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]
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GREETING TO IRELAND. American, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 41. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 69.
X:1
T:Greeting to Ireland
M:C|
L:1/8
R:Reel
S:Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (1883)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:G
D2 | G2 {c}BA (BG)GB | ABcd edcB |
A2 (AB) cBAG | FGAG FDEF |
G2 {c}BA (BG)GB | A2 {d}cB (cA)AB |
cdef gfge | dB (3cBA G2 :|
|: d2 | dggg fgaf | gfge d2 (ef) |
{a}gfge dBcA | BGAG FDEF |
G2 {c}BA (BG)GB | A2 {d}cB (cA)AB |
cde(f {a}g)fge | dB (3cBA G2 :|
GREETINGS TO THE
BEATONS OF MABOU. AKA and see "MacLaine of Loch Buie's Reel."
The Beatons, of Mabou,
Nova Scotia, are a Cape Breton family with a strong fiddling
tradition.
GREGG’S PIPES. AKA and see "Cobbler's
Hornpipe [2]," "Connolly's
Reel," “Craig’s Pipes,”
"The Edenderry Reel," "The Fiddler is Drunk," "The Foxhunters (Reel) [1],"
“Greg’s Pipe Tune,” “Greig’s Pipes,” “Gun Do Dhuit
Am Bodach Fodar Dhomh” (The Old Man Wouldn’t
Give Me Straw), "The Kerry
Huntsman," "Kregg's Pipes," “The Manchester Reel [1],”
"Píopaí Greig,” "Willie
Wink(ie)'s Testament [2]," "Willy
Wilky." Scottish, Reel. A Dorian. Standard tuning. ABB’CCD. A dorian
version of “Greig’s Pipes.” See note for “Greig’s Pipes” for more. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 4; No. 136, pg.
16.
X:1
T:Gregg’s Pipes
M:C
L:1/8
R:Reel
S:Kerr – Merry Melodies, vol. 4, No. 136
(c. 1880’s)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:A Dorian
c|eAcA eAcA|eAcA BEEc|eAcA eAcA|BdcA
BEE||
|:d|c2 (cB) cAAd|c2 (cA) BEEd|1 c2
cA B2 Bc|ABcA BEE:|2
c/c/c (cA) BcBc|ABcA BEEz||:EA,CA, EA,CA,|EA,CA, EFGF|
EA,CA, EA,CA,|B,CDE CA,A,E:||GFEF
GG,G,F|GFED EA,A,F|
GFED EDCB,|A,B,CD EA,A,||
GREGORY’S HORNPIPE. Irish, Hornpipe. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated
version: the c. 1880's collection of fiddler and uileann piper Stephen Grier (County Leitrim) [Breathnach]. Breathnach (CRÉ IV), 1996; No. 217, pg. 102.
GREHAN’S. AKA and see “All Around the
World,” “Cooley’s (Reel) [2],”
“The Connemara Rake,” “Doherty’s (Reel) [2],” “John Doherty’s Reel [1],” “Johnny Doherty’s Reel [1],”
“Jolly Beggar [2],” “The Knotted Chord [2],” “Matt Molloy’s [1],” “The Mistress,” “Mot Malloy,” “Tinker Doherty,” “The Wise Maid [1].”
GREIG'S. See "Greig's Strathspey."
GREIG'S PIPES (Píopaí Greig). AKA and see "Cobbler's Hornpipe [2],"
"Connolly's Reel," “Craig’s Pipes,” "The Fiddler is Drunk," "The Foxhunters (Reel) [1],"
“Greg’s Pipe Tune,” “Gregg’s Pipes,” “Gun Do Dhuit
Am Bodach Fodar Dhomh” (The Old Man Wouldn’t
Give Me Straw), “Jim Seery’s,” "The Kerry Huntsman," "Kregg's
Pipes," “The Manchester Reel [1],”
"Píopaí Greig,” "Willie
Wink(ie)'s Testament [2]," "Willy Wilky." Scottish, Shetland, Canadian, Irish;
Reel. Shetland, Whalsay. Canada; Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island. G Major (Breathnach, Mulvihill,
Taylor, Tubridy): A Major (Athole, Cranford, Hardie, Martin, Perlman): D Major (Kennedy,
O’Farrell). Standard, AEae or AEac# tunings. AABB (Taylor): ABC (Feldman &
O’Doherty, Tubridy): ABBC (Mulvihill):
AABBCC (O’Farrell): AABBCC’ (Perlman): ABBCCDD (Cranford/Fitzgerald): AABBCCDD
(Athole, Gow, Hardie, Kennedy, Martin): AABB'CDE (Breathnach). According to
John Glen (Early Scottish Melodies,
1900, pg. 229) the tune is a composition of James Greig, a teacher of dancing
in Ayrshire. AEae tuning was preferred for “Greig’s Pipes” in the 18th century
(Johnson, 1983) as it is set, for example in Neil
Stewart’s 1761 collection, but it is also played in ADae tuning. Played in
AEae tuning, the tune was employed on the island of Whalsay, Shetland, by fiddlers John Irvine
and Andrew Polson as one of the tunes for the "bedding the bride"
ritual (Cooke, 1986). AEae is also a common tuning for the piece on Cape Breton Island, especially with the early-mid 20th
century generations of fiddlers, such as Mary Hughie MacDonald and Donald
MacLellan (Paul Cranford, 1997) {Winston
Fitzgerald, however, played it in standard tuning}. Similarly, it is played by
