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]

 

 

 

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).

See also listings at:

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

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