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]

 

 

 

BROACHING THE CIDER. American, Hornpipe. B Flat Major ('A' part) & F Major ('B' part). Standard tuning. AABB. Phillips notes "this is a new title for an old tune." Source for notated version: The New Hampshire Fiddlers' Union [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 2, 1995; pg. 184.

           

BROAD RUN PICNIC. Old-Time, Breakdown. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. The 'A' part has an irregular measure. Source for notated version: John Ashby [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 37.

           

BROADSTONE, THE. Irish, Reel. A Minor. Standard tuning. AABB. Composed (in G Minor) by button accordion player John Whelan (with help from Dublin banjo player Mick Kenny). Black (Music’s the Very Best Thing), 1996; No. 137, pg. 72. John Whelan - “From the Heart.”

X:1

T: The Broadstone

C: John Whelan

Z: transcribed by B.Black

Q: 350

R: reel

M: 4/4

L: 1/8

K: Am

AB | cABG AGED | EAAG AGED | CAce gedc | BGG^F G2 ed |

cABG AGED | EAAG A2 AB | cE (3EDE BE (3EDE | edcB A2 :|

AB | cABe edcB | Aaag aged | cAed cBAG | EAAG A2 AB |

cege aged | cedc BG G2 | cAag ed (3ded | edcB A2 :|

           

BROADSWORD HORNPIPE, THE. Scottish, Hornpipe. B Flat Major. Standard tuning. AABC. Honeyman (Strathspey, Reel and Hornpipe Tutor), 1898; pg. 51.

X:1

T:Broadsword Hornpipe, The

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Hornpipe

S:Honeyman – Strathspey, Reel and Hornpipe Tutor  (1898)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:B_

F2|BABc Bdfd|cBcd fedc|BABc Bdfd|cBcd B2:|

|:d2|cdcB Ac f2|=efge fgaf|cdcB Acf2|=efge f2:|

(3fga|bfff fddd|dBBB F3A|B2 Bd cBcd|edcB AcFf|bfff fddd|

dBBB F3 A|B2 Bd cBcd|B2 BB B2||Bc|d^cde dcde|d^cde d2 A2|

G^FGA BABc|dcBA GABc|d2 d^cd2 dc|d2 d^c d2 A2|G^FGA BABc| DcBA G2||

           

BROADWAY HORNPIPE. AKA and see "Spud's Fancy." American, Hornpipe. D Major. Standard. AABB. Composed in 1978 by A.P. Spandaro. Spandaro (10 Cents a Dance), 1980; pg. 11.

 

BROCCA REEL, THE. Irish, Reel. Composed by Chicago fiddler Liz Carroll, named after the town in County Offaly where her father Kevin Carroll came from. Shanachie 34012, Liz Carroll – “A Friend Indeed.”

           

BROCH DAM, THE. AKA and see “Loch Riach.”

 

BROCHAN LOM (Thin Porridge). AKA and see “Orange and Blue [1].” Scottish, Strathspey. D Major. Standard. AB. Also and famously known as the schottische “Orange and Blue” (see note for “Orange and Blue”). The tune is often played in a set with “Calum Crubach.” See also the Welsh variant “Allt-y-Caethiwed.” Hunter (Fiddle Music of Scotland), 1988; No. 92.

           

BRODACH AIN M’OMISH. AKA and see “Biodag Ain M’Omish,” “Biodag Air Mac Thomais.”

           

BRODERICK'S JIG. AKA and see “The Haunted House,” “The Old Leitrim Jig.” Irish, Jig. Ireland, County Sligo. G Major. Standard. AABB. A similarly titled tune is "Vincent Broderick's," a reel, also from County Sligo. Source for notated version: flutist Colm O'Donnell (b. 1962, Aclare, County Sligo, Ireland) [Flaherty]. Flaherty (Trip to Sligo), 1990; pg. 13.

           

BRODERICK’S REEL.  AKA and see “The Tinker’s Daughter.” Irish, Reel. Composed by flute player Vincent Broderick, originally from Bullaun, north of Loughrea, County Galway, originally entitled “The Tinker’s Daughter.” Peter Broderick is Vincent’s older brother.

 

BRODERICK’S REEL [2]. AKA and see “Midsummer’s Night,” “Vincent Broderick’s.”