some County Leitrim fiddlers in AEae tuning (e.g. the
McNamara family). “Greig’s Pipes” is a double‑tonic tune that is also in
the pentatonic scale; a characteristic now‑a‑days recognized as
Scottish, but the double‑tonic was also common in English music prior to
1700 when it dropped out of favor in that part of the island. To avoid the need
to tune up and retune after playing the piece, it was, according to Charles
Milne of Dufftown, the last item of an evening's program (Collinson, 1966). The
melody appears in the Gillespie
Manuscript of Perth, 1768, and
Joshua Campbell's 1778 Collection of
Newest and Best Reels (pg.11), though John Glen (1891) finds the earliest
printing in Neil Stewart's 1761 collection (pg. 44). A Cape Breton bagpipe setting was printed by
Barry Shears in his Gathering of the
Clans Collection (1991) under the title “Gun Do Dhuit Am Bodach Fodar
Dhomh” (The Old Man Wouldn’t Give Me Straw), and Perlman (1996) adds that another
Cape Breton title is “Greg’s Pipe Tune.” A
dorian setting of the tune also goes by the name “Gregg’s Pipes” in Kerr’s 4th. Several Irish versions are found as
“Craig’s Pipes.”
***
In Ireland the tune appears in print in
O’Farrell’s Pocket Companion (1804),
a setting in the key of ‘D’ (without scordatura tuning) reprinted by O’Neill in
Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody
(288, 1922). O’Neill printed the tune elsewhere under the title “Limber Elbow” (a poor version, says
Breathnach), and the first part of the tune appears in his “Edenderry Reel.”
Other Irish names for related tunes include “The Foxhunter’s Reel,” “The Kerry
Huntsman” and “Connolly’s Reel.” “Grieg’s Pipes” appears in the County Leitrim
Sutherland manuscript. O’Neill (1922) remarks: “I first heard of this
tune twenty odd years ago, as being a favorite with James Quinn an old time
Chicago piper (originally from Cloone), familiarly known as ‘Old Man Quinn’.
Altho Sergt. Early his relative and pupil had learned it, the tune never got
into circulation among musicians. Being unfavorably impressed by the version
of ‘Greig's Pipes’ received with other
tunes subsequently from Pat. Dunne of Kilbraugh, Tipperary,
it was not included among the 1001 Gems in O'Neill's
Dance Music of Ireland. The piper in whose honor the tune had been named must have been a
noteworthy performer, for almost identical with the setting in O'Farrell's Pocket Companion for the Irish
or Union Pipes, is another in A
Complete Repository of Old and New Scotch Strathspeys, Reels, and Jigs,
Selected from the Works of Neil Gow and Sons, Edinburgh 1805. As the talented
Neil Gow was much inclined to plagiarism, and from the fact that the tune in
question had been previously printed by Neil Stewart in 1762 and as early as
1779 by Joshua Campbell "in a
Collection of Reels composed by himself" we may assume that Campbell's
claim to the composition of ‘Greig"s Pipes’ is indisputable.”
***
Sources for notated versions:
accordionist Sonny Brogan (County Sligo/Dublin, Ireland) [Breathnach]; Mary
MacDonald (Cape Breton) [Dunlay & Greenberg]; John Clancy (Bronx, New York)
[Mulvihill]; Hughie McPhee (b. 1924, Elmira, North-East Kings County, Prince
Edward Island; now resident of Priest Pond) [Perlman]; Winston Fitzgerald
(1914-1987, Cape Breton) [Cranford]; set dance music recorded live at Na
Píobairí Uilleann, mid-1980’s [Taylor]; fiddlers Francie and Mickey Byrne
(County Donegal) [Feldman & O’Doherty]. Breathnach (CRÉ I), 1963; No. 96, pg. 41. Bulmer & Sharpley (Music from Ireland), vol. 2; 14. J. Campbell, Newest and Best Reels (c. 1778). Cranford (Winston Fitzgerald), 1997; No. 100, pg. 42. Dunlay & Greenberg
(Violin Music of Cape Breton), 1996; pg. 136. Feldman & O’Doherty (The Northern Fiddler), 1979; pg. 169a
(untitled reel). Gow (Complete Repository),
Part 1, 1799; pg. 24. Hardie (Caledonian
Companion), 1992; pg. 122. Kennedy (Traditional
Dance Music of Britain and Ireland: Reels and Rants), 1997; No. 58, pg. 16. Lowe, Collection
of Reels and Strathspeys, 1844. Martin (Traditional
Scottish Fiddling), 2002; pg. 27. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 6, pg. 2. O’Farrell (Pocket Companion, vol. 1), c. 1805; pg.
