The Fiddler’s Companion

© 1996-2008 Andrew Kuntz

_______________________________

HOME       ALPHABETICAL FILES        REFERENCES

[COMMENT1] 

[COMMENT2] 

BE - BELI

[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] 

BE CAREFUL, YOU'RE BREAKING MY HEART. AKA and see "Attention, C'est Mon Coeur Qui Va Casser."

                       

BE DOING AWA, MY YEOMAN. English. England, Northumberland. Title appears in Henry Robson's list of popular Northumbrian song and dance tunes which he wrote c. 1800.

                       

BE EASY, YOU ROGUE (Fan Go Socair A Roguire). AKA and see "Phelim O'Neill [1]," "Priest with the Collar," "Sheelah in Sorrow," “Stay easy you rogue, stay, stay” (Stad Erro Rogura Stad Stad),"Stop, You Rogue, Stop!" “Tá an Coileach ag Fógairt an Lae.” Irish, Double or Single Jig. A Major. Standard. AABB (O’Farrell): AABBCCDD (O’Neill). “Be Easy, You Rogue” is O’Neill’s ‘free translation’ of the Irish title “Stadh a Rogaire Stadh!” O’Neill also remarks that his version is a “florid setting of an old jig or march in four strains. Its relationship to ‘The Priest with the Collar’ in the Petrie collections is plainly evident.” See also the related double jig “Stagger the Buck.” O’Sullivan and McCandless (2005) identify the melody as a version of “When the Cock Crows it is Day [1].” Source for notated version: from the manuscript collection of retired businessman and Irish music enthusiast John Gillan, collected from musicians in his home county of Longford and the adjoining Leitrim [O’Neill]. O’Farrell (Pocket Companion, Vol. 1), c. 1805; pg. 31 (appears as “Stad Erro Rogura Stad Stad”). O'Neill (O’Neill’s Irish Music), 1915/1987; No. 165, pg. 92. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 1109, pg. 209. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 299, pg. 64. Jerry O’Sullivan – “O’Sullivan meets O’Farrell” (2005).

X:1

T:Be Easy, You Rogue

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:O’Neill – Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems (299)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A

E|A<cA BAF|d3 d2z|A/B/cA BAF|B3 B2z|AcA BAF|ded dfa|ecA BAF|A3 A2:|

|:c/d/|ecA ecA|d3 dfa|ecA ecA|B3 B2z|AcA BAF| DFA dfa|ecA BAF|A3 A2:|

|:d|cAA BFF|AEE dfa|ecA BAF|B2z B2d|cA/B/c/A/ BG/A/B/G/|AE/F/G/E/ dfa|

ecA BAF|A3 A2:|

|:e|aga f/e/d/c/B/A/|ddd d2f|aga f/e/d/c/B/A/|BBB B2f/g/|aga f/e/d/c/B/A/|

DFA dfa|ecA BAF|A3 A2:|

                       

BE MERRY AND WISE. English, Reel. England, Northumberland. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: the 1770 music manuscript collection of Northumbrian musician William Vickers, about whom, unfortunately, nothing is known [Seattle]. Seattle (William Vickers), 1987, Part 2; No. 225.

X:1

T:Be Merry and Wise

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:William Vickers music manuscript (Northumberland, 1770)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

D/E/F/G/ AD BDAD|FABd B2E2|D/E/F/G/ AD BDAD|cefg “tr”f2d2:|

|:g|fdeA fdeA|FABd B2E2|fdeA fdeA|cefg”tr”f2d2:|

                       

BE N-EIRINN I. AKA and see “Who’er She Be.”

                       

BE OFF MACINTOSH! See "As, a Thoiseach."

                       

BE QUICK FOR I AM IN HASTE. English, Jig. England, Yorkshire. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: a MS collection by fiddler Lawrence Leadley, 1827-1897 (Helperby, Yorkshire) [Merryweather & Seattle]. Merryweather & Seattle (The Fiddler of Helperby), 1994; No. 80, pg. 47.

                       

BE WISE--BEWARE!. Irish, Air (4/4 time). A Dorian. Standard tuning. One part. Source for notated version: “From J. Tighe Junior” [Stanford/Petrie]. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 854, pg. 213.

X:1

T:Be Wise—Beware!

M:C

L:1/8

S:Stanford/Petrie – Complete Collection (854)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A Dorian

cB | AB AG E2 DE | G2G2G2 cd | e2 dc d2 ed | c4 E2 cd | e2 dc d2 ec |

AB AG E2 DE | G2G2 GBdB | c3A Bd cB | AB AG EDE^G | A4 A2 ||

                       

BEA MAYE'S REEL. Irish, Reel. Ireland, County Sligo. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: fiddler Philip Duffy (b. 1966, London, now residing in Dublin, Ireland) [Flaherty]. Flaherty (Trip to Sligo), 1990; pg. 25.