           

BRODIE KIERIC’S.  Irish, Jig. Great Meadow Music GMM 2018, Frank Ferrel & Joe Derrane – “Fiddledance” (2004. Learned from concertina player Tim Collins, of the Kilfenora Ceili Band).

 

BRODIE HOUSE. Scottish, Reel. F Major. Standard. AB (Surenne): AABB (Marshall). Marshall attributes the tune to the Duke of Gordon (Alexander, the 4th Duke) in his Kinrara collection (1800).  The beginnings of Brodie House, Moray, also called Brodie Castle, date from around 1560 and were probably initiated by Alexander Brodie of Brodie. Like many fortified structures it has undergone several modifications through the centuries. It was partially burned and razed by the Royalist army in 1645, but remodelled in 1730 by the 19th Brodie of Brodie.  Although the building has been part of the Scottish National Trust since the 1970’s (due to the expense of running it) and thus open to the public, the 25th Brodie of Brodie still guides some of the tours. Marshall, Fiddlecase Edition, 1978; Kinrara Collection (1800), pg. 25. Surenne (Dance Music of Scotland), 1852; pg. 127.

X:1

T:Brodie House

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:MarshallKinrara Collection  (1800)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:F

e|f>a a/g/f/e/ f>c cA|Bd d/c/B/A/ BGGe|f>a a/g/f/e/ f>c cA|B>d c>B AFF:|

|:(A/B/)|c>A d>B|c>A FA/c/|c>A d>B (f/e/f/g/ a)A/B/|c>Ad>B cAFA|B>dc>B AFF:|

           

BRODIE OF BRODIE. Scottish, Strathspey. D Major. Standard tuning. AAB. See note for “Brodie House” for more on the family. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 115.

X:1

T:Brodie of Brodie

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

B:Stewart-Robertson – The Athole Collection  (1884)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

A,>DD>A, A,<D D>B|A>FD>F E2E2|A,>DD>A, A,>DD>B|A>FE>F D2D:|

A<d d>e d/e/f/g/ a>d|g>bf>a e2e2|A<d d>e d/e/f/g/ a>f|B>d F>d D2D2|

A<d d>e d/e/f/g/ a>d|g>bf>a e2e2|A,<D D>A A,<D D>B|A>FE>F D2D2||

           

BROKE DOWN GAMBLER. See “Broken Down Gambler.”

                       

BROKEN BRIDGE [1], THE. Irish, Reel. The reel was recorded by the great County Sligo/Bronx NY fiddler Michael Coleman (1891-1945).  Folktrax FTX 073, Michael “Mickey” Doherty – “The Flowers of Edinburgh” (rec. by Alan Lomax, 1951). Green Linnet SIF‑1109, Altan ‑ "The Red Crow" (1990. Learned from the late Mickey Doherty). Green Linnet GLCD 3113, “Dermot Byrne” (1995).

 

BROKEN BRIDGE [2], THE. Irish, Hornpipe. Ireland, County Donegal. A Major (Feldman & O’Doherty): G Major (McGuire & Keegan). Standard. AABB. A favorite in west Donegal. Source for notated version: fiddler Danny O’Donnell (County Donegal) [Feldman & O’Doherty]. Feldman & O’Doherty (The Northern Fiddler), 1978; pg. 194. Jordan (Whistle and Sing), Vol. 1, 1975; 62. McGuire & Keegan (Irish Tunes by the 100), 1975; No. 82, pg. 22X:1

T:Broken Bridge [2]

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Hornpipe

K:G

dc | BAGB AG (3EFG | DGBd gdBG | FGAB cd^cd | fecB ADFA |

BAGB AG (3EFG | DGBd gdBG | FGAB cd^cd | fecA G2 :: Bc |

(3ded ^cd gdcd | fecA Egfe | (3ded ^cd ed=cB | (3ABA (3GFE D2 Bc |

d2 ^cd gdcd | fecA Egfe | d2 fe (3ded (3cBA | GBAF G2 :|

           


BROKE(N)-LEGGED CHICKEN [1]. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA; Cumberland Plateau (Ky./Tenn. border area), Arkansas. In the repertoire of the African-American string band the John Lusk Band (Ky.). The title appears in a list of traditional Ozark Mountain fiddle tunes compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, published in 1954.

 

BROKEN LEGGED CHICKEN [2]. English, Air (3/4 time). England, Northumberland. G Major (or E Minor 'A' part). Standard. AB. Bruce & Stokoe (Northumbrian Minstrelsy), 1882; pg. 149.

