The Fiddler’s
Companion
© 1996-2008 Andrew Kuntz
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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] |
AR A' mBAILE SEO TA AN CHIOLFHIONN (In this village
dwells the fair lady). AKA and see "Within this Village
Dwells a Maid [1]."
AR
BRUAC NA ABAINNE. AKA and see "On the River Bank."
'AR ÉIRINN NI 'NEOSFAINN CE HI (“For
AR HYD Y NOS. Welsh, Air. The tune appears in Jones’s first edition of Musical and Poetical Relicks of the Welsh
Bards (1784).
AR LAOCHRA. Irish, Air (or Jig). D Major. Standard. AB. Composed by Frank Roche,
who compiled the early 20th century collection bearing his name. Roche Collection, 1982; vol. III, pg.
11.
AR
MAIDIN GO MOC. AKA and see "Early in the Morning [1]."
AR
MHUIN NA MUICE.
AKA and see “On the Pig’s Back.”
Irish, Reel. Composed by
AR
n-OILEAN BEAG FEIN. AKA and see "Our Own Little Isle."
AR
SLIABH BREAC. Irish, Slow Air (4/4 time). D
Major/Mixolydian. Standard tuning. AB. Composed by fiddler and pianist
Josephine Keegan (b. 1935), of Mullaghbawn, south
AR
THAOIBH NA CARRAIGE BAINE. Irish, Air. The tune printed under
this title in Petrie’s 1855 collection is, in fact, “Bruach na Carraige Baine”
(The Brink of the White Rock), explains Ó Canainn (1978), despite Petrie’s
protestations in his introduction that it is not “Bruach na Carraige Baine.”
ARABELLA’S
(WALTZ).
English (?), Waltz. D Major (‘A’ and ‘B’ parts) & B Minor (‘C’
part). Standard tuning. AABBCC. Kennedy (Fiddler’s
Tune-Book: Slip Jigs and Waltzes), 1999; No. 94, pg. 23.
ARABY'S
DAUGHTER. Irish, Air (6/8 time, "with
spirit"). D Major. Standard tuning. AB. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 305, pg. 53.
X:1
T:Araby’s
Daughter
M:6/8
L:1/8
R:Air
N:”With
spirit”
S:O’Neill –
Music of
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:D
d | fzd
f>ed | e>de fdd | d>cB Adf | egf e2 d/e/ | f>ed f>ed | e>de
fdd |
dcB Adf |
f>ed
f>ed | e>de fdd | dcB Adf |
ARAIDH/AIRIDH NA mBADAN. AKA and see "The Glen of Copsewood." See
Bayard's notes for "Over
the River to Charlie."
ARAN
BOAT SONG. See "The
Arran Boat."
ARBANA. AKA and see "Ben Butler's
Reel." American, Reel. B Flat Major. Standard tuning. AABBCCDD. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 17. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pgs. 42
& 78.
X:1
T:Arbana
M:2/4
L:1/8
R:Reel
B:Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, pg. 42 (1883)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:B Flat
Major
(3F/G/A/|B/F/d/B/
A/F/e/c/|B/F/d/B/ g/f/e/c/|B/F/d/B/ A/F/e/c/|A/F/G/A/ B:|
|:d|c/B/A/G/
F/A/c/e/|d/B/f/d/ b/f/e/d/|c/B/A/G/ F/A/c/e/|d/e/c/A/ B:|
|:(g/f/)|=e/g/B/g/
e/g/B/g/|f/c/a/f/ b/a/g/f/|=e/g/B/g/ e/g/B/g/|f/a/g/=e/ f:|
|:f|f/e/c/A/
F/E/C/E/|D/F/B/d/ f/d/b/f/|f/e/c/A/ F/E/C/E/|D/B/A/c/ B:|
ARBEADIE. Scottish, Strathspey. D Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Composed by J. Scott Skinner. Skinner (The Scottish Violinist); pg. 6.
X:1
T:Arbeadie
M:C
L:1/8
R:Strathspey
C:J. Scott
Skinner
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:D
A>G
F>A D<D F2 | B>A G>B E<
|| g | f/g/a
(3gfe dFAd | (3gab (3agf eGBe | f/g/a (3gfe dFAd | (3cde (3bag f<d d>g |
(3fga (3gfe
dFAd | (3gab (3agf eGBe | f/g/a g/f/e (3dcB (3AGF | (3EFG (3ABc d<D D2
||
ARBOE [1]. Irish, Jig. G Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 1977;
vol. 3, No. 60.
