The Fiddler’s Companion

© 1996-2008 Andrew Kuntz

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FISH - FIVE

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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, 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]

 

 

 

FISH IN THE MILLPOND. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, North Carolina. D Major. Rounder 0128, The Backwoods Band ‑ "Jes' Fine" (1980. Learned from Gaither Carlton {N.C.}).

                       

FISH MONGERS SHOP. English. England, Northumberland. One of the "missing tunes" of William Vickers' 1770 Northumbrian dance tune manuscript.

                       

FISH ON A HOOK. AKA and see “Hook and Line.”

                       

FISHAMBLE JIG, THE. Irish, Jig. G Major (‘A’ part) & G Minor (‘B’ part). Standard. AABB. Composed by Falmouth, Massachusetts, musician and writer Bill Black, named for a small street near Dublin Castle famous for being the site of the first performance of Handel’s Messiah. Black (Music’s the Very Best Thing), 1996; No. 72, pg. 37.

X:1

T: Fishamble

C: © B. Black

Q: 300

R: jig

M: 6/8

L: 1/8

K: G

B | dBG ecA | fdc BAG | DGB EGc | FAd G2 e |

b2 g a2 e | fga gdc | BGB AEE | dAF G2 :|

K: Gm

d | ede c2 e | dcd B2 f | GAB cdc | dgg agg |

b2 g a2 f | gdc BGG | ABc d^cd | BGF G2 :|

                       

FISHER LAD, THE. English. England, Northumberland. Title appears in Henry Robson's list of popular Northumbrian song and dance tunes, which he published c. 1800.

 

FISHER LADDIE. AKA and see "The Fairy Dance." English, Country Dance Tune (2/2 time). England, northern England. A version of the Scottish reel “Fairy Dance” or “Fairy Reel [1].” Sharp (The Sword Dances of Northern England), iii, 11.

X:1

T:Fisher Laddie

T:Fairy Dance

B:Sharp – Sword Dances of Northern England

N:Transposed

M:2/2

L:1/8

K:D

F2fd f2fd|f2fe dcde|f2fd gfed|cdec d2d2|:

|:a2af b2b2|gefg a2a2|f2fd gfed|cdec d2d2:|

 

FISHERMAN, THE. AKA and see “Bit of Ginger,” “Fisherman’s Lilt [2],” “Joe Derrane’s Jig,” “The Lilting Fisherman,” “Lissalumna Fiddler,” “Paddy’s Resource [2].”

 

FISHERMAN'S BALL, THE. English, Jig. G Major. Standard. AABB. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 126.

 

FISHERMAN'S FAVORITE. AKA and see "California Schottische," "Fred Wilson's Clog," "Fred Wilson's Hornpipe." Related to "Cincinatti Hornpipe [1]" and "Harvest Home [1]." New England, Reel. USA. D Major. Standard. AABB. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 107. Front Hall 01, Fennigs All Stars‑ "The Hammered Dulcimer."

 

FISHERMANS' FROLIC (Lancashire) CLOG.  American, Clog. F Major. Standard. AABB. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 122. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 160.

X:1

T:Fisherman’s Frolic

M:C

L:1/8

R:(Lancashire) Clog

S:Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (1883)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:F

(A>.B) | (c>.A)(F>.A) B>df>d | c>AF>A c>fa>f | {a}g>^fg>a b>cd>e | (3fag (3fed c2 A>B |

c>AF>A B>df>d | c>AF>A c>fa>f | {a}g>^fg>a b>Ad>e | f2a2f2 :|

|: (e>.f) | g>^fg>a b>cd>e | f>ef>g a>c=B>c | d>.gb>a g>fe>g | (3fag (3fed (3cdc (3BAG |

F>Ac>A B>df>d | c>Ac>f a>fc>f | g>ab>g e>cd>e | f2a2f2 :|

 

FISHERMAN'S FROLIC, THE (Mireog An T-Iasgaire). Irish, Jig. D Major. Standard. AABB. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 61. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 1047, pg. 196.

X:1

T:Fisherman’s Frolic, The

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:O’NeillMusic of Ireland (1903), No. 1047

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

A | Add d>cd | f>ee e2g | fed dfd | e>cA A2A | Add d>cd |

f>ee e2g | fed (f<a)A | ABc d2 :: a | afd dfa | agf g2a | afd dfd |

ecA A2 (B/c/) | dcd e^de | f^ef g2 (a/g/) | f>ed (f<a)A | ABc d2 :|

 

FISHERMAN'S HARVEST, THE. AKA – “Ed Reavy’s.” AKA and see “Fisherman’s Island.” Irish, Reel. D Major. Standard. AABB. The tune’s name is actually “Fisherman’s Island,” composed by Philadelphia fiddler Ed Reavy, mistakenly given in Flaherty’s Trip to Sligo under the “Harvest” title. Source for notated version: fiddler Philip Duffy (b. 1966, London, now residing in Dublin) [Flaherty]. Flaherty (Trip to Sligo), 1990; pg. 28.  Green Linnet SIF 1126, “Deanta” (appears as first tune in “Flight of the Termites” set).