43. O’Neill (Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody),
1922; No. 288. Perlman (The Fiddle Music
of Prince Edward Island), 1996; pg. 104. Stewart-Robertson
(The Athole Collection), 1884; pg.
16. Taylor (Music for the Sets: Yellow Book), 1995; pg. 20. Tubridy (Irish
Traditional Music, Vol. 1), 1999; pg. 24. Celtic
SCX 57, Dan R. MacDonald et al - “The Fiddlers of Cape Breton.” Drumlin
Records, The McNamara Family – “Leitrim’s Hidden Treasures” (1999). Green
Linnet GLCD 1128, Brendan Mulvihill & Donna Long - “The Morning Dew”
(1993). Green Linnet GLCD 3011, The Both Band – “1975” (1983). MKM7590, Mike
McHale – “The Schoolmaster’s House” (2000. A;;ears as “Gregg’s Pipes,” learned
from piper Miko Padian). Rodeo RLP 107, Joe MacLean - “And His Old Time
Scottish Fiddle” (c. 1967. Appears as “Athole Reel”). Rodeo RLP 59, Dan R.
MacDonald - “Fiddling to Fortune with...” Rounder 7009, Doug MacPhee - “Cape Breton Piano” (1977). Torc
Music TOLCD 1, Kilfenora Ceili Band – “Set on Stone” (1997).
X:1
T:Greig’s Pipes
M:C|
L:1/8
S:Reel
B:Stewart-Robertson – The
Athole Collection (1884)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s
Companion
K:A
f|eAcA eAAf|eAcA BFFf|eAcA eAcA|B/B/B (cA BFF:|
|:B|cAcA cAAB|cAcA BFFB|cAcA EacA|B/B/B (cA BFF:|
|:A|EA,CA, EA,A,F|EA,CA, FB,B,F|EA,CA, EA,CA,|B,/B,/B, (CE
FB,B,:|
|:G|A2
A>E CA,A,E|A2 (AE FB,B,G|A2 A>E CA,EC|B,/B,/B,
(CE FB,B,:|
X:2
T:Greig’s
Pipes
M:C|
L:1/8
K:G
B3
B BAGA|B2 GB AGEG|B3 B BAGB|A2BG AGEG|B3B BAGA|
B2
dB AGEG|B~d3 eBdB|AcBG AGEG||DG G2 DGBG|DGBG AGEG|
DG
G2 DGBG|dBAc BGGE|DG G2 DGBG|DGBG AGEG|DG G2 DGBG|
DBAc
BGGB||d2 Bd egge|d2 BG AGEG|d2 Bd eg g2|agbg ageg|
D2
Bd egge|d2 BG AGEG|d2 Bd eg g2|a2 bg aged||
X:3
T:Greig's Pipes (#271)
M:4/4
L:1/8
S:O'Farrell's Pocket
Companion 1804-10
Z:Paul Kinder
R:Reel
K:D
f/2g/2|a>df>d a>df>b|a>df>d e>B
Bf/2g/2|a>df>d adfd|e/2e/2e fd eB B2:|
|:e|f>df>d f>dd>e|f>df>d eBBe|f>df>d
A>dfd|e/2e/2e fd eB B2:|
|:d|ADFD ADDd|ADFD BEEd|ADFD ADFD|GBFA GEE:|
|:c|d>edA FDDc|d/2c/2B/2A/2 dA BDDc|d>edA
F/2G/2AFD|GBFA BE E:||
X:4
T:Gregg's Pipes
T:Craig's Pipes
T:Kerry Huntsman, The
R:reel
S:Mike McHale workshop - East Durham
July 2000
Z:Michael Hogan
M:C|
L:1/8
K:G
B3 B{d} BAGA|B2GB AGED|B2dB{d} BAGB|A2 BG AGed|
B3 B{d} BAGA|B2GB AGED|(3Bcd ed BedB|AcBG AGEG||
DG ~G2 DGBG|GABG AGEG|DG ~G2 d3 B|dBAc BG~G2|
DG ~G2 DGBG|d2BG AGEG|DG ~G2 d3 B|dBAc BG~G2||
d2 (3Bcd e2ge|d2BG AGEG|d2Bd eg ~g2|a2bg ageg|
d2 (3Bcd e2ge|d2BG AGEG|d2Bd eg ~g2|a2bg aged||
GREIG'S STRATHSPEY. Scottish, Slow Strathspey or (Pastoral) Air (4/4 time). A Minor (Skye):
G Minor (Cranford, Hunter, Skinner). Standard tuning.