ARBOE [2]. AKA and see “Come West
Along the Road,” “The Monasteraden
Fancy,” “Over the Moor to Peggy.”
ARCADIAN
CONTEST, THE. English, Jig.
ARCADIAN
NUPTIALS. English, American; Country Dance
Tune (9/8 time). F Major. Standard tuning. AABBCC. Thomson's 200 Country Dances, volume III (London,
1773, pg. 100) contains the earliest printing of this melody, however, it must
have been quite a bit older since the piece was recorded as having been one of
the melodies danced to at a 1752 "turtle frolic" at Goats Island,
near Newport, Rhode Island (a turtle frolic was a special event when West Indes
turtles, towed astern from the Carribean, arrived in port). It appears in
ARCADIAN
ONE STEP. Cajun, One‑step.
ARCHDUKE
JOHN OF AUSTRIA. Scottish, Strathspey. D Minor.
AABB'. Archduke John of Austria (1782-1859) was a military leader,
unfortunately chiefly remembered in that role for his defeat at the hands of
Moreau at the Battle of Hohenlinden in Bavaria in 1800, closing the “War of the
Second Coalition” during Europe’s Napoleonic Wars. Later in life he was
appointed Regent of the Reich in
X:1
T:Archduke John of
M:C
L:1/8
R:Strathspey
B:Stewart-Robertson – The Athole Collection (1884)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:F
a|f<d d<c A<d d>f|e>cg>c e/f/g/e/ c<a|f<d d>c A<d d>f|e>c a/g/f/e/ f<dd:|
|:A|d>ef>e d<A A>F|E>cG>c E<C C>A|1 d>e f/g/e/f/ d<A A>F|
E>c A/B/^c/A/ d<DD:|2 D>FE>G F>AG>b|a>A
a/g/f/e/ ~f<dd||
ARCHIBALD MACDONALD OF
KEPPOCH. Scottish, Slow Air (6/8 time). D
Minor. Standard tuning. AAB. See "Keppoch A Wilderness" for related
history of the MacDonalds of Keppoch. The tune was first published by the Scots
fiddler, collector and composer Captain Simon Fraser (1773-1852) of Ardachie,
near Fort Augustus. Fraser's work The
Airs and Melodies Peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland and the Isles contained
many works collected from vaious sources during the period 1715-1745. The
MacDonalds of Keppoch were a distinguished branch of Clan MacDonald, who
supported the Stewart monarchs in the 17th century, culminating with
their participation in the Jacobite risings of the 18th century. As
a result of their support for the Jacobite cause they lost their lands in Lochaber/
Roy Bridge and they are currently without an officially recognized clan chief. Although it has not been determined
which individual has been honored in the title, an Archibald MacDonald lived
from 1678 to 1745, dying just prior to the entrance of the MacDonald’s of
Keppoch on the side of Bonnie Prince Charlie in his ill-fated attempt to gain
the crown of Scotland and England. Lerwick (Kilted
Fiddler), 1985; pg. 71. Martin (Ceol
na Fidhle), Vol. 2, 1988; pg. 20 (includes a harmony part). Matthiesen (Waltz Book II), 1995; pg. 2. Culburnie Records CUL 121D, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie
Haas – “Fire and Grace” (2004). Green Linnet SIF 1047, Johnny Cunningham ‑
"Fair Warning" (1985). Elke Baker & Liz Donaldson -
"Terpsichore."
X:1
T:Archibald
MacDonald of Keppoch
R:Slow Air
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:D Minor
D/E/|F>GA
f>ed|c<AF G2 D/E/|F>GA f>ed |A<d^c d2:|
d/e/||f>ed
c>BA|B>AG A2 D/E/|F>GA f>ed|A<d^c d2 f/g/|
a>gf
A<fd|c>AF G2 D/E/|F>GA f>ga|A<d^c d2||
ARCHY BOYLAN. Irish, Air (2/4 time). E Flat Major/Mixolydian. Standard tuning. AB.
Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection),
1905; No. 744, pg. 186.