X:1

T:Fisherman's Harvest

T:Ed. Reavy's

T:Fisherman’s Island

D:Deanta No 1

Z:Transcribed by Dan Gjøske Petersen

R:Reel

M:C|

K:D

D2FA d3A|BAGB AF~F2|GEED EFGA|(3Bcd ed cAAg|

fd~d2 edce|d2cd BAGF|EFGA Bded|cAGE EDDE:|

fd~d2 AF~F2|DFAd f2ef|ge~e2 gfec|dfed cAGE|

DF~F2 Adcd|Bg~g2 edcB|Adfa gfed|cAGE EDD2:|

 


FISHERMAN’S HORNPIPE. AKA and see “Fisher’s Hornpipe.”

 

FISHERMAN'S ISLAND. AKA and see “Reavy’s.” Irish, Reel. D Major. Standard. AA’BB’. Composed by the late County Cavan/Philadelphia fiddler and composer Ed Reavy (1898-1988). The tune appears in Bernard Flaherty’s “Trip to Sligo” (1990) again under the title “Fisherman’s Harvest.” It is often called, as are many of his compositions, simply as "Reavy's." Source for notated version: fiddler Philip Duffy (b. 1966) [Flaherty]. Flaherty (Trip to Sligo), 1990; pg. 35 (appears as “Unknown”). Reavy (The Collected Compositions of Ed Reavy), No. 38, pg. 40. Green Linnet SIF‑1110, Seamus Connolly ‑ "My Love is in America: The Boston College Irish Fiddle Festival" (1991). Green Linnet SIF 1126, “Déanta.” Shanachie 79044, Tommy Peoples – “The Iron Man” (appears as “Reavy’s”). “Sain SCD 1019, Déanta.” Tara 2006, “Noel Hill & Tony Linnane” (appears as “Reavy’s”).

X:1

T:Fisherman's Island

T:Fisherman’s Harvest

T:Ed Reavy’s

T:Reavy’s

R:reel

L:1/8

M:C|

K:D

“D”DEFA d2dA|”E7”BAGB “D”AFDF|GEED EFGA|”Em”(3Bcd ed “A”cAAg|

“D”fd~d2 “A”ecAc|”D”~d3A BAGF|”A”EFGA (3Bcd ed|1 cAGE EDCE:|2

cAGE “D”EDD2||

|:”D”fd~d2 AF~F2|DFAd f2ef|”G”gece “A”bece|”D”dfed “A”cAGE|

“D”DF~F2 Adfd|”G”Bg~g2 “A”edcB|”D”Adfa “Em”gbed|1 “A”cAGE “D”EDD2:|2 “A”cAGE EDCE||

X:2

T:The Fisherman's Island

R:Reel

C:Ed Reavy

M:2/2

L:1/8

Z:Joe Reavy

N:Ed believes that fishermen long to have their own island so

N:they can live surrounded by the sea they love.

N:This reel celebrates their quest for that elusive island home. It is

N:one of Ed's most popular compositions.

K:D

B, |: A,DFA d2 cd | BA^GB AFDF | (3GFD (3FED CDEF | GBed cBAg |

fd (3dcd edAc | dcdB AGFD | EFGA cded |1 cAGE FDEC :|2 cAGE FD E2 ||

|: fd (3ddd AF (3FEF | DFAd fdAf | gece bece | dfed cAGE | DF (3FEF Adfd |

Bg (3gfg edcB | Adfa gbed |1 cAGE FD D2 :|2 cAGE FDEC ||

                       

FISHERMAN'S JIG. AKA and see "The Barony Jig [1]," "The Green Gates [2]," "Redican's Mother," "Trealock Lauder." Irish, Slip Jig. B Minor. Standard. AABB. Shanachie 79064, Matt Molloy - "The Heathery Breeze."

X:1

T:Fisherman's

M:9/8

L:1/8

R:Slip Jig

S:Matt Molloy - Heathery Breeze

K:Bm

FAA FAd AFD|FAA FAd B2A|FAA FAd AFD|EDB DFA B2A:|!

f3 faf edB|Aff fef gfe|f3 faf edB|AFE DFA B2A:|!

 