AB (Cranford, Hunter, Skinner): AABB (Gow,
Skye). "Very old” (Gow, Skye);
“Ancient Melody” (Skinner). John Glen (Early
Scottish Melodies, 1900) said it was believed this strathspey was the
composition of James Greig, a teacher of dancing in Ayrshire (as was “Greig’s
Pipes,” above). J. Murdoch Henderson (1902-1972) said the tune was “Nathaniel
Gow’s favourite ancient melody.” Source for notated version: Winston Fitzgerald
(1914-1987, Cape Breton) [Cranford]. Cranford (Winston Fitzgerald), 1997; No. 229, pg. 92. Gow (Second Collection of Niel Gow’s Reels),
1788; pg. 20 (3rd ed.). Henderson (Flowers of Scottish Melody), 1935. Hunter (Fiddle Music of Scotland), 1988; No. 48. MacDonald (The Skye Collection), 1887; pg. 101.
Skinner (Harp and Claymore Collection),
1904; pg. 16. Olympic 6151, Arthur Robertson ‑
"Scottish Traditional Fiddle Music" (1969). Topic 12TS424, Jock
Tamson’s Bairns – “The Lasses Fashion” (1982).
X:1
T:Greig’s Strathspey
M:C
L:1/8
R:Slow Strathspey or Air
S:MacDonald – The Skye Collection (1887)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:A Minor
EG G2 cG G2|c>GA>G (c/A/)G/E/
G2|A,A (A>B) (c/B/)A/^G/ A2|
A,A (A>B) (c/B/)A/^G/ A2|Cc c2 eg
g2|ea a>g ec’ c’2|c’b/a/ ag/e/ ed/c/ cd/e/|
A,>B,C>D (EA) A2::eg g2 c’g
g2|eg g2 c’g g2|ea a>b (c’/b)/a/^g/ a2|
Aaa>b (c’/b/)a/^g/
a>b|c’>ba>g a>gf>e|f>edc (G/E/)G/c/ A>B,|A,>B,C>D
(EA) A2:|
X:2
T:Greig’s Strathspey
M:C
L:1/8
R:Strathspey
N:”Slow”
N:”Very Old”
B:Gow – 2nd Collection of Niel Gow’s Reels, 3rd ed.,
pg. 20 (orig. 1788)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:A Minor
EG “tr”G2 cG “tr”G2|c>GA>G
(c/A/).G/.E/ G2|A,A A>B (c/B/).A/.^G/ A2|A,A (A>B) (c/B/)A/^G/ A2|
A,c “tr”c2 eg “tr”g2|ea “tr”a>g
ec’ “tr”c’2|c’b/a/ “tr”ag/e/ ed/c/ “tr”cd/e/|”tr”A,>B,”tr”C>D “tr”(EA)
A2:|
|:eg”tr”g2 {^f/g/}c’g “tr”g2|
eg”tr”g2 {^f/g/}c’g “tr”g2|ea a>b (a/b/) (c’/b/)a/^g/ a2|Aa”tr”a>b
(c’/b/)a/^g/ “tr”a>b|
{a/b/}c’>ba>g a>gf>e|”tr”f>edc
(G/E/)G/c/ AB,|”tr”A,>B,”tr”C>D (E/D/)C/D/ “tr”E2|”tr”A,>B,”tr”C>D
“tr”EA A2:|
GRENADIERS, THE. AKA and
see “The Grinder(s),” “Terry Heigh-ho the Grinder [1].”
GRENADIER'S MARCH [1]. English, March. 1685 version. Played in the War of the Spanish
Succession. Appears in Winstock (Songs
and Music of the Redcoats), 1970.
GRENADIER'S MARCH [2]. English, Scottish; March. G Major. Standard tuning. ABBCC.
"1776" version. The tune, having been printed in fife manuscripts and
tutors, was in evidence in the American Revolution on both sides. Camus (1976)
finds references to its use in that war in New Hampshire milita units as a march for
trooping the colors, and Henry Knox adopted it in 1779 for the artillary to
signal an advance. Winstock (1970) states that by the time of the Napoleonic
Wars this march was accepted throughout the British army. In 1815, when the 1st
Foot Guards were renamed the Grenadier Guards, they adopted this march to
commemorate their role at Waterloo; it is still played by them in both
slow and quick time. The melody was also printed in the Gillespie Manuscript of Perth, 1768. Camus (Military Music of the American Revolution), 1976; Example 14, pg.