X:1

T:Broken-Legged Chicken, The

M:3/4

L:1/8

R:Air
S:Bruce & Stokoe – Northumbrian Minstrelsy (1882)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

(3efg BG B2|Gggage|(3efg BG B2|Aaagfd|(3efg BG B2|

A/B/c/d/ e/f/g/a/ ge|(3efg BG B2|A/B/c/d/ e/f/g/e/ fd||

(3efg dgBg|Gggage|(3efg dgBg|Aaagfd|(3efg dgBg|A/B/c/d/ e/f/g/a/ ge|

(3efg dgBg|A/B/c/d/ e/f/g/e/ fd||

           

BROKEN DAGGER, THE. Scottish, English; Strathspey. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Melodey for Robert Burn's song ("Green Grow the Rushes O" {?}). Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 174.

           

BROKEN DOWN GAMBLER. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, north Georgia. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB (Devil's Box): AABB' (Phillips). Sources for notated versions: The Skillet Lickers (north Georgia) [Devil's Box]; Manco Sneed (N.C.) [Phillips]. The Devil's Box, Fall, 1983, pg. 17. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 38. County 526, "The Skillet Lickers, vol. 1" (1973). Voyager VRLP 328‑S, "Kenny Hall and the Long Haul String Band." Rounder 0437, H.K. Silvey  – “Traditional Fiddle Music of the Ozarks, vol. 3: Down in the Border Counties” (appears as “Broke Down Gambler”).

X:1

T:Broken Down Gambler

M:2/4

L:1/8

S:From a transcription by Frank Malloy

K:G

D|Gg/a/ g/e/d/c/|B/A/G/B/ A/G/E/D/|G/A/G/E/ D/C/B,/C/|D/E/D/C/ B,/GD/|

Gg/a/ g/e/d/c/|B/A/G/B/ A/G/E/D/|G/A/G/E/ D/C/B,/C/|D/[GB][G/B/] [GB]:|

|:z|a<b b>a|g/f/g/e/ d2|e<a a/b/a/g/|e/g/a/b/ ag|a<b b>a|g/a/g/e/ d>B|de/f/ g/e/d/c/|B/B/A/F/ G:|

           

BROKEN HAMMER, THE. Canadian, Reel. Canada, Cape Breton. A Dorian. Standard tuning. AAB. Composed by fiddler Jerry Holland (Inverness, Cape Breton). Cranford (Jerry Holland’s), 1995; No. 33, pg. 10.

           

BROKEN-HEARTED WALTZ. AKA and see "Valse de Coeur Casse."

           

BROKEN HORNPIPE, THE. AKA and see “McCarthy’s Hornpipe.”

           

BROKEN LANTERN, THE (An Lóchrann Briste). American, New England; Jig. C Major (most versions): D Major (Breathnach). Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: a recording of New York fiddler Larry Redican along with Bronx flute player Jack Coen (originally from County Galway) [Breathnach]. Breathnach (CRÉ V), 1999; No. 45, pg. 23. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 71. Ford (Traditional Music in America), 1940; pg. 124. Miller & Perron (New England Fiddlers Repertoire), 1983; No. 1. Tolman (Nelson Music Collection), 1969; pg. 5. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 103. White’s Unique Collection, 1896; No. 23, pg. 4.

X:1

T:Broken Lantern

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:White’s Unique Collection (1896), No. 23

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:C

Gcc {d}cBc | Add {e}d^cd | edB G2G | AGE C2G | Gcc {d}cBc |

A2d {e}d^cd | edB GAB | c2e c2 :: g | ecg ceg | efg (a2g) | fdg ecg |

(dB)g G2g | ecg ceg | efg (a2g) | fdg ecg | (dB)g c2:|

X:2
T:The Broken Lantern
R:Jig
S:Catherine McEvoy's record
M:6/8
K:D
B | A2 d ded | B2 e ede | fdB AFA | BAF DFG |
A2 d ded | B2 e ede | fdB ABc | dfe d2 :|
a | fdB Adf | dfa b2 a | geg fdf | ecA A2 a |
fdB Adf | dfa b2 a | geg fdf | ecA d2 :|

                       

BROKEN-LEGGED CHICKEN. AKA and see "Broke‑Legged Chicken [1] or [2]".

           

BROKEN PANEL, THE. English, Reel. England, Northumberland. G Major. Standard. AAB. Hall & Stafford (Charlton Memorial Tune Book), 1974; pg. 56. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 185.