FISHERMAN'S LILT [1] (Streancán an Iascaire). AKA and see “Banks of the Inverness,” "Cunningham's Fancy," "Funny Eye(s)," “Halligan’s Fancy,” “Kerryman’s Daughter [1],” “Michael Coleman’s Dream,” "Molly what ails you?" "The Pretty Girls of the Village," "The Siege of Ennis [1]," "You're right my love." Irish, Reel. E Minor. Standard tuning. AB. Breathnach finds the ‘B’ part of “Fisherman’s Lilt” to be the same as that of  Old John’s Jig” (Port Shean tSeáin), and thinks the reel was derived from the jig.  The ‘A’ part of  Fisherman’s Lilt” is similar to the ‘B’ part of “Lady Mary Lindsay” printed by Glen, who reprinted it from John Riddell’s collection of 1766. See also the related “Siege of Ennis.” “Funny Eye” is the title for the melody from a music broadsheet published by Hime in Dublin about 1810, while the “The Pretty Girls of the Village” title comes from Boston button-accordion player Jerry O’Brien’s Irish Folk Dance Music (178). O’Neill printed the tune as “Molly what ails you,” among other titles. County Sligo fiddle great Michael Coleman recorded the melody on a 78 RPM in New York (as “The Kerryman’s Daughter”), as did Sligo fiddler James Morrison in 1928 (as “Fisherman’s Lilt”). See also the related “Berkshire Heights.” Sources for notated versions: fiddler George Rowley/Seoirse Ó Roghallaigh (Ireland) [Breathnach]; piper Willie Clancy (1918-1973, Miltown Malbay, West Clare) [Mitchell].. Breathnach (CRÉ I), 1963; No. 126, pg. 51. Giblin (Collection of Traditional Irish Dance Music), 1928; 5. Lyth (Bowing Styles in Irish Fiddle Playing), 1981; 25 & 77. Mitchell (Dance Music of Willie Clancy), 1993; No. 10, pg. 34. Green Linnet GLCD 3013, Both Band – “Out of the Wind into the Sun” (1985). Shanachie 29012, Andy McGann, Joe Burke & Felix Dolan – “The Funny Reel” (1979). Shanachie 33004, James Morrison – “The Pure Genius of James Morrison” (1978). Shanachie 97011, Dan Ar Bras - "Irish Reels, Jigs, Airs and Hornpipes" (1990). Tara CD4011, Frankie Gavin – “Fierce Traditional” (2001).

See also listings at:

Jane Keefer’s Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources 

Alan Ng’s Irishtune.info

X:1

T:Fisherman's Lilt  [1]

T:Molly, What Ails You?

R:reel

H:Also in C, #154. The second name is from O'Neill's

H:Also played as "The Kerryman's Fling", fling#4.

D:Bothy Band: Out of the Wind, Into the Sun

Z:id:hn-reel-206

Z:transcribed by henrik.norbeck@mailbox.swipnet.se

M:C|

L:1/8

K:D

~A3F ABde|fedc dB~B2|AF~F2 ABde|1 fedc d2dB:|2 fedc d2de||

|:fa~a2 bafb|afef dB~B2|fa~a2 fb~b2|abc'a b2ba| fa~a2 bafb|afef dB~B2|

AF~F2 ABde|1 fedc d2de:|2 fedc d2dB||

 

FISHERMAN’S LILT [2]. AKA and see “Bit of Ginger,” “Joe Derrane’s Jig,”  Lilting Fisherman.” Irish, Jig. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Breathnach prints the tune in Ceol Rince na hÉirreann (vol. 3) as “Joe Derrane’s Jig,” a reference to Boston accordion player Joe Derrane who recorded the tune on a 78 RPM (with Jerry O’Brien) around 1950. McNulty (Dance Music of Ireland), 1965; pg. 18.

X:1

T:Fisherman’s Lilt [2]

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

K:G

B/c/|dBG GBd|gfg efg|dBG GFG|AFD cBA|

dBG GBd|~g3 efg|dBG FGA|BGF G2:|]

K:D

F/G/|ABA AFD|fgf f2 e|dfe dcB|AFF F2 G|

AFA AFA|BGB BAB|cde ABc|d3 d2:|]

 

FISHERMAN’S LILT [3]. AKA and see “Fisher’s Hornpipe.” American, Hornpipe. Green Linnet GLCD 3127, Sharon Shannon – “The Best of Sharon Shannon: Spellbound” (1999. Appears as first tune of “The Bungee Jumpers” medley).

 

FISHERMAN'S LILT HORNPIPE. Irish, American; Hornpipe. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB (Spandaro): AA'BB' (Alewine). Alewine (Maid that Cut Off the Chicken’s Lips), 1987; pg. 18. Spandaro (10 Cents a Dance), 1980; pg. 4. Shanachie 79009, "Planxty."

X:1

T:Fisherman’s Lilt Hornpipe

M:4/4

L:1/8

K:D

|:(3ABc|dAFA GBAG|FEFA dFGE|(3FFA dc dcBA|BGEF GABc|

dAFA GBAG|FEFA dFGE|(3FFA df gecd|(3efe de d2:|

|:g2|fddc dfaf|edcd efge|fAdc dfaf|(3gfe (3dcB ADFA|

BGGG BG (3Bcd|AF (3ABc defd|AAfd Bgec|dfed d2:|

 

FISHERMAN'S REEL. AKA and see "Reel Du Pecheur."

 

FISHERMAN'S SONG, THE (Abran Iasgadoire). Irish, Air (3/8 time, "tenderly"). D Mixolydian. Standard tuning. AB. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 604, pg. 106.

X:1

T:Fisherman’s Song, The

M:3/8

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Tenderly”

S:O’NeillMusic of Ireland (1903), No. 604

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

A|dd d/e/|fe d/>c/|AG A/>B/|=c3 A/^c/|dd (3e/f/g/|fe d/c/|AG/E/ D/>E/|D2||

F/G/|AB =c/B/|A/F/ D F/>G/|A/B/ =cB|A2 (3A/B/c/|dd (3e/f/g/|fe d/c/| AG/E/ D/>E/|D2||

 

FISHERMAN'S SONG FOR ATTRACTING THE SEALS, THE. Scottish, Air (6/8 time). Scotland, north Highlands. G Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Johnson (The Kitchen Musician's No. 10: Airs & Melodies of Scotland's Past), vol. 10, 1992 (revised 2001); pg. 5. Rev. P. McDonald (A Collection of Highland Vocal Airs), 1784; No. 46. Iona IR002, Ossian ‑ "Seal Song" (1981).