110. Winstock (Songs and Music of the
Redcoats), 1970; pg 36.
GREY BEARD, THE (An Feusog Liat). Irish, Reel. G Major. Standard
tuning. AB. Source for notated version: Chicago fiddler Edward Cronin, originally
from County Tipperary. Cronin was a weaver and a
machinest, who boasted that he never forgot nor forgave a slight, but who could
play tune after tune steadily for hours. O’Neill considered him an excellent
musican and obtained many tunes from him [O’Neill]. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976;
pg. 131. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodiess), 1903/1979; No.
1393, pg. 259.
X:1
T:Grey Beard, The
M:C|
L:1/8
R:Reel
S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 1393
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:G
(3DEF | GcBA GFGA | defa gedB | GABA
GBcB | ABAG FDEF |
GABA GFGB | defa gfgf | ecAc dBAG |
FDEF G2 || B2 |
d3 e dcBc | defa gedB | Gbde dcBc |
AFDF ABcA |
dcde dcBc | defa g3f | ecAc dBGB |
cAFA G2 ||
GREY BOB, THE. Scottish, Pipe Reel. A Mixolydian. Standard
tuning. ABCD. Source for notated version: Winston Fitzgerald (1914-1987, Cape Breton) [Cranford]. Cranford (Winston Fitzgerald), 1997; No. 60, pg. 26. WS 031703, Wendy MacIsaac – “Timeline” (2003).
GREY BUCK, THE. See “Gray
Buck.”
GREY CAT ON A TENNESSEE FARM. Old‑Time, Breakdown and song. USA, Tennesse. D Major. Standard
tuning. AABB. In repertoire of African-American Kentucky fiddler Cuje Bertram, and appears on a home
tape made in 1970 for his family. Source for notated version: Uncle Dave Macon
(Tenn.) [Kuntz].
***
Just talk to the man, you can if you will,
Farmed in the valley of the Tennessee hills.
***
Chorus
Big cat spit in the little cat's eye,
Little cat, little cat, don't you cry.
***
I do love liquor and we'll all take a dram,
I'm a‑gonna tell you pretty Polly Ann.
***
Cattle in the pasture, hogs in the pen,
Sheep on the ranch and the wheat in the bin.
***
Wagon in the shed, porker in the yard,
Meat in the smokehouse and a big tub of lard.
***
Fruit in the cellar, cheese on the board,
A big sack of coffee and suger in the gourd.
***
Horses in the stable, money's in my pocket,
A baby in the cradle and a pretty girl to rock it. (Kuntz)
***
Kuntz (Ragged but Right), 1987; pgs. 216‑218. County 521, Uncle Dave Macon‑ "Original
Recordings 1925‑1935." Rounder 0023, Highwoods String Band‑
"Fire on the Mountain." Rounder CD0403, The Freight Hoppers -
“Where’d You Come From, Where’d You Go?”
GREY DAYLIGHT, THE (Maidiunagad Liat).
AKA – “Gray Day-Licht.” AKA and see "Sterling
Castle." Irish, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning. AB (Kennedy): AA'B
(O'Neill/1850): AA'BB' (O'Neill/Krassen). A tune by this title appears to be
similar to the Scots fiddler‑composer William Marshall's "Craigellachie Bridge" (some
say Marshall's tune is but a
'remodeling' of the older melody). This Scots tune was first published under
this title by John Anderson, around
1799, though it had previously been published as "Mr. Anderson's Strathspey" by Robert Petrie (Second Collection, 1796). See also the related “Fickle Fortune.” Source for notated
version: McNamara [O’Neill]. Kennedy
(Traditional Dance Music of Britain and Ireland: Reels and Rants), 1997; No. 59, pg. 16. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 127.
O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodiess), 1979; No. 1372, pg. 256.
X:1
T:Grey
Daylight, The
M:C|
L:1/8
R:Reel
S:O’Neill
– Music of Ireland
(1903), No. 1372
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:D
A/G/F/E/ |: D2 FA DAFA | A,2 CE
A,ECE | D2 FA DAFA |1 (3Bcd (3cde dBAF :|2
(3Bcd (3cde dfec || d2 fd gefd |
(3BBB ed cABc | (3ddd fd gefd | (3Bcd (3cde dfec |
d2 fd gefd | (3BBB ed cABc | defg
abag | fdec dBAF ||
GREY EAGLE [1]. AKA and see "Gray
Eagle." AKA ‑ "Grey Eagle Hornpipe." Old‑Time, Bluegrass, Texas Style; Breakdown, Hornpipe. USA; Alabama, Mississippi, southwestern Va., southwestern Pa., western N.C., eastern Tenn., Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona. A Major (most versions): G Major
(Bayard, W.E. Claunch): C Major (uncommon, but known in the western N.C./
eastern Tenn. area in this key). Standard or AEae tuning. AB (Bayard, Silberberg):
AABB (Brody, Krassen, Phillips): AA'BB (Shumway): AABBCC (Christeson):
AA'BB'CC'D (Frets Magazine).
