The Fiddler’s
Companion
© 1996-2007 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 concertina.net’s
incredibly handy “ABC Convert-A-Matic” at |
I AM A BOLD DEFENDER. Irish, Air (6/8 time). F Mixolydian. Standard. One part.
Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection),
1905; No. 434, pg. 109.
X:1
T:I am a bold defender
M:6/8
L:1/8
R:Air
S:Stanford/Petrie (1905), No. 434
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:F Mixolydian
(3c/d/e/ | f2g _e2f | c2B A2F | B2A
F2F | (F3F2) F | A2F A2B | c2B A2F |
F2G A2B | (c3c2) F | A2F A2B | c2B
A2F | F2F A2B | (c3c2) (3c/d/e/ |
f2g _e2f | c2B A2F | B2A F2F |
(F3F2) ||
I AM A BRISK AND
SPRIGHTLY LAD. English, Air (cut time). F Major.
Standard. One part. Huntington (William
Litton's), 1977; pg. 27.
I AM A LONG TIME HERE (Is Fada Annso Me). AKA and see "The Gentle Maiden."
I AM
A POOR MAID THAT’S CROSSED BY MY FRIENDS. Irish, Air (6/8 time). F Minor.
Standard. One part. “Set by W. Forde” (Stanford/Petrie). Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 309, pg.
77.
I AM
A POOR MAIDEN, MY FORTUNE PROVED BAD. Irish, Air (3/4 time). D Major.
Standard. One part. Source for notated version: “(The Irish collector) Mr.
Joyce, from Peggy Cudmore” [Stanford/Petrie]. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 455, pg.
115.
X:1
T:I am a poor maiden, my fortune
proved bad
M:3/4
L:1/8
R:Air
S:Stanford/Petrie (1905), No. 455
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:D
(3ABc | d2c2B2 | A2F2A2 | {A}G2F2E2
| D4 de | f2d2f2 | ed cBAB |
c2d2e2 | d4 de | f2d2f2 | ed cBAB |
c2d2e2 | d4 (3ABc | d2c2B2 |
A2F2A2 | G2F2E2 | D4 ||
I AM A POOR RAMBLING
BOY. AKA and see "Rambling Boy."
I AM A POOR SHEPHERD
UNDONE. AKA and see "The Distressed Shepherd,"
"Hey, Ho, My Honey," “Slaughter House,” "When my hero in court appears."
English, Air (6/8 time). E Minor. Standard. AAB. The melody appears in Playford's
Dancing Master (1665, 1668 and all
subsequent editions), Apollo's Banquet
for the Treble Violin, Pills to Purge
Melacholy {vol. IV, 1720, as "The Distressed Shepherd"}, and John
Gay's Beggar's Opera (1729) {as Air
IV "When my hero in court appears"}. Chappell (1859) notes numerous
references to the tune, the earliest dating 1659. Kidson (1922) says the
earlier name for the tune is "Hey, ho, my honey." Chappell (Popular Music of the Olden Times), vol.
2, 1859; pgs. 14‑15. Raven (English
Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 67.
X:1
T:I am a Poor Shepherd Undone
M:6/8
L:1/8
S:Gay – Beggar’s Opera
K:D Minor
dd | ^c=BA ABc | d3F3 | GBA F>ED
| (D3 D2)d | ^c=BA ABc | d3F3 | GBA F>ED | (D3D) ||
EE | FEF GFG | A3 z2E | FEF GFG | A3
z2E | FEF GAB | A3d2d | cBA GFE | D3 z2 D/E/ |
F3A3 | F D2 z2E | FEF GAB | A3 z2E |
FEF GAB | A3d3 | cBA GFE | (D3 D2) ||
I AM A REAL REPUBLICAN. Irish, Air (6/8 time). G Dorian. Standard. One part. "There was a
Ninety‑eight song to this air:‑‑'I am a real republican; John
Wilson is my name'" (Joyce). Source for notated version: Hugh O'Beirne,
professional fiddler from Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim, 1846. Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Songs), 1909;
No. 600, pg. 311.
I AM A ROVER. Irish, Air (3/4 time). E Flat Major. Standard. AAB. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 526, pg.
133.
