwegian, Lydarslatter. A lydarslatter is a listening piece for the hardanger fiddle. The title is said to have derived from the idiosyncratic habits of one Elling Sjor, a lover of Harding fiddling, which so moved him that he would sit as close as possible to the performer with his head resting of the fiddler's left shoulder. During a famous rendition of this piece by the fiddler Nilson Bolko, he was unable to restrain himself during certain passages and actually dug his teeth into Bolko's shoulder (Hopkins, 1986).

                       

ALABAMA GALS. AKA and see "Roundtown Gals," "Buffalo Gals [1]." Old‑Time; Breakdown, Song. USA; north Ga., central Ala. G Major. Standard. AABB. This popular melody was in the repertoire of Fiddlin’ John Carson (north Ga., 1922) under this title. It was predicted (in the Chilton  County {Ala.} News of June 1st, 1922) to "vie with the latest jazz nerve wreckers for first place" at a Chilton County convention (Cauthen, 1990). See note for "Buffalo Gals [1]."  African-American fiddler Joe Thompson played this tune in GDGD tuning.

***

I know a gal with a wart on her chin,

Her eyes turned out and her ears turned in;

She's a darned good gal for the shape she's in

And I told her just to come out tonight.

***

Alabama Gals won't you come out tonight,

Come out tonight, come out tonight,

Alabama Gals won't you come out tonight,

And dance by the light of the moon.

***

Source for notated version: Woodring and Neithammer (Pa.) [Kuntz]. Kuntz (Ragged but Right), 1987; pg. 323. Marimac Cassette, "Tuesday Nite Live."

X:1

T:Alabama Gals

M:2/4

L:1/8

B:Kuntz – Ragged but Right

K:G

(3D/E/F/|G/)F/G/A/ B/A/B/c/|d/e/d/A/ B/A/B/B/|c/d/c/B/ A/F/A/(^c/|d/)e/d/A/ B(3D/E/F/|

G/F/G/A/ B/A/B/c/|d/e/d/A/ B/A/B/c/|d/e/d/A/ B/G/A|G>G G:|

|:e/f/|g/g/f/f/ e/(A/d/)(e/|e/)f/e/A/ B/A/B|c/d/c/B/ Ad|e/dd/ Be/f/|

gf/f/ e/A/d|e/f/e/A/ B/A/B/c/|d/e/d/c/ B/G/A|G3:|

 


ALABAMA JUBILEE. Old‑Time, Jazz tune. The Skillet Lickers (in the configuration of Gid Tanner and Clayton McMichen on fiddles, Riley Pucket on guitar and vocals, and Fate Norris on banjo) recorded the song in Atlanta on April 17th, 1926, one of eight sides for Columbia records. Wayne W. Daniel (in his book Pickin’ on Peachtree: A History of Country Music in Atlanta, Georgia, 1990) opines: “The output from this historic recording session makes for a rather unimpressive list of what even there were long-familiar tunes and songs: “Hand Me Down My Walking Cane,” “Bully of the Town,” “Pass Around the Bottle and We’ll All Take a Drink,” “Alabama Jubilee,” “Watermelon on the Vine,” “Don’t You Hear Jerusalem Moan,” “Ya Gotta Quit Kickin’ My Dog Aroun’,” and “Turkey in the Straw.”” The melody was also recorded in Atlanta, Georgia, for Victor Records by fiddler Bill Helms of Thomastown, a village south of the city. Helms was backed on the recordings by Grady Owens (fiddle), John Hogan (banjo, guitar) and Ty Cobb Hogan (guitar). Later, “in 1931, Helms recorded for Columbia with Riley Puckett and Gid Tanner as the Home Town Boys” (Wayne W. Daniel, Pickin’ on Peachtree, 1990, pg. 81). Gennett 7240 (78 RPM), 1930, Tweedy Brothers (W.Va. brother band, Harry, George, and Charles, who played twin fiddles and piano).

 

ALABAMA TRAVELLER. Old-Time. The tune is mentioned in a period news account as having been played at the 1922 Georgia Old Time Fiddlers' Association annual state championship held in Atlanta. The title is perhaps a substitution for "Arkansas Traveller" or may be a distint tune.

 

ALABAMA TROT. AKA and see “Georgia Fox Trot.” Old‑Time, Dance Tune. USA, east Tenn. C Major. Standard tuning. Originally a mandolin piece. The Roane County Ramblers fiddler Jimmy McCarroll called the tune “Georgia Fox Trot,” but the tune was issued by Columbia under the ‘Alabama’ title, for some reason. Kerry Blech traces modern popularity of the tune to Major Contay and the Canebreak Rattlers who played the tune a lot in the 1970’s, and to Blech’s own Ohio band, the Rhythm Gorrillas, in the 1980’s. Blech himself helped popularize it on the west coast when he moved there. County 403, Roane County Ramblers (East Tenn.., featuring “Uncle” Jimmy McCarroll on fiddle) - “Complete Recordings 1928-29” {1971. Originally recorded 1929 on Columbia 15570}. County CD 3511, The Roane County Ramblers – “Rural String Bands of Tennessee” (1997).

 

ALABAMA WALTZ. Old‑Time, Breakdown (2/4 time). USA, Mississippi. A Major. ADae. A version of "Rye Straw."

 

ALACK AND ALAS SHE WAS DUMB. AKA and see "Dumb, Dumb, Dumb," "Paul's Steeple," "I Am the Duke of Norfolk."

 

ALAMOOTIE, DA. 'Alamootie' is the Shetland name for the Stormy Petrel (a bird). Shetland, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Composed by the late Shetland teacher, composer, fiddler and collector Tom Anderson (1981). Anderson (Ringing Strings), 1983; pg. 43.

 

ALAN DAVIDSON. Scottish, Reel. Composed by J.B. Robertson. Atlantica Music 02 77657 50222 26, Kyle & Lucy MacNeil - “Atlantic Fiddles” (1994). Barra Music Co., The Barra MacNeils - “Rock in the Stream” (1989).

 

ALAN LERWICK'S LAMENT FOR THE DIVORCE OF HIS WIFE'S PARENTS. Scottish, Slow Air. E Minor. Standard tuning. ABCD. A modern composition by Alan Lerwick (1983), a Scottish-style fiddler from California. Lerwick (The Kilted Fiddler), 1985; pg. 72‑73.

 

ALAN MACPHERSON OF MOSSPARK. Scottish, Jig. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB'CCDD'. Composed by Pipe Major Angus MacDonald. Martin (Ceol na Fidhle), Vol. 2, 1988; pg. 16.

 

ALAN O'DALE HORNPIPE. AKA and see "Alandale('s) Hornpipe." American, Hornpipe. USA, Pennsylvania