X:1

T:Broken Panel, The

M:C|

L:1/8

K:G

DGB,G E2C2|DB c/B/A/G/ FAAd|BGDG E2C2|DGFA BG G2:|

B/c/|dGeG d2 Ge|dGeG FAAc|dGeG dGgG|c/B/A/G/ Fd BGG B/c/|

dGeG d2 Ge|dG c/B/A/G/ FA (3Bcd|BGDG E2C2|DGFA BG G2||

           

BROKEN PITCHER. Northumbrian. One of the "lost tunes" in William Vickers' 1770 Northumbrian dance tune manuscript.

           

BROKEN PLEDGE, THE (An Geall Briste). Irish, Reel.. D Dorian (Flaherty, Taylor/Tweed): D Mixolydian (O'Neill/Krassen, Willaimson): D Mixolydian/Dorian (Cranitch): D Major (O'Neill/1850 & 1001). Standard. AABB. There are several thoughts as to the origin of the title. One is that the pledge refers to a love pledge, in which a young couple, soon to be parted due to sea or military service, pledge their affection for one another and promise to remain faithful during the interim. It is also said the title refers to a failed temperance pledge, from the days of the temperance movement. A related Irish tradition says that at the Church asks children at the age of 11 or 12 to promise not to drink before they reach the age of twenty. Needless to say, few achieved the age not having broken the pledge. Occasionally the tune is played in the key of E Minor. Sources for notated versions: fiddler Philip Duffy (b. 1966, London, now residing in Dublin, Ireland) [Flaherty]; students of New York fiddler John McGrath (1900-1955, originally from County Mayo) [O’Malley]; one of the first four tunes Karen Tweed learned from her mentor, accordion player John Whelan [Taylor/Tweed]. Cranitch (Irish Fiddle Book), 1996; No. 70, pg. 152. Cranitch (Irish Session Tunes: Red Book), 2000; 70. Flaherty (Trip to Sligo), 1990; pg. 30. O’Malley (Luke O’Malley’s Collection of Irish Music, vol. 1), 1976; No. 6, pg. 3. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 91. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 1178, pg. 222. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 458, pg. 89. Taylor (Traditional Irish Music: Karen Tweed’s Irish Choice), 1994; pg. 25. Williamson (English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish Fiddle Tunes), 1976; pg. 88. Green Linnett GLCD 1181, Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill - “The Lonesome Touch” (1997). Piping Pig Records PPPCD 001, Jimmy O’Brien- Moran – “Seán Reid’s Favourite” (1996. Learned from Séamus Ennis). Shaskeen Records OS‑360, Andy McGann, Joe Burke, Felix Dolan ‑ "A Tribute to Michael Coleman."

X:1

T:Broken Pledge, The

M:C

L:1/8

Q:250

K:D

dc AG A2 dB | cA GF ED C2 | DE FG Ad ~d2 | Ac Gc Ad fe |

dc AG A2 dB | cA GF ED C2 | DE FG Ad ~d2 | Ac Gc AD D2 :|

|: dc AG A2 de | fe df ed AB | cA GE GA cd | ec ~c2 ea ge |

dc AG A2 de | fe df ed cA | F3 E FG AB | cA GE {F}ED D2 :|

           

BROKEN SIXPENCE, THE. Scotch (?), Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 51. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 79.

X:1

T:Broken Sixpence

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (1883)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

[Bg]d/c/ B/c/d/B/|.Aa/g/ f/d/e/f/|[Bg]d/c/ B/c/d/B/|c/A/d/c/ B/G/.G|[Bg]d/c/ B/c/d/B/|

c/e/a/g/ f/d/e/f/|g/b/f/a/ e/g/d/B/|c/e/A/d/ B/G/.G :: B/c/d/B/ c/d/e/c/|B/d/g/g/ b/a/.a|

 b/a/g/f/ g/d/B/G/|c/e/d/c/ B/G/.G|.B(d/^c/d/) .=c/(e/^d/e/)|B(d/^c/d/) c/A/.A|b/g/a/f/ g/d/e/B/ |c/e/d/c/ B/G/.G:|

           

BROLUM, THE. Scottish, Reel. A Major. Standard tuning. AABBCCDD. Composed by Dr. Charles Bannaty. Martin (Ceol na Fidhle), vol. 1, 1991; pg. 46. Tradition 2118, Jim MacLeod & His Band ‑ "Scottish Dances: Jigs, Waltzes and Reels" (1979).

