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]

 

 

 

DON AND KELLY'S WALTZ. American, Waltz. D Major. Standard tuning. AB. Composed by Daniel Steinberg (Mt. View, CA) in 1992 for the wedding of some friends; it was conceived "as a kind of cowboy waltz." Matthiesen (Waltz Book II), 1995; pg. 15.

           

DON FISCO. American, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Sweet (Fifer’s Delight), 1964/1981; pg. 71.

 

DON MESSER’S BREAKDOWN. Canadian, Breakdown. C Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Composed by Canadian radio and TV fiddler Don Messer (1909-1973), a highly influential musician from the Maritimes who helped to define the “Down East” style of fiddling. Messer was originally from New Brunswick but was hired in 1939 by radio station CFCY in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, to anchor its fiddle broadcasts. By 1950 Messer could be heard throughout Canada and the northeastern United States and became perhaps the most influential fiddler of the mid-20th century in North America. Transplaned French-Canadian fiddler Omer Marcoux (Concord, N.H.) played a similar sounding tune but, not knowing the title or where he had it from, called it simply "Reel #2 in C" [Miskoe & Paul, 1994; pg. 18]. Source for notated version: fiddler Dawson Girdwood (Perth, Ontario) [Begin]. Begin (Fiddle Music in the Ottawa Valley: Dawson Girdwood), 1985; No. 6, pg. 20. Messer (Anthology of Favorite Fiddle Tunes), 1980; No. 4, pg. 5.

X:1

T:Don Messer’s Breakdown

L:1/8

M:C|

S:From a transcription by Carmelle Begin of the playing of fiddler Dawson Girdwood.

K:C

G3 (F||E>C)E>G c2 (e>a)|(3gag e>a g>ec>A|(d^c)de f>dB>d|

(c>B)((3cB)A G2 (G>F)|E>CE>G c2 (e>a)|(3gag e>a g>ec>A|

d^cd>e f>dB>d|1 (c>e) (3dcB c2 G>F:|2 c2 (3dcB c2 (GF)||

|:E2G2c2e2|(g3 g/2)g/4a/4 g2) ((3efg)|a2g2 ({f/g/}f2)e2|d>ed>c B2 (cBA|

G2 (FG)B2 GB|1 (g3 g/2)g/4a/4 g2) (3efg|a2g2 f>dB>d|c>Bc>d c2 (G>F):|2

g3 a g2 (3e/f/g/|a2 g2 f>dB>d|c2 z2 [E4c4]||

           

DON MESSER'S BROADCAST. Canadian, Reel. Condor 977‑1489, "Graham and Eleanor Townsend Live at Barre, Vermont."

 

DON REED’S BREAKDOWN.  Canadian, Reel. Composed by Sarnia, southwestern Ontario, fiddler John(ny) Durocher (1934-1989), for a (then) young fiddle player from Sudbury, Ontario. Reed became a three-time North American fiddle champion, and currently plays with the Canadian country-and-western group “South Mountain.” Durocher was born the youngest of sixteen children, to a modest family of few resources. He quit school in his young teens to help make family ends meet and remained a factory worker for most of his life, not even possessing a drivers license. John came to fiddling when he found a broken fiddle in the trash one day and asked the owner for permission to retrieve it; with some repair work he had his first instrument. A few lessons from a local teacher (which served to teach him how to read and write music), were all the formal music education John received. He was a prolific composer of fiddle tunes, however, and named them for sports and current events, family and friends and topics of his day, explains Ritchie. Durocher’s music was picked up by radio fiddler Don Messer, who included many of his tunes in his broadcasts and printed collections, helping Durocher to become quite influential in the Ontario scene for his over 400 compositions. [For more see Ron Ritchie, “John Durocher: A Gifted Composer,” Fiddler Magazine, vol. 12, No. 2, Summer 2005, pgs. 25-27].