                       

BEACHA SA CHRANN SILÍNÍ, NA. AKA and see “Bees in the Cherry Tree.”

                       

BEADLE OF GRUBB STREET, THE. AKA and see "Burghee's Hole."

                       

BÉAL BOCHT, AN (The Poor Mouth). Irish, Reel. E Minor. Standard tuning. AABB. An early composition by Falmouth, Massachusetts, musician and writer Bill Black. Black (Music’s the Very Best Thing), 1996; No. 83, pg. 43.

X:1

T: An Béal Bocht

C: © B. Black

Q: 350

R: reel

M: 4/4

L: 1/8

K: Em

D | E3 B GFGA | BABd e2 ef | gefd efdB | AcBA GFED |

E3 B GFGA | BABd e2 ef | gbge fafd | ABGF E3 :|

e | eBBe gBBg | fddf a2 ga | b2 ge b2 ge | AcBA GE E2 |

eBBe gBBg | fddf a2 ga | bagf egfe | AcBG E3 :|

                       

BEALAC MOR GO LUIMNEAC, AN. AKA and see "The Highway to Limerick."

                       

BEALACH AR FAD GO GAILLIMH, AN. AKA and see "All the Way to Galway [1]."

                       


BEALLTAINE (May Day). AKA and see “Butchers of Bristol [2],” “Five Miles From Town [2]” (Pa.), “Geary’s Hornpipe,” "Mullingar Races [2]," "May Day [2],” “Rover through the Bogs,” “Taylor’s (Hornpipe)." Irish, Hornpipe. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. One Pennsylvania version of this tune is called "Five Miles Out of Town" ("Five Miles From Town") though there are other tunes by this name as the title is a "floater." Bealltaine (pronounced ‘Beltina’) is was a major holiday of the Celtic peoples, and in the agrarian culture signalled the time when the cattle were driven from the low pastures to the higher ones to graze. Source for notated version: learned by Joyce from his father, presumably as a boy in the 1840's in Limerick; though he also heard it in 1853 among the minoers at the head of Glenmalure, county Wicklow, “where I found it was well known and a favourite dancing tune” [Joyce]. Howe (1000 Jigs and Reels), c. 1867; pg. 30. Joyce (Ancient Irish Music), 1873/1890; No. 32, pg. 34.

X:1

T:Bealltaine

T:May Day

M:C

L:1/8

R:Hornpipe

S:Joyce – Ancient Irish Music (1873)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

D | GABG ABcA | defd dcBA | BcBG ABAG | FGAB cAGF | GABG ABcA |

defd dcBA | B2d2 cAGF | DGGA G2 :: (3def | g2 eg f2 ed | g2 eg f2 ed |

defg abag | f2 dd dedc | B2 BG AF D2 | BdBG ABcA | defd cAGF | DGGA G2 :|

                       

BEAMISH'S GOAT (Gabar Beamais). Irish, Reel. A Dorian. Standard tuning. AB. Collected by O'Neill from Beamish himself who was from an adjoining parish from the one Captain Francis O’Neill was from in County Cork. Despite this, and that they were contemporaries in age, the two men learned substantially different musical repertoires from their respective birthplaces (see O’Neill, Irish Folk Music). The tune is a two-part version of the tune family that includes “The Jolly Tinker [2]” and the “Timpan Reel.” O’Neill corrected the version he printed in 1850 for his later 1001 Gems collection. Source for notated version: Abram Beamish, originally from County Cork [O’Neill]. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 120. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 1332, pg. 244. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 589, pg. 108.

X:1

T:Beamish’s Goat

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:O’Neill – Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems (1907), No. 589

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A Dorian

dB|A2 AB GFGB|AGAB e2 dB|A2 AB GFGB|dBGB d2 dB|

A2 AB GFGB|AGAB cBcd|edef gfge|dBGB A2||

Bd|e2 ef gfgf|edcd efgf|e2 ef gfge|dBGB d2 Bd|e2 ef gfgf|

efge a2 ef|gaba gfef|gedB A2||

                       

BEAN A TI AR LÁR. See "Bean an Tighe ar Lár.”

                       

BEAN A’ TIGH FAOI CHLAIR (The Woman of the House in the Closed Coffin). AKA and see “Bean an Tighe ar Lar,” “The Woman of the House [1].”