           

BROMACH FAIDHAIN, AN. AKA and see "The Wild Colt."

           

BRONZE HORSE. English, March. A traditional march of the 55th Regiment.

           

BROOK, THE. Irish, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: The Ryan Trio [Mulvihill]. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 30, pg. 8.

           

BROOKLAND. Canadian, Jig. Canada, Cape Breton. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Composed by Cape Breton fiddler and composer Dan R. MacDonald (1911-1976). Cameron (Trip to Windsor), 1994; pg. 61.

           

BROOKLYN LASSES. American, Reel. E Dorian. Standard tuning. AABB. See also the related “Kerry Reel [2],” “John Kelly’s (Reel),” or “Old Concertina Reel [1].” Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 13. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 37.

X:1

T:Brooklyn Lasses

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (1883)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:E Dorian

.B/.e/.e/(c/ d/)(c/d/).B/ | (A/F/)(F/D/) F/A/A/c/ | .B/.e/.e/(c/ d/)(c/d/).A/ | (3B/c/d/.A/.c/ BE~E2 |

{f}e/^d/e/c/ d/c/d/B/ | .A(F/D/) F/A/A/c/ | .B/.e/.e/(c/ d/)(c/d/).A/ | (3B/c/d/.A/.c/ BE~E2 :|

|: {f}e/^d/e/f/ {a}g/f/g/e/ | .d/.e/.f/(a/ a/)(f/d/).f/ | e/^d/e/f/ .g(3g/f/e/ | d/B/c/A/ B/E/~E2 |

{f}e/^d/e/f/ {a}g/f/g/e/ | .d/.e/.f/(g/ a/)(f/d/).f/ | (g/f/)(f/e/) (e/d/)(d/c/) | (3B/c/d/.c/.A/ B/E/~E2 :|

           

BROOKS. Canadian, Hornpipe. Canada, Cape Breton. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Composed by Cape Breton fiddler and composer Dan R. MacDonald (1911-1976). Cameron (Trip to Windsor), 1994; pg. 69.

           

BROOKSIDE. Canadian, Jig. Canada, Cape Breton. A Major. Standard tuning. AABBCC. Composed by Cape Breton fiddler and composer Dan R. MacDonald (1911-1976). Cameron (Trip to Windsor), 1994; pg. 40.

 

BROOKSIDE HORNPIPE. American, Hornpipe. B Flat Major (Cole, Ryan): G Major (Miller). Standard tuning. AABB (Miller): AA’BB’ (Cole, Ryan). Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 91. Miller (Fiddler’s Throne), 2004; No. 279, pg. 167.  Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 125.

X:1

T:Brookside Hornpipe

M:C|

L:1/8
R:Hornpipe

S:Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (1883)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:B_

(3FGA | (BA)Bc defg | (ab)fd BABd | (ce)(Be) (Ae)(GA) | (Bd)cB AF(GA) | (BA)Bc defg | abfd BABd |

(ca)gf (=ed’)c’b |1 (ag)d=e f2 :|2 agd=e “tr”f2 (ef) |: gfec Af(ga) | (c’b)fd “tr”(B2AG) | (FcAe) ( || db=ed’) |

(c’b)ag “tr”(f2=ef) | gf=ec Af(ga) | (c’b)fd (e’d’)bg | fdBG FAdc |1 B2b2B2 “tr”(3f=ef :|2 B2b2B2 ||

 

BROOKSIE. Old Time. In the repertoire of fiddler Kirk Sutphin, learned from North Carolina fiddler Lonnie Austin. Similar to "Raven's Gap."

 

BROOM, THE.  AKA and see “Sheehan’s Reel.” Irish, Reel. Pipers Liam Walsh and Leo Rowsome recorded the tune separately in the same year. HMV B 2549, Liam Walsh.

 

BROOM, GREEN BROOM. English, Air (6/8 time). England, Northumberland. G Major. Standard tuning. One part.

***

There was an auld man, he liv'd in the west,

His trade was the cutting of broom, green broom;

He had a lazy lad, whose name it was Jack,

Who'd lie in his bed till noon, till noon,

Who'd lie in his bed till noon.

***

Bruce & Stokoe (Northumbrian Minstrelsy), 1882; pg. 98.