           


DON SIDE. Scottish, Strathspey. G Major. Standard. AB (Surenne): AABB (Perlman): AABBCCDD (Athole, Bremner, Gow, Kerr, Skye). Glen (1891) finds the earliest printing of the tune in Robert Bremner's 1757 collection (pg. 63). Don side refers to the River Don in Scotland. The famous Scots fiddle-composer, James Scott Skinner, told an old joke about a drunk who boards a train trying to get home to his home ‘on the Don side.’ He boards a first train for Stonehaven and is quickly shown the door by a guard—he tries another, only to be told its going to Ballater and he is once again mistaken. Finally he pours himself into the  compartment of yet another train, one that happens to be occupied by the then-famous evangelists Moody and Sankey, on their way to revival meetings in Peterhead. "Naturally, in his drunken state, the man made himself a bit of a nuisance,” says Skinner. "Moody gazed at him, more in pity than in condemnation, and then spoke slowly and deliberately:

***

“Do you know where  you’re going to, sir?” he said.

“Na,” came the answer.

“Well, you’re going to perdition,” was the stern rejoinder.

“Eh?” exclaimed the maudlin one, waking up somewhat; “I’m in the wrang train again!”

***

View of St. Machers from the River Don. James Cassie (Inverurie 1819-1879)

***

The strathspey was recorded on a 78 RPM disc by Cape Breton fiddler Angus Allan Gillis. Source for notated version: Eddy Arsenault (b. 1921, St. Chrysostom, East Prince County, Prince Edward Island) [Perlman]. Bremner (Scots Reels), c. 1757; pg. 63. Gow (Complete Repository), Part 1, 1799; pg. 11. Kerr (Merry Melodies), Vol. 2; No. 120, pg. 15. Lowe (A Collection of Reels & Strathspeys), 1844. McGlashan (Collection of Strathspey Reels), c. 1780/81; pg. 21. MacDonald (The Skye Collection), 1887; pg. 93. Perlman (The Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island), 1996; pg. 187. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 166. Surenne (The Dance Music of Scotland), 1852; pgs. 132-133. Rounder 7103, Joseph Cormier – “Joseph Cormier and Friends: Old Time Wedding Reels and Other…” Rounder 82161-7032-2, Bill Lamey – “From Cape Breton to Boston and Back: Classic House Sessions of Traditional Cape Breton Music 1956-1977” (2000).

See also listings at:

Alan Snyder’s Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index

X:1

T:Don Side

M:C

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

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

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

A|G/G/G B>G A>G E<A|G/G/G B>G A>GB>G|c>AB>G A>GE>e| d>cB>A B<GG:|

|:f|g>dg>B A>GE>e|g>dg>B ~g>dg>a|b/a/g/f/ g>B A>G E<e| d>cB>A B<GG:|

                                   

DON TREMAINE'S REEL. Canadian, American; Reel. Canada, Ontario. D Major. Standard. AABB (Brody, Phillips, Songer): AA'BB' (Kaufman). Composed by Barrie, Ontario, fiddler Graham Townsend, (copyright 1961) and named for the announcer of the CBC television show “Don Messer’s Jubilee.” Source for notated version: Tom McCreesh and Jay Ungar (N.Y.) [Phillips]. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 88. Kaufman (Beginning Old Time Fiddle), 1977; pg. 18. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 73. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; pg. 63. Folkways FTS 31098, Ken Perlman ‑ "Clawhammer Banjo and Fingerstyle Guitar Solos." Front Hall 01, Fennigs All Stars‑ "The Hammered Dulcimer."

                       

DONAGHADEE. Scottish, Jig. C Major. Standard. AABB. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 3; No. 281, pg. 31.

X:1

T:Donaghadee

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:Kerr – Merry Melodies, vol. 3, No. 281  (c. 1880’s)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:C

c2c c2c|edc efg|c2c c2c|Bdc BAG|c2c c2c|edc efg|a2g f2e|dcB c3:|

|:g2g g2g|gag edc|d2d d2d|ded BAG|g2g g2g|gag edc|a2g f2e|dcB c3:|

                       

DONAGHMORE, THE. AKA and see “Colonel Fraser.” Irish, Reel. Ireland, Sliabh Luachra region of the Cork-Kerry border. Seamus Ennis recorded the great Sliabh Luachra fiddle master Padraig O’Keeffe playing this tune in 1949. Spin CD1001, Eoghan O’Sullivan, Gerry Harrington, Paul De Grae - “The Smoky Chimney” (1996).