X:1
T:Archy
Boylan
M:2/4
L:1/8
S:Stanford/Petrie
(1905), No. 744
Z:AK/Fiddler’s
Companion
K:E_
G/A/ | BB
BA/B/ | c>B AF | AF EE | E3 || G/A/ | BB Bc/d/ | ee ed/e/ |
f>e _dc/B/
| c3 c/B/ | BB Bc/d/ | ee ed/e/ | f>e _dc/B/ | c3 d/c/ | BB BA/B/ |
c>B AF |
AF EE | E3 ||
ARCHIE/AIRCHE
BROWN. Scottish, Reel. A Major. Standard
tuning. AAB. Composed by J. Scott Skinner.
MacDonald (The Skye Collection),
1887; pg. 20.
ARCHIE
MENZIE'S REEL. AKA and see "Bells of St. Louis."
Scottish, Canadian, New
X:1
T:Archie
Menzies Reel
M:C|
L:1/8
S:From a
transcription by Carmelle Begin of the playing of fiddler Dawson Girdwood.
K:D
A,2|:D2
(A,D) FDA,D|FABc dAFD|({E/F/}E2) (B,E) GEB,E|GABc dBAF|
D2 (A,D)
FDA,D|FABc dAFD|G2 (EG) (FE)(DE/F/)|1 EDCE D2 (A,B,/C/):|2
EDCE D2
(3ABc||
|:d2
(A>d) f>DA>d|f>de>c d>AFA|e2 (Be) geBe|gefd e(dc>A)|
d2 (A>d)
fdAd|fdec dA FD|G>FE>G F>E (3DEF|1 (3EED C>E D2 (3ABc:|2
E>DC>E
D2 (A,B,C||
X:2
T:Archie
Menzies Reel
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:F
C2|F2 CF
AFEF|Acde fdAF|G2 DG BGDG|Bdef gdBG|
F2 CF
AFEF|Acde fcAF|BdGB AcFA|GFDE F2:|
|:e2|f2 cf
afef|cfag fedc|g2 dg bg^fg|dgba gfed|cfef afef|cfag fedc|BdGB AcFA|GFDE F2:|
ARCHIE
NEIL CHISHOLM. Canadian, Pipe March (cut time).
Canada, Cape Breton. A Dorian. Standard tuning. AABB’. Composed by Cape Breton
fiddler Brenda Stubbert (b. 1959, Point Aconi, Cape Breton). Cranford (Brenda Stubbert’s), 1994; No. 3, pg. 2. Celestial Entertainment CECS001, Brenda Stubbert - “In Jig
Time!” (1995).
ARCHIE
STEWART’S FAVORITE.
Canadian, Jig.
ARCHIE
STEWART’S REEL. Canadian, Reel. Canada; Prince
Edward Island, New Brunswick. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for
notated version: the tune was learned from a broadcast from New Brunswick of a
radio fiddler and remembered (though not the title) by Archie Stewart (b. 1917,
Milltown Cross, South Kings County, Prince Edward Island) [Perlman]. Perlman (The Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island),
1996; pg. 80.
ARCHIE'S
FANCY. English, Waltz.
ÁRD
AN BHÓTHAIR (High Part of the
Road). AKA and
see “High Part of the Road,” “Blooming Meadows [1].”
ÁRD MHÍN, AN. AKA and see “High Level
{Hornpipe} [1].”
ÁRD NA BRAHAR. AKA and see "Friars' Hill."
ARDA
BERKSHIRE. AKA and see "The Berkshire Heights."
ARDAIDH CUAIN. Irish, Air. D Major. Standard tuning. AB. Ardaidh Cuain (Ardí Cuan or
Ardicoan) is a townland in County Antrim, situated on a hill above Knocknacarry
and Cushendun in the north-east part of the county.
***
Ardí Cuan (from, Ceolta Gael, ed. Seán
óg and Manus O Baoill)
***
Dá mbeinn féin in Airdí Cuan
in aice an tsléibhe úd 'tá i bhfad uaim
b'annamh liom gan dul ar cuairt
go Gleann na gcuach Dé Domhnaigh.
***
Curfá
Agus och, och Éire 'lig is ó
Éire lonndubh agus ó
is é mo chroi 'tá trom is é brónach.
***
Is iomaí Nollaig 'bhi mé féin
i mbun abhann Doinne is mé gan chéill
ag iomáin ar an trá bhán
is mo chamán bán i mo dhorn liom.