 


FISHERMAN'S WIDOW, THE (Baintreabac An Iasgaire). AKA and see “Baxter’s Big,” “The Friendly Neighbor,” “The Rambling Pitchfork,” “St. Patricks Day in the Evening.” Irish, Double Jig. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB (Mulvihill, O'Neill/Krassen & 1915): AABB' (O'Neill/1850 & 1001, Plain Brown). The tune usually goes by the title “Rambling Pitchfork” today. Sources for notated versions: Francis O'Neill learned the tune from an accomplished West Clare flute player (and Chicago police patrolman) named Patrick "Big Pat" O'Mahony, a man of prodigious physique of whom he said: "the 'swing' of his execution was perfect, but instead of 'beating time' with his foot on the floor like most musicians he was never so much at ease as when seated in a chair tilted back against a wall, while both feet swung rhythmically like a double pendulum" [O'Neill, Irish Folk Music]; a tape of the Birmingham grandfather of editor Tony Doyle, c. late 1960’s, playing the melodeon [Plain Brown]. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 7, pg. 66. O'Neill (O’Neill’s Irish Music), 1915; No. 179, pg. 98. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 43. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 931, pg. 173. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 163, pg. 41. Plain Brown Tune Book, 1997; pg. 25.

X:1

T:Fisherman’s Widow, The

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:O’NeillDance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems (1907), No. 163

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

F2G AFA|dcA AGF|G3 ABc|ded cAG|F2G AFA|dcA AGF|

GFG ABG|AFD D3:||:d2e f2d|dcA ABc|d2e f2g|afd dcA|1 d2e f2d|

ecA AGF|GFG ABG|AFD D3:|2 afa geg|fed cAF|G2A BAG|AFD D3||

                                   

FISHER’S FANCY. Irish, Reel. A reel named by O’Neill (1913) in a tale of piper John Hicks, a Kildare piper who emigrated to America around 1850. Hicks made his living playing in cities around the country and one season, while playing in Chicago, he was invited to a pub by a fiddler named Patsy Kilroy. The piper played so well that Kilroy became jealous and regretted his sponsorship of the piper. They were playing “Fisher’s Fancy” together “when in comes Bill Thompson, the local blacksmith and farrier. Bill, who was as fine a specimen of the Irish peasant as I ever laid eyes on, listened patiently while the musicians played a few rounds of the tune. Placing his brawny hand on Kilroy’s shoulder, he softly said, ‘Put up that washstaff avic and let the man play the pipes.”

                                   

FISHER'S FOY, DA. Shetland. Composed by fiddler/composer Gideon Stove. Great Meadow Music GMM 2003, “Rodney Miller’s Airdance” (2000).

                                   

FISHER'S FROLIC. English, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 161.

                                   


FISHER'S HORNPIPE (Crannciuil {Ui} Fishuir). AKA "The Fisher's," “Fisherman’s Hornpipe.” AKA and see "The Blacksmith's Hornpipe" (Ireland {Joyce}), “Blanchard’s Hornpipe [2],” "China Orange Hornpipe," "Egg Hornpipe," “Fisherman’s Lilt [3],” "The First of May [2]," “Kelly’s Hornpipe [3],” "Lord Howe's Hornpipe," "O'Dwyer's Hornpipe [2],” "Peckhover Walk Hornpipe," "Sailor's Hornpipe [2],” "Wigs on the Green" (Ireland {Roche}), “Y Dynwr.” English, Irish, Scottish, Shetlands, Canadian, Old‑Time, Texas Style, Bluegrass; Hornpipe, Reel, Breakdown. USA & Canada, widely known. D Major {most modern versions}: C Major (Howe): G Major {often in the Galax, Va. area, also Bayard's version collected in Prince Edward Island}: A Major (Mississippi fiddler Charles Long, Plain Brown): F Major {Burchenal, Cranford, Hart & Sandell, Honeyman, Linscott, Miller & Perron, Miskoe & Paul, Perlman, Raven, Phillips/1995, Welling}. Standard or ADad tunings. AB (Howe): AABB (most versions): AA’BB (Perlman): AA'BB' (Hart & Sandell, Miskoe & Paul). On the subject of the title, several writers have posited various speculations on who the 'Fisher' might have been. Charles Wolfe, among others, believes it was originally a classical composition by German composer Johann Christian Fischer (1733‑1800), a friend of Mozart's, which thought Samuel Bayard (1981) concurs, noting the tune goes back to latter 18th century England where it was composed by "J. Fishar" (presumably the same as Wolfe’s Johann Christian Fischer) and "published in 1780" (Most of the alternate titles he gives {and which appear above} are "floaters"). Van Cleef and Keller (1980) identify the composer as probably one James A. Fishar, a musical director and ballet master at Covent Garden during the 1770's, and note it is included as "Hornpipe #1" in J. Fishar's (presumably James A. Fishar's) Sixteen Cotillons Sixteen Minuets Twelve Allemands and Twelve Hornpipes (John Rutherford, London, 1778). It has also been attributed to “18th century English fiddle player J.W. Fisher” [Callaghan, 2007]. A few years later the melody appeared in England under the title "Lord Howe's Hornpipe" in Longman and Broderip's 5th Selection of the Most Admired Dances, Reels, Minuets and Cotillions (London, c. 1784). McGlashan printed it about the same time in his Collection of Scots Measures (c. 1780, pg. 34) under the title “Danc’d by Aldridge,” a reference to the famous stage dancer and pantomimist Robert Aldridge, a popular performer in the 1760’s and 1770’s. Although it is known in Europe as a hornpipe, it has also been played as a reel for dancing the Shetland Reel in Scotland's Shetland Islands. Linscott (1939) thinks the melody resembles an "ancient" Irish folk tune known as "Roger MacMum," implying it might have been derived from that source. There are stylistic similarities, to be sure, although “Roger” is a distinct melody from “Fisher’s.”