                       

BEAN a'LEANNA (Woman of the Glen). AKA and see "Woman of the Glen."

                       

BEAN A BAIN DILLEARE. Irish, Air (6/8 time). F Major. Standard tuning. AABB. The first part is similar to “Connaughtman’s Rambles [1].” Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 1516, pg. 379.

                       

BEAN AG BAINT DUILEASC. Irish, Jig. Ireland, County Donegal. The Gaelic word ‘duileasc’ is given to an edible form of seaweed, harvested and sold in many western Irish villages; the English words ‘dulse’ and ‘dilisk’ are derived from it. A version of “Connaughtman’s Rambles [1].”

                       

BEAN AN BHAINNE. AKA and see "The Dairymaid [4]," "The Milkmaid [3]."

                       

BEAN(N) AN FHIR RUAIDH. AKA and see "The Red Haired Man's Wife."

                       

BEAN AN TABHAIRNE. AKA and see "The Landlady of the Tavern."

                       


BEAN AN TIGHE AR LÁR [1] (Woman of the House). AKA and see “Bean a’ Tigh Faoi Chlair” (The Woman of the House in the Closed Coffin). "Woman of the House." Irish, Reel. Ireland, County Donegal. D Major. Standard. AA'BBC. The 'A' part is the same as "Bummer's Reel." A popular reel in County Donegal. Caoimhin Mac Aoidh (1994) relates that the the name “Bean a’ Tigh Faoi Chlair” was said by Francie Dearg O’Byrne to have come from the time that Bidi a’ Mhuc Ros, a renowned lilter from Muckros Head near Kilcar, Donegal, died and was waked in an open coffin in her cottage, as was the custom in the county. Toward dawn the lid was placed on her coffin and at that instant the door flew open and two fairy fiddlers came in to pay their respects. They walked up to the coffin, produced their instruments, and proceeded to play the reel now known as “The Woman of the House” enough times through so that the musicians in attendance could pick it up, then they walked over to the fireplace and were whisked up the chimney, never to be seen again. A litteral translation of the Irish title translated might be “The Mistress on the Floor,” however, ‘ar lar’ (on the ground) is also used to describe something missing or omitted, rendering the title “The Woman of the House is Missing.” Sources for notated versions: collected from brothers and fiddlers Micky and John Doherty (Stranorlar, Co. Donegal, Ireland), although not on the same date [Breathnach]; Donegal fiddler Tommy Peoples [Bulmer & Sharpley]. Breathnach (CRÉ II), 1976; No. 199, pg. 72. Bulmer & Sharpley (Music from Ireland), 1974, vol. 1, No. 39 (appears as “Bean A'Tí Ar Lar”). Flaherty (Trip to Sligo), 1994; pg. 52(b) (appears as untitled reel). Shanache Records, Tommy Peoples (1976). De Danann – “Selected Jigs” (1978). Altan – “Another Sky” (appears as part of first song). 

X:1

T:Bean an Ti ar Lar

M:4/4

L:1/8

S:Roaring Mary

R:reel

Z:Barney

K:D

dB|AG FE D2 FD|GD FE Dd cd|

AG FE D2 FD|E2 =cA BG EG|

AG FE D2 FD|GD FE Dd cd|

AG FE D2 FD|E2 =cA BG Ed||

cd ec A3 d|cd ec AG Ed|cd ec A3 F|GE =cA BG Ed|

cd ec A3 d|cd ec AG Ed|cd eg f2 ec|AB cA Bd cB||

AG FE D2 FD|GD FE Dd cd|

AG FE D2 FD|E2 =cA BG EG|

AG FE D2 FD|GD FE Dd cd|

AG FE D2 FD|E2 =cA BG Ed|

cd ec A3 d|cd ec AG Ed|cd ec A3 F|GE =cA BG Ed|

cd ec A3 d|cd ec AG Ed|cd eg f2 ec|AB cA Bd cB||

 

BEAN AN TI AR LAR [2]. AKA and see “Woman of the House [1].” Irish, Reel. G Major. Standard. AABB. Source for notated version: piper Maitiu Mac Tighearnain/Mathew MacTiernan (Ireland) [Breathnach]. Breathnach (CRÉ I), 1963; No. 86, pg. 38.

                       

BEAN CAINSEORACT, AN. AKA and see "The Scolding Wife [1]."

                       

BEAN-CEILE UI MAOILEOIN. AKA and see "Malowney's/Maloney's Wife."

                       

BEAN DEARMADAC, AN. AKA and see "The Absent-Minded Woman."