"One of the standard square dance tunes in the key of A Major"
(Krassen, 1973), and, in fact it is one of the more commonly played fiddle
tunes at mid-western fiddle contests. Versions and variants abound in
tradition, so that the title is sometimes qualified with the name of the source
to differentiate it from other “Grey Eagle’s.” Several writers have noted the
similarity between “Grey Eagle” and the Scottish tune “Miller of Drone,” with the “Grey
Eagle” melody probably derivative. There are many different sets of this tune
collected from folk sources in almost all parts of the South and West; in
addition it has made its way into numerous commercial collections, among the
first of which is George H. Coes' Album
of Music (Boston, 1876). It was one of the older tunes in fiddle repertory in Patrick
County, southwest Va., before such tunes were supplanted by tunes more
conducive to the fiddle/clawhammer banjo combination ‑‑ the tune
may also have been called "Ducks on the Pond" (??) (Tom Carter &
Blanton Owen, 1976). Bayard (1981) is surprised at the tenacity of the title in
the face of so many disperate versions.
***
The melody is popular with Kentucky fiddlers, remarks Charles Wolfe
(1982), who first suggested it was possibly named for the famous Kentucky race horse of 1839. John Hartford
(“The Devil’s Box”) found that the “Grey Eagle” title for the melody known as
“The Miller of Drone” became attached to the tune in America following this famous late 1830's
race between horses known as “Grey Eagle” and “Wagner.” The race has been
documented and took place in the Oakland Racetrack in Louisville in 1838. Soon afterwards a tune
folio celebrating both racehorses appeared (a copy of which is in the
possession of the Center for Popular Music at Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro) with both “Wagner” and “Grey Eagle” as well as the
now-obscure “Oakland Racetrack.” In the repertoire (C Major version) of
legendary fiddler J. Dedrick Harris, a Tenn. born fiddler who played regularly
with Bob Taylor when the latter ran for Governor of the state in the late
1800's. Harris moved to western N.C. in the 1920's and influenced a generation
of fiddlers there, including Osey Helton, Manco Sneed, Bill Hensley, and Marcus
Martin. In the Deep South the melody was in the repertory of Alabama fiddler D.
Dix Hollis (1861‑1927), who considered it one of "the good old tunes
of long ago" (as quoted in the Opelika
Daily News of April 17, 1926) {Cauthen, 1990}, and was recorded for the
Library of Congress in 1939 by Guntown, Mississippi, fiddler W.E. Claunch. It
was also one of the tunes listed in the Troy
Herald of July 6th, 1926, as having been played at a
fiddlers' convention held at the Pike County, Alabama, fairgrounds. It is on Missouri fiddler Charlie Walden’s list of
‘100 essential Missouri fiddle tunes’. Part of the tune the same as
"Ostinelli's Reel" (Cole)./ Arizona fiddler (and Mormon) Kenner C.
Kartchner maintained the tune was played by Mormon fiddlers crossing the
plains. Sources for notated versions: Kenny Baker [Brody]; Floyd Smith (Cole
County, Missouri) [Christeson]; Charlie Higgins (Galax, Va.) [Krassen]; Kenner C. Kartchner (Arizona)
[Shumway]; William Shape (elderly fiddler from Greene County, Pa., 1930's)
[Bayard]; Byron Berline learned the tune from his father who had it from his
friend Frank Mitchell (Enid, Oklahoma) [Frets Magazine]; Jeff Goehring with the
Red Mules (Ohio) [Phillips]; Greg Canote (Seattle) [Silberberg]; Howard
Forrester, Robert Rutland & Herman Johnson [Phillips/1995]. Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle), 1981; No. 103, pg.
60. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983;
pg. 127. Christeson (Old Time Fiddlers
Repertory, vol. 1), 1973; pg. 12. Ford (Traditional
Music in America), 1940; pg. 86. Frets Magazine, "Byron Berline: The
Fiddle," February 1981; pg. 52. Krassen (Appalachian Fiddle), 1973; pg. 73. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 106 (breakdown
versions). Phillips (Traditional American
Fiddle Tunes), vol. 2, 1995; pg. 197 (hornpipe version). Shumway (Frontier
Fiddler), 1990; pg. 268. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern),
2002; pg. 57. Christeson says the tune also appears in Harding's All‑Around Collection of Jigs and Reels (1905, New York) and in 1935 in 100 WLS Barn Dance Favorites (Chicago). Briar
0798, Earl Collins‑ "That's Earl." County 202, "Eck
Robertson: Famous Cowboy Fiddler." County 703, Bartow Riley‑ "Texas Hoedown." County
705, Sonny Miller‑ "Virginia Breakdown." County 722, Joe Greene‑
"Joe Greene's Fiddle Album." County 744, Kenny Baker‑ "Dry
and Dusty." Document 5167, The Booker Brothers. Gennett Records (78 RPM), Taylor's Kentucky Boys (1927. Featuring
the only black hoedown fiddler to record commerically, Jim Booker). Global
Village C‑302, Chicken Chokers ‑ "New York City's 1st Annual String Band
Contest ‑ 1984." June Appal 007, Thomas Hunter‑ "Deep in
Tradition" (1976. Learned from his grandfather, fiddler James W. Hunter of
Madison County, N.C.). MGM E4035, Howdy Forrester ‑ "Fancy Fiddlin'
Country Style." Missouri Old Time Fiddlers
Association 002, Taylor McBaine (b. 1911) ‑ "Boone County Fiddler." Missouri State Old Time Fiddlers'
Association, Dwight Lamb (b. 1934) - "Old Ladies Pickin' Chickens."
Morning Star 45003, Taylor's Kentucky Boys ‑ "Wink
the Other Eye: Old‑Time Fiddle Band Music from Kentucky" (1980. Originally
recorded in 1927). Rounder 0068, Mark O'Conner‑ "Pickin' in the
Wind." Rounder 0099, Dan Crary ‑ "Lady's Fancy." Rounder
0100, Byron Berline‑ "Dad's Favorites." Rounder 0194, John W.
Summers ‑ "Indiana Fiddler" (1984).
Rounder 0213, The Chicken Chokers ‑ "Chokers and Flies" (1985).
Rounder 0215, James Bryan ‑ "The First of May" (1985). Rounder 1133,
Ed Haley vol 2 – "Grey Eagle". Vocalion 14839 (78 RPM), Uncle Am
Stuart, 1924, (b. 1856, Morristown, Tenn.). Voyager 309, Benny
& Jerry Thomasson - "The Weiser Reunion" (1993). Voyager
VRCD 344, Howard Marshall & John Williams – “Fiddling Missouri” (1999). Warner Brothers
42468, The Booker Brothers. In the repertoire of Western N.C. fiddler Osey Helton (C
Major version). 5 String Productions 5SP05002, The Hoover Uprights – “Known for
their Reputation” (2005. Based on the playing of fiddler Flick Flaharty or York County, Pennsylvania).
X:1
T:Grey Eagle [1]
Z:Nigel Gatherer
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:A
cB|A2 FA ECA,C|EFAc BABc|A2 FA
ECA,C|EF (3ABc e2 (3cec|
A2 FA ECA,C|EFAc (3BcB Ac|eAce
dcBG|EGBd (3cec:|]
AF|ecAe cAeA|fdAd fgaf|edce
cecA|EGBc dBGB|
AecA ecAc|dABd faeg|abga (3faf
ed|ceBc A2:|]
X:2
T:Grey Eagle [1]
M:2/4
L:1/8
R:Reel
S:Christeson – Old Time Fiddler’s Repertory, vol. 1, No.15 (1973)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:A
c/B/|AA/F/ E/C/E/F/|AA/c/
B/A/B/c/|AA/F/ E/C/E/F/|A/B/c/A/ Bc/B/|
AA/F/ E/C/E/F/|AA/c/
B/A/c/d/|e/c/e/a/ f/a/e/d/|c/A/B/c/ A:|
|:a/f/|e/c/A/c/ e/c/f/c/|e/c/A/c/
ea/f/|e/c/A/c/ e/c/f/c/|e/c/A/c/ B/G/E/G/|
A/B/c/d/ e/c/f/c/|e/c/f/c/
ef/g/|a/g/a/e/ f/a/e/d/|c/A/B/G/ A:|
|:e/g/|aa/b/ ae/g/|a/g/a/b/
c’/a/e/a/|f/e/f/g/ f/e/c/f/|e/c/A/c/ B/A/c/e/|
aa/b/ ae/g/|a/g/a/b/
c’/a/e/c’/|e’/a/e/a/ f/g/a/f/|e/c/B/G/ A:|
X:3
T:Grey Eagle [1]
M:2/4
L:1/8
R:Reel
S:Ford – Traditional Music in America (1940)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:A
c/B/|A/B/A/F/ E/F/E/C/|A,/C/E/A/
c/A/e/c/|B/c/B/G/ E/F/E/C/|B,/E/G/B/ ec/B/|
A/B/A/F/ E/F/E/C/|A,/C/E/A/
Bc/d/|ec/A/ f/e/c/A/|E/G/A/B/ A:|
|:c/d/|e/c/e/c/ e/c/f/c/|e/c/e/c/
e/c/a/c/|e/c/e/c/ e/c/f/c/|e/c/B/c/ Ac/d/|
e/c/e/c/ e/c/a/c/|e/c/e/c/
ee|E/G/A/c/ e/g/f/e/|c/A/B/c/ A:|
GREY EAGLE [2]. AKA ‑ "Gray Eagle." English, American; Hornpipe or
Reel. USA, Central Pa. A Major (Raven): B Flat Major
(Hardings). Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: Ralph Sauers (Buffalo Valley, Central Pa.) [Guntharp]. Related to verison #1.