X:1

T:Broom, Green Broom

M:6/8

L:1/8
S:Bruce & Stokoe – Northumbrian Minstelsy

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

D|GGG BAB|GBc d2B|ccc AGA|D2A A2D|GGG BAB|GBd d2g|

fed Ad^c|(d3 d2)d|gfg dcB|ecA GFD|GGG BAB|GBd g2e|ded cBA|(G3G2)||

 

BROOM OF THE COWDENKNOWES [1]. AKA and see "Broom, the Bonny, Bonny Broom."

 

BROOM ON CROWDEKNOWS [1], THE. English, Air (4/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning. One part. No relation to the usual tune known as "The Broom of Cowdenknowes" or "Broom, the Bonny, Bonny Broom," but is instead a song melody which appeared in 1780, set for guitar with words entitled "When Summer Comes the Swains on Tweed," as "sung at Sadlers Wells." Source for notated version: a c. 1837-1840 MS by Shropshire musician John Moore [Ashman]. Ashman (The Ironbridge Hornpipe), 1991; No. 66, pg. 26.

 

BROOM, THE BONNY, BONNY BROOM. AKA ‑  "Broom of the Cowdenknowes," "Cowden Knowes," "Cowdenknowes," "The Lovely Northerne Lass," "O My King," "O, the Broom."  Scottish, English ; Air and Country Dance Air (2/2 time). England; Northumberland, Shropshire. F Major (Barnes, Karpeles, Raven, Sharp, Williamson): G Major (Ashman). Standard tuning. One part (Ashman, Karpeles, Raven, Sharp, Williamson): AABB (Barnes). This very old Northumbrian air has been set to various words, but most famously appears as "The Broom of the Cowdenknows." Broom is a bush with brilliant yellow flowers that grows all over England and Southern Scotland on hillsides.  Stems of the plant were at one time bundled together and bound to sticks for use as sweepers, hence the name 'broom' for the common implement. Cowdenknowes itself, with its famous broom, is situated on the east bank of the River Leader, five miles northeast of Melrose.

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The piece can be traced back to the mid‑17th century, probably Scottish in origin, or at least so believed antiquarian researchers William Stenhouse, G.F. Graham, and John Muir Wood. Stenhouse believed it was probably one of those introduced into England after 1603 with the advent of the Stuart monarchy.  Graham says, “This is a very ancient and beautiful air of one strain,” and adds, “That in all the versions given in the older Scottish collections, the air begins on the second note of the scale, while in Playford’s Dancing Master 1651, it begins on the fifth, and in Watt’s Musical Miscellany, and some other works on the key-note itself” (quoted from Glen, Early Scottish Melodies, 1900). The tune was popular, widely known in Britain, and frequently used as the vehicle for numerous lyrics; it appears, for example, set for four different songs in the Tea Table Miscellany (1724), though the earliest English appearance seems to have been in the first edition of John Playford’s English Dancing Master (1651—John Glen thought the Playford version “very insipid”). Playford also included it in his Musick’s Delight on the Cithern (1666). Scots versions predate English ones with the melody used for broadside ballads at least as early as 1632. Later Scots versions of the song are to be found in Orpheus Caledonius (1725) and The Scots Musical Museum (1787). The song was mentioned in the text of the very first ballad opera, The Gentle Shepherd (1725), written by Allan Ramsay (although his work was not performed before Gay's 1729 Beggar's Opera became a hit), and subsequently in the ballad operas Beggar's Opera, The Highland Fair and The Decoy. Even the German composer J.C. Bach (son of the more famous Johan Sebastian) penned a setting of this melody.

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The name of the tune appears in a 1721 poetic address by Allan Ramsay addressed to the Edinburgh Musical Society.

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While vocal tubes and consort strings engage

To speak the dialect of the Golden Age,

Then you whose symphony of souls proclaim

Your kin to heaven, add to your country’s fame,

And show that musick may have so good fate

In Albion’s glens, as Umbria’s green retreat:

And with Corelli’s soft Italian song

Mix Cowden Knows, and Winter Nights are long.