Curfá
***
Nach tuirseach mise anseo liom féin
nach n-airim guth coiligh, londubh nó traon,
gaelbhán, smaolach, naoscach féin,
is chan aithnim féin an Domhnach.
Curfá
***
Dá mbeadh agam féin ach coit is rámh
nó go n-iomarfainn ar an tsámh
ag dúil as Dia go sroichfinn slán
is go bhfaighinn bás in Éirinn.
Curfá
***
Tubridy (Irish
Traditional Music, vol. 1), 1999; pg. 42.
ARDCLACH. Scottish, Reel. B Flat Major. Standard tuning. AA'B. Composed by
Alexander Walker. Walker (A Collection of
Strathspeys, Reels, Marches, &c.), 1866; No. 43, pg. 16.
ARDERIN. Irish. Composed by County Tipperary fiddler Seán Ryan (d. 1985). Ryan (Seán Ryan’s Dream: The Second Collection),
26.
L'ARDEUR DE PARIS. American, Waltz. D Minor. Standard tuning.
Composed by Eric Scott (1924-1991) in 1985, who thought the melody reminiscent
of French cafe waltzes. His wife suggested the name, which means "glow of
Paris." One part. Matthiesen (Waltz
Book II), 1995; pg. 3.
ARDKINGLAS'S
REEL. Scottish, Reel. The tune appears in
a MS inscribed "A Collection of the best Highland Reels written by David
Young, W.M. & Accomptant."
ARDLAMON. Irish, Hornpipe. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Ardlamon is a place
name from County Limerick. "From Davy Cleary, piper and dancing‑master,
Kilfinane: 1842" (Joyce). Joyce (Old
Irish Folk Music and Songs), 1909; No. 39, pg. 22.
X:1
T:Ardlamon
M:C
L:1/8
R:Hornpipe
S:Joyce – Old Irish Folk Music and Songs (1909)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:G
DGGF G2
Bc|dgfa gdBG|EAAG A2 BA|GFGE DCB,A,|G,GGF GABc|
dgfa gdBG|Eedc
BAGF|G2G2 G3z:|
|:Eeed
efga|bagf edBA|G2 GA BABd|egfd e/d/BAF|E2 ed e2 ga|
b/c’/baf
edBG|Eedc BAGF|G2G2G2:|
ARDOIN TWO-STEP. AKA and see “Perrodin Two Step.”
Cajun/Creole, Two-Step. A version of the “Perrodin Two-Step.” Arhoolie CD445, Alphonse “Bois Sec” Ardoin with Canray
Fontenot - “La Musique Creole.”
ARDRISHAIG. AKA and see “Donald John
the Tailor.” Scottish, Cape Breton; Strathspey. Originally published in
Robert MacKinnon’s Collection of Highland
Pipe Music (1901/6). Ardrishaig (or, in Gaelic, ‘Rudh Ard driseig’) is a
place name. A Cape Breton pipe setting can be found in Barry Shears’ Cape Breton Collection of Bagpipe Music
(1995).
ARDROSSAN
CANAL, THE. Scottish, Strathspey. F Major.
Standard. AB. Composed by Nathaniel Gow.
Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986;
No. 4.
ARDTAOISEAC
FRASER, AN. AKA and see "Colonel Fraser."
ARDTAOISEAC
MIC BAEITINE, AN. AKA and see "Colonel McBain's."
ARDTAOISEAC
RODNAIG, AN. AKA and see "Colonel Rodney."
ARE
YE SLEEPIN’ MAGGIE?
Scottish, Air or March. E Minor. Standard. AABB. A song air employed as
a march by fiddler Randy Miller. Miller (Fiddler’s
Throne), 2004; No. 328, pg. 194.
ARE
YOU HUNGRY LITTLE SEAMUS? (A Sheamuis Bhig a
bhfuil Ocras Ort?). AKA and see “The Roving Bachelor.”
Irish, Highland. See “(A)
Sheamuis Bhig a bhfuil Ocras Ort?”
ARE YOU NOT THE BRIGHT STAR THAT USED TO BE BEFORE ME? AKA and see “One night I dreamt.”