Guntharp (Learning the Fiddler’s Ways),
1980; pg. 72. Hardings All-Round Collection, 1905; No. 179, pg. 57 (appears as
"Gray Eagle"). Raven (English
Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 189.
X:1
T:Gray Eagle [2]
M:C
L:1/8
K:A
cB | AFFA EFEC | EAcA BAcB | AFFA
EFEC | EAcB A2 cB | AFFA EFEC |
EAcA B2c2 | e2 cA BAFA | EAcB A2 ::
f2 | eAcA eAfA | eAce fgaf | eAcA eagf |
edcB A2f2 | eAcA eAfA | ecde f2 eg |
agfe fg a2 | B2A2A2 :|
GREY EAGLE [3]. Old-Time, Breakdown. C Major. Standard tuning. AABBAACC'. Source for
notated version: Ruthie Dornfeld (Seattle) [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol.
1, 1994; pg. 106.
GREY EAGLE [4]. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, Missouri. C Major. Standard tuning. AABB'. A
variation of version #3. It is on Missouri fiddler Charlie Walden’s list of
‘100 essential Missouri fiddle tunes’. Source for notated version:
Cyril Stinnett (Mo.) [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional
American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 106.
GREY EAGLE [5]. Old‑Time, Breakdown. Heritage XXXIII,
Bruce Molsky ‑ "Visits" (1981. Learned from a 1935 recording of
Roland Cauley and Lake Howard).
GREY EAGLE JIG. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, Kentucky. According to Guthrie Meade and
Mark Wilson, this tune, from blind northeastern Kentucky fiddler Ed Hayley, resembles
"Grey Eagle [1]" only in its lower strain, while the higher one is
derived from the "George Booker"
family of tunes. Rounder 1010, Ed Hayley - "Parkersburg Landing" (1976).
GREY-EYED CAT. AKA and see "Buffalo Nickel [1]," “Cat Ate the Handsaw,” "Chinky Pin," “Crooked Stovepipe [2],” "Darling Child," “Eber Atkins Tune,” "Farmer Had a Dog," "Fourth of July," "Hair in the Butter," "I'm My Momma's Darling (Child),"
“Lead Out,” “Liesel,”
“Love Somebody [2],” "Midnight Serenade [1],"
"My Love
Is/She's But a Lassie Yet [1],” “Old
Mose,” “Raymondville,” "Richmond Blues," “Soapsuds Over the Fence [3],”
"Sweet Sixteen," "Ten Nights in a Bar Room," “Too Young to Marry [1],” "Yellow Eyed Cat." Old-Time,
Breakdown. Lotus Dickey learned this well-known tune from Alec Moon under this
title.
GREY FOX, THE. Irish, Reel. Composed by button accordion
player Billy McComiskey in honor of his cat, born of legendary mother Casey,
who lived at The Gandy Dancer in the Pigtown section of southwest Baltimore. Frank Claudy writes: “Casey's
kitten's were so popular with patrons that there was a several litter waiting
list. We got kitten #39, from the same
litter that produced a giant named Muldoon and a dwarf that was promised to a
veterinarian in Philadelphia. Casey
had a special affinity for delivering in opened instrument cases. She died of accidental rat poison ingestion
some time after producing kittens 54 - 59.”
GREY FRIEZE BREECHES, THE. AKA and see "The Ladies' Pantalettes/Pantaloons/Pantaloos,"
"Leonard's Reel," "The Boatman's Reel," "Pat the Fowler," "The Green Pantaloons."
GREY GHOST, THE. American, Jig. Composed by New England fiddler Frank Ferrel. The Grey
Ghost is a fishing fly popular for Atlantic salmon, first tied in northern Maine