                       

DÓNAL A’ CLUMPER’S REEL. AKA and see “The Gleanntan Reel [2].”

                       

DÓNAL DE BARRA’S (JIG). Irish, Jig. Ossian OSS CD 130, Sliabh Notes – “Along Blackwater’s Banks” (2002. Learned by accordion player Donal Murphy from De Barra in music classes in Templeglantine, County Limerick).

 

DÓNAL DE BARRA’S (SLIDE). Irish, Slide (12/8 time). D Major. Standard. AABB. Dónal De Barra was an accordion player and music teacher from County Limerick. Bulmer & Sharpley (Music from Ireland), vol. 4, 1979(?); No. 85 (appears as untitled slide). Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 5, pg. 115.

           

DONAL DON. Scottish, March (2/4 time). G Major. Standard. AB.

X:1
T:Donal Don
D:Jock Tamson's Bairns, May You Never Lack a Scone
Z:Nigel Gatherer
L:1/8
M:2/4
K:G
B2 d>B | AG E2 | A2 B>A | GE D2 | B2 d>B | AG E/F/G/A/ | Bd BA  | G2 G2 ||
D2 D>E | DG GF | E2 E>D | EA AF  | D2 D>E | DG GA | Bd BA  | G2 G2 |]

 

DONAL MOR. Irish. Composed in memory of James MacCafferty's brother Donal. Green Linnet SIF‑1084, Eugene O'Donnell & James MacCafferty ‑ "The Foggy Dew" (1988).

           

DONAL O'BRIEN. Irish, Planxty (3/4 time). A Minor. Standard. One part. The tune is attributed to blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738), thought Donal O’Sullivan, in his definitive work on the bard could find no incontrovertable evidence of its origin. Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 112, pg. 82.

                       

DONAL O'CONNOR’S. Irish, Slide (12/8). G Major. Standard. AABB. Treoir.

X: 1

T: Donal O'Connor's

S: Treoir

M: 12/8

L: 1/8

Q: 350

Z: Transcribed by Bill Black

R: slide

K: G

A | B3 cBA G2 E D2 D | EFG A2 B c3 cBA |

B3 cBA G2 E D2 D | EFG AFD G3 G2 :|

E | D2 B BAB d2 B BAB | D2 G A2 B c2 A ABA |

D2 B BAB d2 B BAB | ABA FGA G3 G2 :|

                       

DONAL OG. Irish, Slow Air (3/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning. One part. Ó Canainn (Traditional Slow Airs of Ireland), 1995; No. 28, pg. 29.

           

DONALBANE. Scottish, Canadian; Reel or Strathspey. Canada, Cape Breton. A Major. Standard tuning. AABB. See the related Cape Breton tune “Margaree Reel.” The historical Donalbane was Donald III, King of Scots and son of Duncan I. In a fight for a contested crown Donalbane beseiged Edinburgh Castle and was proclaimed King through the Celtic custom of tanistry. His was the last reign (1094-1097) of a Celtic king in Scotland and a kingdom goverened according to their customs. Kennedy (Traditional Dance Music of Britain and Ireland: Reels and Rants), 1997; No. 35, pg. 10. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 4; No. 11, pg. 4. Wilson (Companion to the Ballroom), 1815; pg. 80. AM 79602 2000-2, Ashley MacIsaac - “Close to the Floor” (1992). CAT-WMR004, Wendy MacIssac - “The ‘Reel’ Thing” (1994). Parlophone PMC 1144, Jimmy Shand – “Jimmy’s Fancy” (appears as “Donald Bane”).

X:1

T:Donalbane

M:C

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

S:Kerr – Merry Melodies, vol. 4, No. 11  (c. 1880’s)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A

a|e/e/e e>d c>de>c|A<e c<a (f2 e)a|e/e/e e>d c>de>c|B/B/B c>e (f2 e):|

|:g|a>ga>f e<c A>g|a>e f<a f2 (ef/g/)|a>ga>f a>f e<c|B/B/B c>e (f2 e):|


           

DONALD ANGUS BEATON. Canadian, Jig. Canada, Cape Breton. G Minor. Standard tuning. AABB’. Composed by Cape Breton fiddler and composer Dan R. MacDonald (1911-1976) in honor of Mabou fiddler Donald Angus Beaton (1912-1982). Cameron (Trip to Windsor), 1994; pg. 60.