ARE YOU READY YET? Irish, Reel. E Minor. Standard tuning. AABBCC. Composed by Danú flute
player Tom Doorley, “with a little inspiration from his girlfriend Deirdre.” Shanachie 78030, Danú – “Think Before You Think” (2000).
X:1
T:Are You
Ready Yet?
R:Reel
D:Danu:
Think Before You Think
Z:Bill
Reeder
M:C|
L:1/8
K:Em
B2AF
EGFE|FDFA dAFA|BAAF EGFE|FGFD ~B3A|
B2AF
EGFE|FDFA dAFA|BAAF EGFE|FGFD ~B3c:||
Beed
deef|gefa gfeg|fdBA B2fB|gBfB edBA|
Beed
deez|gefa g4|bage agfd|Bgfd e4:||
BAGF
~G3A|dBAG FEDF|E2BA (3Bcd eg|ef~f2 e2fe|
edBe dBAF|BAGF
EFGA|BedB AcBA|GAFA E4:||
ARE YOU SHOT? AKA and see "The Ducks and The Oats." See
also "The Tenpenny Bit [2],"
"The New Tenpenny."
ARE
YOU WILLING? (An E Do Toil E?)
Irish, Reel. A Major. Standard tuning. AB (O'Neill/1850 & 1001):
AA'B (O'Neill/Krassen). O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 150. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies),
1903/1979; No. 1494, pg. 276. O'Neill (Dance
Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 718, pg. 126.
X:1
T:Are You
Willing?
M:C|
L:1/8
R:Reel
S:O’Neill –
Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems
(1907), No. 718
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:A
A2 EA FAEA|ABcA
BABc|A2 EA FAEA|faed cABc|A2 EA FAEA|
ABcA
BABc|defg agae|fdBd cA A2||agae fece|dBcA GAFA|
agae
fgae|fdBd cAAg|aece fece|dBcA BAFA|A,CEA ceae|fdBd cA A2||
AREIR A TEIRIGHIG SCEUL DHOM TREM NEULTA. AKA and see "Last Night a
Story Came to Me in My Dreams."
AREIR AS ME AG MACHTNAMH AIR BHEARTAIBH AN t-SAOGHAIL. AKA and see "Last Night
as I was Thinking of the Ways of the World."
ARETHUSA, THE. AKA – ‘The Saucy Arethusa.” AKA and see "The Princess Royal [1]." See
also Oswald's "My Love is Lost
to Me," which Bayard questions as to whether it is derivative of, or
ancestral to, Carolan's tune. The song appeared in the opera The Lock and Key, acted in 1796, with
words by Prince Hoare, music composed and selected by William Shield, and
relates the engagement of the English frigate The Arethusa with a larger French warship, La Belle Poule, in the English Channel in June, 1778. Although often attributed to Shield, he
himself only claimed to have added the bass.
Irish writers have claimed that Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738) composed
the tune as “The Princess Royal,” in honor of a daughter of Macdermott Roe.
Kidson (Groves), however, maintains
it was an English country dance from the early 18th century,
dedicated to Anne, daughter of George II, who married the Prince of Orange in
1734. For more see Roly Brown’s article at Musical Traditions (http://www.mustrad.org.uk/enthuse.htm),
No. 45.
ARGAN MOR. AKA and see "The Battle
of Argan More."
ARGEERS. AKA – “The Wedding Night.” English, Country Dance (2/2 time). B Flat
Major (Barnes, Fleming‑Williams, Raven, Sharp): D Major (Johnson,
Williamson). Standard tuning. AABB. The tune dates at least to 1651, when it
was first published in John Playford’s first edition of his English Dancing Master, with the
alternate title “The Wedding Night.” Williamson (1976) identifies the melody as
a morris dance tune from southern England, and suggests that the title might
have been a garbled version of the North African territory of 'Algiers.' This
may be true: the Barbary coast, including Algiers, was long the haven of
pirates that prayed on shipping for many centuries. Shakespeare and Dryden both
refer to Algerian pirates by the term ‘Argiers’, and Luttrell writes: “His
majestie hath granted a brief for making charitable collections for the
redemption of captives at Argiers” [I, 37]. The Barbary pirates remained active
into the next century, and they were a topic Playford’s day in England, as that
country sought to suppress them in support of trade. Samuel Pepys makes mention
in his diary for November 22nd, 1662: “News that Sir J. Lawson hath
made up a peace now with Tunis and Tripoli, as well as Argiers, by which he will come home very highly honoured.” The
entry references Sir John Lawson, born the son of a poor man in Hull,
Yorkshire, entered the navy as a common seaman but rose to the rank of
vice-admiral. Lawson spent the early 1660’s trying to suppress the pirates of
the African coast and, in 1664, he “made the Algerines disgorge eighteen
vessels…” after which he proceeded to relieve Tangier. He was killed fighting
the Dutch in 1665, acting as Rear-Admiral of the Red under the Duke of York.