***

Many older versions are in the key of ‘F’ major, although Joseph Kershaw’s in his fiddler’s manuscript (from North West England) noted it in ‘D’. “Fisher’s” appears in numerous musician’s manuscript books from the late 18th century on (see Ann Winnington’s music book—Winnington was born in America, but was a resident of England). In Lincolnshire musician Joshua Gibbons 1823-26 manuscript the tune is entered under the title “The Egg Hornpipe,” perhaps after the practice of some stage hornpipe dancers to strew the stage with eggs and to dance among them without breaking any, to demonstrate skill and control. It was one of the most frequently noted tunes in English musicians’ manuscripts, appearing in the Watson, Burnett, Green, Ellis Knowles, Harrison, Mittel, Clare, Lambert, Miller, Owen, Spencer, Tildesley, Clarke, Leadley, Lister and J. Moore, as well as the aforementioned Winnington, Kershaw and Gibbons [Callaghan, 2007].

***

The tune became widely popular in a short span of time. It was already known as "Fisher's Hornpipe" in both England and the newly independent United States when it was written out by the American John Greenwood in his copybook for the German flute of c. 1783. Another 18th century American publication, a 1796 collection entitled An Evening Amusement for German Flute and Violin, was printed in Philadelphia by Carr and contains the hornpipe set in 'D' Major. An American country dance was composed to the tune and first appeared in this country in John Griffith's Collection, a Rhode Island publication of 1788. Both dance and tune became American classics and entered traditional repertory throughout the county. A fiddler with the Moses Cleaveland surveying party (the city of Cleveland, Ohio, is named after him) is recorded as having played "Fisher's" during an impromptu dance on the first evening the party camped on the banks of the Cuyahoga river, as recorded in the diary of a surveyor with the party. It was one of the most widely known fiddle tunes and, along with "Rickett's Hornpipe," the most popular hornpipe played in the Southern Appalachians (although as time went on hornpipes were not generally dropped from the repertoire, certainly as an accompaniment for dancing, but "Fishers" remained in the repertoire as a fiddler's tune which was frequently played when a few musicians would get together for their own enjoyment). The tune retained its popularity, and Jim Kimball states that both "Fishers" and "Ricketts" (along with "Devil's Dream" and "Soldier's Joy") were favorite tunes for the last figure of square dances in western New York state into the early 20th century.

***

Around the Galax, Va., region quite a few fiddlers, like Charlie Higgins, Emmett Lundy and John Rector, played 'Fisher's' in the key of 'G' Major. Harvey Sampson played “Fisher’s” in ‘G’, but also in GDgd tuning! Tommy Jarrell, of nearby Mt. Airy, N.C., plays the tune in 'D' Major, as did his father, Ben Jarrell, though the tune usually appears in 'F' Major in early collections (the earliest American appearance, John Greenwood's flute MS of 1783, has the tune in 'G,' however). 'F' major renditions are still common (along with 'D' Major versions) among fiddlers in central and north Missouri-- though relatively rare in the Ozarks region of the state--perhaps because of the because of the influence of the old town orchestras or brass bands (with flat-keyed wind instruments), radio broadcasts from Canadian fiddlers, and local classically trained music professors. Despite the seeming prevalence of the hornpipe set in 'F' major in early publications, Jim Kimball finds that the John Carroll manuscript collection, copied before 1804, gives "Fisher's" in the key of D Major, as does the John Studderd manuscript, c. 1808-1815, and the John Seely manuscript, c. 1819-1830 (Carroll was an Irish-American military musician stationed at Fort Niagara at the time he wrote his manuscript who apparently played both fife and fiddle; Studderd was a native of England prior to emigrating to western New York state in the 1820's; Seely, according to family history, was a fiddler who lived in western New York state for whom "Fishers" was a favorite tune).