           

DONALD ANGUS BEATON’S.  Canadian, Strathspey. Canada, Cape Breton. Composed by Cape Breton fiddler Sandy MacInnis in honor of Mabou fiddler Donald Angus Beaton (1912-1982). Smithsonian Folkways Records, SFW CD 40507, The Beaton Family of Mabou – “Cape Breton Fiddle and Piano Music” (2004). 

 

DONALD BACCAGH’S LAMENT. Irish, Slow Air (4/4 time). Ireland, County Derry. B Flat Major. Standard tuning. AB. “A County of Derry Air” (Petrie). Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 1021, pg. 259.

X:1

T:Donald Baccagh’s Lament

M:C

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”A County of Derry air.”

B:Stanford/Petrie – Complete Petrie Collection of Ancient Irish Music, No. 1021 (1905)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:B Flat

Bc/d/|edcB G2 FD|F2 GB c2 d/e/f|edcB GB FD|{G}F2 {F}GB B3||

B/c/d|edef g2 fd|ce/f/ gf f2 bg|fd e/d/c/B/ G2 FD|{G}F2 GB B3||

           

DONALD BLUE. Shetland, Shetland Reel or March. Shetland, Mainland district (also Papa Stour and Fetlar). D Major. Standard tuning. AB (Flett & Flett): AABB (Anderson, Brody, Hunter, Martin & Hughes). The melody was collected under a different name by the English musicologist Pat Shuldham‑Shaw. David Murray (Music of the Scottish Regiments, Edinburgh, 1994) writes, “The first pipe major of the 2nd Battalion (of the Scots Fusilier Guards) was Donald MacPherson, who transferred from the Black Watch; and it is, perhaps, a result of this connection that the Scots Guards play as their ‘Lights Out’ call, the march ‘Donald Blue’, as do the Black Watch and, indeed, did the Gordons, and that the pipe bag covers of the Scots Guards are in the Black Watch tartan” (pg. 122). Source for notated version: Tom Anderson and Aly Bain (Shetlands) [Brody]; Fraser Hughson (Aith, Shetland) via Tom Anderson (Lerwick, Shetland) [Anderson & Georgeson]. Anderson & Georgeson (Da Mirrie Dancers), 1970; pg. 25. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 87. Flett & Flett (Traditional Dancing in Scotland), 1964; pg. 220. Hunter (Fiddle Music of Scotland), 1988; No. 211. Martin & Hughes (Ho-ro-gheallaidh), 1990; pg. 31. Philo 2019, Tom Anderson and Aly Bain‑ "The Silver Bow."

X:1

T:Donald Blue

M:C

L:1/8

R:Reel

K:D

dBAF AFAB|dBAF E2D2|cBAF AF A2|BBBA B2e2:|

|:ABde fafd|fafd ed B2|ABde fafd|BBBA B2d2:|

           

DONALD CAIRD('S COME AGAIN). Scottish, Strathspey. The melody is mentioned by Alexander Campbell in Albyn's Anthology (1812) when he states in a footnote, "This air is a dancing measure or slow strathspey, danced by two highlandmen with appropriate gesture, but without the fling or gambol peculiar to the quicker strathspey or reel."

           

DONALD CAMERON'S POLKA. AKA and see “Donald Cameron’s Reel.” Canadian, Reel. Canada, Cape Breton. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Despite the polka appelation Brody identifies the tune as a reel coming from the Shetland Islands. Source for notated version: Joseph Cormier (Cape Breton & Massachusetts) [Brody]. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 87. Rounder 7004, Joe Cormier‑ "The Dances Back Home" (1977). Rounder 7006, Theresa and Marie MacLellan‑ "A Trip to Mabou Ridge."

           

DONALD CAMERON’S REEL.