***
‘
***
Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes), 1986.
Fleming‑Williams & Shaw (English
Dance Airs; Popular Selection, Book 1), 1965; pg. 7. Johnson (The Kitchen Musician No. 14; Songs, Airs and
Dances of the 18th Century), 1997; pg. 1. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg.
20. Sharp (Country Dance Tunes),
1909/1994; pg. 30. Williamson (English,
Welsh, Scottish and Irish Fiddle Tunes), 1976; pg. 17. Maggie’s Music MMCD216, Hesperus - “Early American Roots”
(1997).
X:1
T:Argreers
M:2/2
L:1/8
S:Sharp – Country Dance Tunes (1909)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:B_
|: (Bcde
c2.B2 | .A2.F2 F4 | (f2c2f3e | d2)B2 B4 |
(Bcde c2B2
| A3B c2 (F2 | GA B2) (ABcd | B6) z2 :|
|: (ABc2 )
(ABc2) .f2.c2.f2c2 | (ABc2) (ABc2) | .f2.c2.f2c2 |
(f2ed e2 fe
| d2 cB c3)(F | GABc ABcd | B6z2 :|
ARGILE'S
BOULING GREEN. Scottish, Country Dance. The melody
appears in the Holmain Manuscript
(1710‑50), a six‑page book of instructions for country dances.
ARGLYE('S) BOWLING GREEN. AKA and
see “The Braes of Glencoe.” Scottish,
Reel. C Major. Standard tuning. AB (Gow/Repository,
Surenne): AAB (most versions): AABBCCDD (Bremner). The melody appears in the Drummond Castle Manuscript, inscribed
"A Collection of Country Dances written for the use of his Grace the Duke
of Pert by Dav. Young, 1734,” which in the early 1970's was in the possession
of the Earl of Ancaster at Drummond Castle. However, perhaps not aware of that
work, Glen finds the earliest appearance of the piece in Robert Bremner's 1757 collection (pg.
70). It has been suggested that the ‘bowling green’ title is an Englished
corruption of the Gaelic "buaile na greine" (sunny cattle-fold).
However, Argyle’s Bowling Green is also the nickname of a range of hills and mountains
known as the ‘Arrochar Alps’, especially as seen from the fjord-like Loch
Long. A melody by this name (“Argile’s Bouling Green”) appears in the Holmain Manuscript (1710‑50), a
six‑page book of instructions for country dances. The name Argyll derives
from the Gaelic ‘Airer Gaedel’, or ‘coast of the Gaels,’ and refers to the area
of Scotland first invaded by the Irish tribes in the 5th century.
Source for notated version: George MacPhee (b. 1941, Monticello, North-East
Kings County, Prince Edward Island) [Perlman]. Bremner (Scots Reels), 1757; pg. 70. Gow (Completre Repository),
Part 4, 1817; pg. 31. Kerr (Merry
Melodies), Vol. 2; No. 85, pg. 12. Lowe (A Collection of Reels and Strathspeys), 1844. MacDonald (The Skye Collection), 1887; pg. 120.
Perlman, 1996; pg. 119. Stewart-Robertson
(The Athole Collection), 1884; pg.
66. Surenne (Dance Music of
|
See also listings at: Alan Syner’s Cape Breton Fiddle
Recording Index |
X:1
T:Argyle
M:C|
L:1/8
R:Reel
B:Stewart-Robertson – The Athole Collection (1884)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:C
E|C2c2 cded|cdcA G^FED|C2c2 cded|cBcE D3:|
c|GecE GEEA|GecE G2 GA|GecE GEEF|GAGE D2Da|
gec’e geea|gec’e g2ga|gec’e geef|gage d2d||
ARGYLE
IS MY NAME. Scottish, Jig. D Major. Standard
tuning. AABB. The name Argyll derives from the Gaelic ‘Airer Gaedel’, or
‘coast of the Gaels,’ and refers to the area of Scotland first invaded by the
Irish tribes in the 5th century. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol.