***

The title "Fisher's Hornpipe" has been mentioned frequently in periodicals and other printed sources in America over the years. For example, it was recorded as having been one of the category tunes at the 1899 Gallatin, Tenn., fiddlers contest; each fiddler would play his version of the tune, with the best rendition winning a prize (C. Wolfe, The Devil's Box, vol. 14, No. 4, 12/1/80). Similarly, it was listed in the Fayette Northwest Alabamian of 8/29/1929 as one of the tunes likely to be played by local fiddlers at an upcoming convention (Cauthen, 1990). The old Raleigh (N.C.) News and Observer recorded the tune as being in the repertoire list of fiddler S.S. Ransdell (Louisburg, Granville County, N.C.), who competed in the 1906 fiddler’s contest held in Raleigh. Moving north, another citation stated it had commonly been played for country dances in Orange County, New York, in the 1930's (Lettie Osborn, New York Folklore Quarterly), while Burchenal (1918) printed a dance from New England of the same name to the tune. A Report of the Celebration Held in August 1914 for the 150th Anniversary of the Town of Lancaster (N.H.) gives the title as one of the tunes and dances performed at a cotillion that month. The title appears in a list of Maine fiddler Mellie Dunham's repertoire (Dunham was Henry Ford's champion fiddler in the late 1920's), and was played by Uncle Jimmy Thompson (1848‑1931) {Texas, Tenn.}, and Buffalo Valley, Pa. dance fiddler Harry Daddario. It was also in the repertoire of West Virginia fiddler Edden Hammons. In the South and Midwest the tune was recorded for the Library of Congress from the playing of Ozark Mountain fiddlers in the early 1940's by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, and (by Herbert Halpert) from the playing of Mississippi fiddlers Charles Long and Stephen B. Tucker in 1939. Arizona fiddler Kenner C. Kartchner related that it, in modern times, it was "played often at (the) Weiser (Idaho) annual (fiddle) contest" (Shumway), to which Louie Attebery (1979) concurs, calling it part of the "standard fare" of many fiddlers at that festival and contest. The great Georgia old-time fiddler Clayton McMichen recorded the tune on a 78 RPM, writes Joel Shimberg, played through once in each of three or four keys (including F, D, and G).

***

British Columbia collector Gibbons (1982) notes it has been "a traditional dance melody familiar to fiddlers throughout Canada,” while Ken Perlman (1996) notes it has status as one of the “good old tunes” played by Prince Edward Island fiddlers. A version was in the repertoire of fiddler André Alain (1931-2000) of St-Basile-de-Portneuf, near Québec City (whose ‘A’ part was nine measures long), and it has been recorded by Louis Boudreault and the group La Bottine Souriante. Anne Lederman, in her article on “Fiddling” in the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada (1992), remarks that “Fisher’s Hornpipe” was the vehicle for the dance La Double gigue, popular in the Canadian fur-trade of the 18th and 19th centuries.

***

See also "Miss Thompson's Reel," which particularly resembles the "Fisher's" in it's second section.