                       

BEAN DO BI CEADNA/CEANA AGAM, AN. AKA and see "My Former Wife."

                       

BEAN DUBH A’ GHLEANNA [1], AN (The Dark Woman of the Glen). AKA and see “The Maiden,” “Moll Dubh a' Gleanna,” ”The Dark Maiden of the Valley” Irish, Slow Air (3/4 time). Ireland, Connemara. G Major. Standard tuning. One part. The Irish is pronounced ‘Ban dhuv an glanna’. It is one of the great love songs and airs in the Irish repertoire and has been identified as a Connemara melody, a variant of "Seamas Og Pluincead" (Young James Plunkett). “The Maiden” and “The Dark Maiden of the Valley” are simpler forms of the tune. O’Neill’s tune version is also known as “The Death of Staker Wallace [1]," also published by Roche in 1912. Source for notated version: fiddler “Daniel Sullivan of Boston, a native of Millstreet, County Cork,” via ‘the celebrated Irish piper’ Patrick Touhey [O’Neill]. Ó Canainn (Traditional Slow Airs of Ireland), 1995; No. 96, pg. 82. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 6, pg. 2. CCE Néillidh Mulligan - "The Leitrim Thrush" (learned from Seamus Ennis). Green Linnet SIF 1045, Joe Burke – “The Tailor’s Choice.”

X:1

T:Bean Dubh an Ghleanna

T:Dark Woman of the Glen

M:4/4

L:1/8

Q:70

S:Seamus Ennis

R:Air

Z:Paul Kinder

K:G

D|G>AB>c d>>B G3 B/2d/2|g4 a/2g/2e/2f/2 d3 c/2A/2 B4|!

G3 A/2B/2 cB A4 A/2G/2F/2A/2 G6:|(3def g4 (3feg a4|!

(3bba g4 (3aag f/2 d2 c/2A/2 B4|G3 B/2d/2 g4 (3efg a4|!

bc' b2 a2 g4|(3aag f/2 d2 c/2A/2 B>cAF G4|!

(3ABd|g4 a/2g/2e/2f/2 d4 c/2A/2 B4|!

G4 A/2B/2 cB A4|A/2G/2F/2A/2|G6||!

X:2

T:Bean Dubh an Ghleanna

T:Dark Woman of the Glen

M:4/4

L:1/8

Q:70

S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 6

R:Air

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

GE|D2 EF DE/4F/4G/4A/4|BGE D/4E/4F/4G/4A/4B/4c/4d/4 e>f|g2 fg/a/ g>e|

(3fed (3edB (3dBA|B>G/2B/4 A2 B/4c/4B/4c/4B/4c/4B/>A/|G/4F/4E/4F/4G/>A/ G4|

d>B A/B/c/d/ e>f|g2 f/e/d/e/ f(3e/f/g/|a2 bg f2|e>d d2g2|

a/4g/4f/4g/4 e/4f/4e/4d/4 B/4A/4B/4d/4 e/4d/4e/4f/4 g/4f/4g/4a/4 b/4a/4g/4f/4|

g2 fg/a/ g>e|(3fed (3edB (3dBA|B2 (3GBA G2|G/4E/4D/4E/4F/4G/4A/4B/4 c/d/e/f g>a|

g2 fg/a/ g>e|(3fed (3edB (3dBA|B2 (3GED (3EGB|A4B/4c/4B/4c/4B/4c/4B>A|

G/4F/4E/4F/4G/>A/|G4||

 

BEAN DUBH A’ GHLEANNA [2], AN (The Dark Woman of the Glen). Irish, Air. The song is different than “An Bean Dubh a’ Ghleanna [1]."

                       

BEAN GAEDEALAC. AKA and see "The Irishwoman," "The Irish Washerwoman."

                       

BEAN IAIN AONGHAIS NIC ARTAIR (Mrs. John Angus MacArthur's). Cape Breton, Strathspey. D Mixolydian (A). AEae tuning. AABB'. Source for notated version: Mary (Beaton) MacDonald (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia) [Dunlay and Reich]. Dunlay and Reich (Traditional Celtic Fiddle Music of Cape Breton), 1986; pg. 31. Rounder 7011, "The Beatons of Mabou" (Mabou is a town in Cape Breton).

                       

BEAN NA BAINNSE. AKA and see "The Bedding of the Bride [1]."

                       

BEAN NA LIONNA. AKA and see “The Alewoman.

           

BEAN NAN GABHAR. See “The Woman with the goats.”

           

BEAN PHADRAIG UI MHURCHU. AKA and see "Paddy Murphy's Wife [1].quot;