1; No. 15, pg. 32.
X:1
T:Argyle is
My Name
M:6/8
L:1/8
R:Jig
S:Kerr – Merry Melodies, vol. 1, No. 15 (c. 1880’s)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:D
A|d>ed
dcd|fee e2g|f>ed (f<a)A|ABc dfe|d>ed dcd|
fee
e2g|f>ed (f<a)A|ABc d2::a|afd dfa|agf g2b|
afd dfa|agf
eef|g>ag g>ag|A>BA g>ag|fed (f<a)A|ABc d2:|
ARGYLL REEL. Scottish, Reel. The name Argyll derives from the Gaelic ‘Airer
Gaedel’, or ‘coast of the Gaels,’ and refers to the area of Scotland first
invaded by the Irish tribes in the 5th century. Green
Linnet SIF‑1094, Capercaillie ‑ "Sidewaulk" (1989).
ARIEL HORNPIPE. AKA and see "Ball and
Pin Hornpipe." New England, Canadian; Hornpipe. A Major. Standard
tuning. AABB. The tune may just possibly have been named for the clipper ship Ariel, a name that appears in American Clipper Ships 1833-1858 by Howe
and Matthews. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes),
1940; pg. 90. Messer (Anthology of
Favorite Fiddle Tunes), 1980; No. 107, pg. 69. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 124.
|
See also listings at: Alan Snyder’s Cape Breton Fiddle Recording
Index |
X:1
T:Ariel
Hornpipe
R:Hornpipe
M:2/4
L:1/16
Z:Transcribed
by Bruce Osborne
K:A
A2|A,CEA
c2BA|BEGB d2cB|cAce aecA|BcdB AGFE|
A,CEA
c2BA|BEGB d2cB|Acea gfdB|A2c2 A2:|
|:(3efg|aece
a2ga|fdBd f2ed|cAce aecA|BcdB AGFE|
aece a2ga|fdBd f2ed|Acea Begb|gefg
a2:|
ARISAIG CAIRN. Canadian, March (2/4 time). Canada, Cape Breton. A Major/Mixolydian.
Standard tuning. AABBCCDD. Composed by
ARISAIG JIG. Canadian, Jig.
ARISAIG MIST. Canadian, Slow Air (4/4 time). D Dorian. Standard tuning. AABCCD.
Composed by Cape Breton fiddler Wilfred Gillis, originally set in D Minor.
Source for notated version: Winston Fitzgerald (1914-1987, Cape Breton)
[Cranford]. Cranford (Winston Fitzgerald),
1997; No. 230, pg. 92.
ARIZONA STOMP. Old‑Time,
Breakdown. The tune was composed by fiddler Huggins Williams of the East Texas
Serenaders. The name Arizona had humble origins, and was first used by Spanish
explorers referring to ‘the little spring’. It was used by a mining company
which brought it to public notice and it soon came to represent an entire
territory of the American southwest (Matthews, 1972). County
410, "The East Texas Serenaders, 1927‑1936" (1977).
ARIZONA WALTZ. Old-Time, Waltz. D
Major. Standard tuning. AA'B. The name Arizona had humble origins, and was
first used by Spanish explorers referring to ‘the little spring’. It was used
by a mining company which brought it to public notice and it soon came to
represent an entire territory of the American southwest (Matthews, 1972). The
waltz is copyrighted to Rex Allen, who recorded it in the 1950’s or 60’s.
Source for notated version: Clem Myers [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), Vol.
2, 1995; pg. 238.
ARK AN D’OR HOUSE. Canadian, Slow Air (4/4 time).
Canada, Cape Breton. A Major. Standard tuning. AA’B. Composed by fiddler Brenda
Stubbert (b. 1959, Point Aconi, Cape Breton). Cranford (Brenda Stubbert’s), 1994; pg. 1. Brenda
Stubbert - “House Sessions” (1992).
ARKANSAS JITTERS. American, Breakdown. USA, Arizona. G Major. Standard tuning. AB. Ruth (Pioneer Western Folk Tunes), 1948; No. 98, pg. 35.