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Playford, The English Dancing Master (1651) {appears as "The Bonny Bonny Broome"}. Ashman (The Ironbridge Hornpipe), 1991; No. 66-67, pg. 26. Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes), 1986. Karpeles & Schofield (A Selection of 100 English Folk Dance Airs), 1951; pg. 16. John Gay, The Beggar's Opera (1729) {appears as "O, the Broom"}. McGibbon (Scots Tunes, book III), 1762; pg. 67.  Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 55. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pgs. 45 & 76. Sharp (Country Dance Tunes), 1909/1994; pg. 34. Williamson (English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish Fiddle Tunes), 1976; pg. 28. Dorian 90238, The Baltimore Consort – “A Trip to Killburn.” Flying Fish Records FF358, Robin Williamson ‑ "Legacy of the Scottish Harpers, vol. 1." Green Linnet SIF 3037, Silly Wizard - "Golden, Golden" (1985). Harmonia Mundi 907101, The King's Noyse - "The King's Delight: 17c. Ballads for Voice and Violin Band" (1992. Appears as the tune for the song "The Lovely Northerne Lass").

X:1

T:Broom, the Bonny, Bonny Broom

M:2/2

L:1/8

S:Playford (1651)

K:F

c3dc3d|cBAG F4|f2fg agfe|d6e2|f3ga2ga|f2FG A2GF|G2G2d3B|G8||

X:2

T:Broom of the Cowdenknows, The

M:C

L:1/8

S:Allan Ramsay – Tea Table Misclellany  (1734)

K:C

D3E G3A|GED>C C2 cG|A2 cd e2 d>c|A6 c2|

(G>A) (c>d) e2 (d>c)|c2 CD E2 DC|(F3G) (AB)(cE)|D8||

X:3

T:Broom of the Cowdon knows, The

M:C

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Slow”

S:McGibbon – Scots Airs, book III, pg. 67  (1762)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Compainon

K:D Mixolydian

A3Bd3e | (dB) “tr”(A>G) G2 (g>d) | e2(g>a) b2 “tr”(a>g) | ({g}e6)g2 |

(d>e)(g>a) b2 “tr”(ag) | g2 (G>A) B2 “tr”(A>G) | ~c3d (efg)B | ({B}A8 :|

 

BROOM WALTZ. AKA ‑ "Did You Ever See A Lassie (A Lassie, A Lassie)". American, Waltz. G Major. Standard tuning. AB. Ford (Traditional Music in America), 1940; pg. 144.

 

BROOMS’S REEL.  AKA and see "Love in a Village [3],” “Duke of Perth.”

 

BROOMSTICK, THE. AKA and see "Paddy on the Turnpike [2]."

 

BROONE COO, DA. AKA and see “Mrs. MacLeod (of) Raasay.” Shetland.

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Da broon coo's broken oot and gaen among da coarn

If someone doesn't take her oot De'll be nane left do moarn

So go du in me peerie boy and grab her be da tedder

For du's a peerie supple ting No lake de auld don faider.    (Cooke)

 

BROSE AND BUTTER. AKA and see "The Peacock Followed/Follows the Hen," "Cuddle Me, Cuddy," "Yellow Stockings," "Mad Moll [1]," “Up and Down Again,” "The Virgin Queen." AKA – “Uilleam ‘s Caulm’s Mòrag” (William and Malcolm and Marion). Scottish, Country Dance Tune (9/8 time). D Major (Howe, Kennedy, Kerr, Martin): G Major {Bremner, Gow}. Standard tuning. AAB (Gow, Martin): AABB (Bremner, Kennedy, Kerr). According to Ford (Song Histories, 1900, pgs. 189-190) “Brose and Butter” was a favourite air of Charles II in his exile. Despite the reference to the king (which would date it to the 1640’s), John Glen (1891) does not find a printed version until Robert Bremner's 1757 collection. Brose is Scottish dish made with a boiling liquid and meal; "a dish of oat- or pease-meal mixed with boiling water or milk, with salt and butter etc added" (Concise Scots Dictionary). Origins of the term are unclear, although Webster’s suggests perhaps it is an alteration of the Scots bruis broth, from Middle English brewes, from Old French broez, nominative singular of broet, diminutive of breu broth (see also note for “Atholl Brose”).

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There are suggestive lyrics to the melody printed by Herd (1776, vol. II, pgs. 203-204):

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CHO:

Gi’e my love brose, brose,

Gi’e my love brose and butter;

Gi’e my love brose, brose,

Yestreen he wanted his supper

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Jenny sits up in the laft,

Jocky wad fain hae been at her;

There came a wind out of the wast,

Made a’ the windows to clatter.

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A goose is nae good meat,

A hen is boss within;

In a pye there’s muckle deceit,

A pudding it is a good thing.