***

Sources for notated versions: Edson Cole (Freedom, N.H.) [Linscott]: Frank George (W.Va.) [Krassen]; Frank Lowery (Prince George, British Columbia) [Gibbons]; Lorin Simmonds (Prince Edward Island, 1944) [Bayard, 1981]; transplanted French-Canadian fiddler Omer Marcoux {1898-1982} (Concord, N.H.), who learned the tune when young in Quebec [Miskoe & Paul]; Andre Alain (Portneuf, Québec) [Hart & Sandell]; 6 southwestern Pa. fiddlers and fifers [Bayard, 1981]; Ruthie Dornfeld and Major Franklin (Texas) [Phillips/1995 {two different versions}]; accordion player Johnny O’Leary (Sliabh Luachra region of the Cork-Kerry border), recorded in recital at Na Piobairi Uilleann, February, 1981 [Moylan]; Dennis Pitre (b. 1941, St. Felix, West Prince County, Prince Edward Island) [Perlman]; Winston Fitzgerald (1914-1987, Cape Breton) [Cranford]; set dance music recorded at Na Píobairí Uilleann, in the 1980’s [Taylor]; appears as an untitled hornpipe in a c. 1847 music manuscript by Ellis Knowles, a musician from Radcliffe, Lancashire, England [Plain Brown Tune Book]; Source for notated version:  the music manuscript of Joseph Kershaw, a musician from Slackcote, Saddleworth, North West England who began his entries around the year 1820 [Kershaw]. Allan's (Allan's Irish Fiddler), No. 105, pg. 27. Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle), 1981; No. 345, pgs. 332‑334 and Appendix No. 3, pg. 573. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 107. Burchenal (American Country Dances, vol. 1), 1918; pg. 47. R.P. Callaghan (Hardcore English), 2007; pg. 17. Christeson (Old Time Fiddlers Repertory, vol. 1), 1973; pg. 57. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 95. Craig (The Empire Collection of Hornpipes), c. 1890’s; pg. 3. Cranford (Fitzgerald), 1997; No. 45, pg. 17. Ford (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 39. Gibbons (As It Comes: Folk Fiddling From Prince George, British Columbia), 1982; No. 6, pgs. 18‑19. Hart & Sandell (Dance ce Soir), 2001; No. 1, pg. 39. Honeyman (Strathspey, Reel and Hornpipe Tutor), 1898; pg. 40 (two versions, one in Newcastle and Sand Dance style, on in Sailor's style). Howe (Complete Preceptor for the Accordeon), 1843; pg. 10. Jarman, Old Time Fiddlin' Tunes; No. 20, pg. 67. Johnson  & Luken (Twenty‑Eight Country Dances as Done at the New Boston Fair), Vol. 8, 1988; pg. 4. Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Song), 1909; No. 103. Joseph Kershaw Manuscript, 1993; No. 70. Krassen (Appalachian Fiddle), 1973; pg. 79. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 1; No. 3, pg. 42. Linscott (Folk Music of Old New England), 1939; pg. 77. Martin (Traditional Scottish Fiddling), 2002; pg. 56. Martin & Hughes (Ho-ro-ghedllaedh), 1990; pg. 44. Miller & Perron (New England Fiddlers Repertoire), 1983; No. 117. Miskoe & Paul (Omer Marcoux), 1994; pg. 31. Mitchell (Dance Music of Willie Clancy), 1983; pg. 98 (appears as untitled hornpipe). Moylan (Johnny O’Leary), 1994; No. 63, pg. 36. O'Neill (O’Neill’s Irish Music), 1915/1987; No. 351, pg. 171. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 168. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; Nos. 1575 & 1576, pg. 292. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 825, pg. 143. Perlman (The Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island), 1996; pg. 117. Phillips, 1989 (Fiddlecase Tunebook: Old‑Time); pg. 19. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), Vol. 2, 1995; pgs. 1992-193. Plain Brown Tune Book, 1997; pg. 41. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 163. Reiner (Anthology of Fiddle Styles), 1977; pg. 26. Roche Collection, vol. 3, No. 181. Ruth (Pioneer Western Folk Tunes), 1948; No. 23, pg. 10. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 130. Spandaro (10 Cents a Dance), 1980; pg. 10. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 297. Sweet (Fifer’s Delight), 1964/1981; pg. 42. Taylor (Music for the Sets: Yellow Book), 1995; pg. 14. Welling (Welling’s Hartford Tunebook), 1976; pg. 20. White’s Unique Collection, 1986; No. 94, pg. 17. Wilson (Companion to the Ballroom), 1816. Alcazar Dance Series FR 204, "New England Chestnuts" (1981). Breton Books and Records BOC 1HO, Winston “Scotty” Fitzgerald - “Classic Cuts” (reissue of Celtic Records CX 17). Caney Mountain CEP 212 (privately issued extended play album), Lonnie Robertson (Mo.), 1965‑66. Claddagh CC5, Denis Murphy & Julia Clifford - “The Star Above the Garter” (appears as “Fisherman’s Hornpipe”). County 405, "The Hill‑Billies." County 707, Major Franklin‑ "Texas Fiddle Favorites." County 756, Tommy Jarrell‑ "Sail Away Ladies" (1986. The only time Tommy's famous fiddling father, Ben Jarrell {who took no active part in his musical education and rarely commented on his son's efforts}, praised his playing in front of him was after hearing the younger fiddler play the tune, remarking "By gawd, that's the best I've ever heard "Fisher's Hornpipe" played"). Document 8039, “The Hill Billies/Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters: Compoete Recorded Works in Chronological Order, Vol. 1” (reissue). Elektra EKS 7285, The Dillards with Byron Berline‑ "Pickin' and Fiddlin.'" F&W Records 4, "The Canterbury Country Orchestra Meets the F&W String Band." Folkways FA 2381, "The Hammered Dulcimer as played by Chet Parker" (1966). Folkways FG 3531, Jean Carignan‑ "Old Time Fiddle Tunes" (1968). Fretless 101, "The Campbell Family: Champion Fiddlers." Gourd Music 110, Barry Phillips – “The World Turned Upside Down” (1992). North Star NS0038, "The Village Green: Dance Music of Old Sturbridge Village." Rounder 0035, Fuzzy Mountain String Band‑ "Summer Oaks and Porch" (1973). Rounder 0436, Art Galbraith – “Traditional Fiddle Music of the Ozarks, Vol. 2: On the Springfield Plain.” Rounder 7004, Joe Cormier‑ "The Dances Down Home" (1977). Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD 40126, Northern Spy – “Choose Your Partners!: Contra Dance & Square Dance Music of New Hampshire” (1999). Topic 12T309, Padraig O’Keeffe, Denis Murphy & Julia Clifford - “Kerry Fiddles” (appears as “Fisherman’s Hornpipe”). Edden Hammons Collection, Disc 2. Louis Boudreault – “Portrait du vieux Kébec, vol. 12.” La Bottine Souriante – “Tout comme au jour de l’an.” Manigance – “Album souvenier, vol. 1.” André Alain: Violoneux de St-Basile-de-Portneuf.”