X:1
T:Arkansas Jitters
L:1/8
M:2/4
S:Viola “Mom” Ruth – Pioneer Western Folk Tunes (1948)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:G
G|BB/d/ BB/d/|BGAB|c/B/c/d/ cB|A3 (3A/B/c/|da/g/ fa/g/|
fdef|g/f/g/a/ ge|d/e/d/c/ B/A/G/A/|BB/d/ BB/d/|BGAB|
c/B/c/d/ cB|A3 (3A/B/c/|da/g/ fa/g/|fdef|g/f/g/a/ g/f/e/f/|
[d3g3] (g/a/)||ba g/f/e/f/|ag ff/g/|ag f/e/d/e/|fe d/B/G/A/|
BB/d/ BB/d/|BGAB|c/B/c/d/ cB|A3 (3A/B/c/|da/g/ fa/g/|
fdef|g/f/g/a/
g/f/e/f/|[B2g2][Bg]||
ARKANSAS PUMPKINS. Old‑Time, Fiddle Tune. Appears in a list of traditional Ozark
Mountain fiddle tunes recorded by folklorist Vance Randolph for the Library of
Congress in the 1940's.
ARKANSAS STOMP. Old‑Time. Caney Mountain Records CEP 102
(privately issued extended play LP), Lonnie Robertson (Mo.), c. 1965‑66.
ARKANSAS TRAVELER. Old‑Time, Bluegrass, American; Reel, Country Dance. USA, almost universally known. D Major (Rosenberg, Sweet, Titon, White): G Major (Shaw): A Major (Kerr). Standard or ADae (Edden Hammons, Molsky) tunings. One part (Burchenal): AB (Shaw): AABB (most versions): AABBA'A' (Phillips, 1994). One of, if not the most famous of American fiddle tunes. E. Southern (1983) calls "Arkansas Traveller" a "plantation fiddle tune" (pg. 186), while Cauthen (1990) writes that it "had been played and sung as (an) anonymous folk tune, claimed and popularized by minstrel performers, then passed into the realm of folk music once more" (pg. 15). It is true that at least some of the elements of the famous dialogue typically attached to the melody (i.e. the conversation between the 'hick' and the 'city-slicker') were in circulation in the 1820's‑1830's, during the plantation era, and it has been found that the tune and sketch had been joined and were being performed (in minstrel shows) not long after (Yates and Russell, O.T.M. # 31 Winter 78/79). {For more information see article by H.C. Mercer in JEMFQ VI:2 (18) Summer 1970.} Rosenberg (198‑) records that "Arkansas Traveler" was first published by Oliver Ditson and Company of Boston in 1863 and attributed to an itinerant musician or stage comedian named Mose Case, although Cazden (et al, 1982) reports it had been previously published in Buffalo, N.Y., by Blodgett & Bradford in 1858.
***
The music itself was in print in 1847, Rosenberg states, and both the tune and the accompanying skit are presumed by him to have been in oral circulation at the time. Bayard (1981) thinks the whole melody may be an "American amalgam," as he was unable to locate a recognizable version in British Isles traditions. The second strain became a "floater," according to him, and appears in otherwise unrelated tunes, and he speculates a portion of the first part may itself have been a 'floater' that became attached to the tune. In Francis O'Neill's Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody (1922) "Arkansas Traveler" is regarded as having a 'presumable' Irish history and three tunes are given which are proffered as in part ancestral to the American melody. O’Neill says: “Vying in popularity with ‘Turkey in the Straw’, another American favorite claims our affection. Famous in song and story its origin has baffled investigation. An exhaustive research conducted by Dr. H.C. Mercer, an official of Buck's County Historical Society (Doylestown, Pa) relating to its history and antecedents failed of its purpose. All lines of inquiry extending to Kentucky, Arkansas, and Louisiana, ended in contradiction, and uncertainty. Furthermore, the quaint dialogue between the ‘Traveler’ and the backwoods fiddler was based on nothing more substantial than a fertile imagination. The opening paragraph of Dr. Mercer's essay published in the Century Magazine -On the track of the Arkansas Traveler- is well worth quoting:
***
Sometime about the
year 1850 the American musical myth
known as "The
Arkansas Traveler" came into vogue among
fiddlers. It is a
quick reel tune with a backwoods story
talked to it while
played, that caught the ear at sideshows