See also listings at:

Jane Keefer’s Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources 

Alan Ng’s Irishtune.info

X:1

T:Fisher’s Hornpipe

L:1/8

M:C|

K:F

|:c2|fc Ac Bd cB|Ac Ac Bd cB|Ac Fc Bd Gd|Ac FA G2 (3cde|

fc Ac Bd cB|Ac Fc Bd cB|AB cd ef ge|f2a2f2:|

|:ef|ge ce ge bg|af cf af ba|ge ce ga ba|gf ed c2 Bc|

dB FB dB fd|cA FA cA fc|df ed cB AG|F2A2F2:|

X:2

T:Fishers

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Hornpipe

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

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

dc|dAFA GBAG|FAFA GBAG|FDFD GEGE|FDFD E2 dc|dAFA GBAG|

FAFA GBAG|FAdf gedc|d2 d2 d2:||:cd|ecAc ecge|fdAd fdaf|ecAc ecgf|

edcB A3A|BGDG BGdB|AFDF AFdA|BdcB AGFE|D2 D2 D2:|

 

FISHER'S RANT [1], THE. AKA and see “Drumnagarry.” Scottish, Strathspey. G Major. Standard tuning. AB (Kerr): AA'B (Athole, Skinner). J. Scott Skinner (1904) attributes the melody to J. Hardy. He notes: “The late John Strachan…”Drumnagarrow,” is said to have had a hand in this tune.” Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 2; No. 124, pg. 15. Skinner (Harp and Claymore), 1904; pg. 56. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 169.

See also listings at:

Alan Snyder’s Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index

Alan Ng’s Irishtune.info

X:1

T:Fisher’s Rant, The

M:C

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

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

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

F|:G>D C/B,/A,/G,/ B,<D D>G|E>A,F>A, G>A,F>A,|

G>D C/B,/A,/G,/ B,<D D>G|1 (3EFG (3ABc (3BAG (3FED:|2

E>A G/F/E/D/ G2G||

B|d>BA>G g>dB>G|(3cec (3BdB A>Bc>e|d>BA>G g>dB>G|

(3ced (3cBA (3GDC (3 B,A,G,|d>BA>G g>d B<G|(3cec (3BdB A>Bc>e|

(3dcB (3ABF (3GFE (3DCB,|(3CDE (3DEF (3GDC (3B,A,G,||

 

FISHER'S RANT [2], THE. AKA and see “The Lasses of Ancrum.” Scottish, The tune appears in the Calvert Collection (1799), a collection of Scottish tunes by Thomas Calvert, a musician who lived in Kelso. A note with the collection states that Calvert supplied “a variety of music and instruments, instruments lent out, tun’d and repaired.”

X: 1

T:The Fishers Rant or the Lasses of Ancrum

M:4/4

L:1/8

Q:90

B:Calvert Collection Page 22

Z:P Whittaker 2001

K:D Minor

c | A<dd>c Ac/2d/2 d<e | c>def g/2f/2e/2d/2 ce

| A<dd>c Ad2 c/2A/2 | {A} B>GA>F D/2D/2 DD ||

c | f>g a/2g/2f/2e/2 fdec | A>B AGF>G Ac

| f>g a/2g/2f/2e/2 fd e c/2A/2 | {A}B>GA>F D/2D/2 DDc

| f>g a/2g/2f/2e/2 fdec | A>B AGF>G Ag

| a>fg>e f>de>c | {A} B>GA>F D/2D/2 DD ||

 

FISHERS' REEL O' BUCKIE, THE. Scottish, Reel. A Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Composed by blind musician Hing Inner of Sutherlandshire. A note in Walker says "this reel inserted by request as it was the subject of some discussion in the Banffshire Journal in 1864 and was never before published." Walker (A Collection of Strathspeys, Reels, Marches, &c.), 1866; No. 26, pg. 10.

 

FISHER’S WEDDING. Scottish (originally), Canadian; Reel. Canada; Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island. F Major. Standard tuning. AB (Surenne): AABB (Kerr, Perlman, Stewart-Robertson): AABB’ (Cranford/Fitzgerald). Sources for notated versions: Kenny Chaisson (b.c. 1947, Bear River, North-East Kings County, Prince Edward Island; now resident of Rollo Bay) [Perlman]: Winston Fitzgerald (1914-1987, Cape Breton) [Cranford]. Cranford (Winston Fitzgerald), 1997; No. 156, pg. 62. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 3; No. 162, pg. 19. Lowe (A Collection of Reels and Strathspeys), 1844. Perlman (The Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island), 1996; pg. 117. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 216. Surenne (Dance Music of Scotland), 1852; pg. 112. Culburnie COL 102, Alasdair Fraser & Jody Stecher – “The Driven Bow” (1988).

See also listings at:

Jane Keefer’s Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources  (Keyword Search for “Fisher’s Wedding”)

X:1

T:Fisher’s Wedding, The

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

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

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:F

A|~F2 Ac dcAc|dFcF AGGA|~F2 Ac dcde|fgag ~f2f:|

|:e|fc ~c2 dBAB|cfba gfed|cfag ~fdcA|BgcA F/F/F ~F:|

 

FISHING CREEK BLUES. Old-time. Composed by fiddler Tracey Schwartz. E Major.

 

FISHING FOR EELS (Ag Iasgaireacd Aor Easgaide). AKA and see "Bobbing for Eels," "Jug of Punch [5]," "The Bottle of Punch [5]," “The Dairymaid [6],” "Jackson's Bottle of Brandy," "The Butchers of Bristol [1]", "The Old Man's Jig," "Pay the Reckoning," "Ioc an Reicneail." Irish, Jig. G Major. Standard. AABB. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1979; No. 1006, pg. 187.

X:1

T:Pay the Reckoning

T:Jackson's Bottle of Brandy

T:Fishing for Eels

B:Breathnach's "Ceol Rince na hÉireann" I:19

S:Seán