X:1
T:I am a rover
M:3/4
L:1/8
S:Stanford/Petrie (1905), No. 526
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:E_
B/c/4d/4 ef/g/ | e>d cB
c/>d/e/c/ | BG EA G/A/B/c/ | {A}G>E CB,/C/ EE | E3 :|
|| AGA | B>c de f/>g/a/g/ |
f>d Bc/d/ ef | ed B{d}c BB | B2 Bc/d/ ef/g/ |
e>d cB c/>d/e/c/ | BG EA
G/A/B/c/ | G>E CB,/C/ EE | E3 ||
I AM A WIDOW AND A
MAID (Is Baintreabhach
Agus Maighdean Me). Irish, Slow Air (3/4 time). C Mixolydian. Standard. AB. This widow and
maid was the bride of O'Reilly, who was drowned when crossing the
I AM A YOUNG LITTLE
BOY (Is Buachaillin Beag
Og Me). Irish,
Air (4/4 time). F Major. Standard tuning. AAB. "A song on leaving home"
(Joyce). Source for notated version: Hugh O'Beirne, professional fiddler from
Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim, 1846. Joyce (Old
Irish Folk Music and Songs), 1909; No. 628, pg. 321.
I AM AN ORPHAN BOY. AKA and see "Ja Sam Sirota."
I AM
ASLEEP {AND DON'T WAKEN ME} [1]
("Tha mi am chadal," or "Taimse 'im chadal"). AKA and see "Taimse 'im Chodladh."
Scottish, Irish; Slow Air (3/4 time). F Major. Standard tuning. AAB. This tune,
an "ancient simple set," "is claimed by both the Irish and
Lowland Scotch. There being very ancient Gaelic words to it, the
X:1
T:I am asleep [1]
T:Tha mi am chadal
N:”Ancient simple set”
M:3/4
L:1/8
R:Air
S:Fraser Collection (1874)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:F
CD/E/ F4|F4 A2|GABAGF|D4 C2|A>Bc>e f2|A3B G2|1 F6:|2 F4||
c>d|_e3 gfe|d2 e2 f2|c3 dfg|f2d2c2|_edegfe|d3=e f2|c2 BAGF|F2D2C2|
f2e2d2|c2B2A2|G3
FAG|F3 G/A/ C2|D>E F4|AgedcB|A3B G2|F6||
I AM ASLEEP AND DON'T
WAKEN ME [2] ("Taim I Mo
Chodhladh Is Na Duisigh Me," "Táimse im/mo Chodladh" or "Ta
me mo chodladh"). AKA and see “Cold, frosty morning,”
"Lament of a Druid,” "Past one
o'clock," "Thamama Hulla" (an Englished version of the Irish
title). Irish, Air (3/4 time). F Major (O’Sullivan/Bunting): F Mixolydian
(Stanford/Petrie). Standard tuning. AB (O’Sullivan/Bunting): AAB
(Stanford/Petrie). A variant of version #1. The first printing of the tune in
Ireland was in John and William Neale’s Collection
of the Most Celebrated Irish Tunes (Dublin, date of publication usually
given as 1721 or 1726, although 1742 is the date Bonnie Shaljean gives in the
Appendix to the 2001 edition of O’Sullivan’s Carolan: Live and Times; this based on watermark analysis), the
first collection of Irish melodies (Ó Canainn, 1978). As with some other airs,
it is unclear whether original provenance lies in
***
A story is told by O'Neill regarding
this tune, quoted in O'Sullivan (1983):
***
When at Mr. Macdonnell's of Knochranty in the county of
Roscommon, he met a young nobleman from
had come to
he had a claim through his mother. "He was one of the most
finished and accomplished young gentlemen," says O'Neill,
"that I ever met. When on one occasion Hugh O'Neill and I
played our last tunes for him, he
wished to call for 'Past one
o'clock,' or 'Tha me mo chodladh, naar dhoesk a me,' which
he had heard played somewhere before, but for the name he
was at a loss. Perceiving me going towards the door, he followed
me, and said that the name of his bootmaker was Tommy
McCullagh, and that the tune he wanted was like saying
'Tommy McCullagh made boots for me;' and in the broad
way he pronounced it, it was not unlike the Irish name. I
went in with him and played it, on which he seemed
uncommonly happy.
***
Blind harper Arthur O’Neill
(1734-1818), originally from
***
I spent my time very pleasantly between Colonel White and Mr. Thompson.
uncommon fond of the tune ‘Past
finished four bottles of good old port wine, I playing the tune all the
time
except when lifting my hand to my head.
***
The Gaelic song “Táimse im’chodladh”
is an allegorical lyric, with a beautiful lady personifying
***
As
I was abroad late one evening
-I am asleep and don't waken me-
It happened that I noticed by my side a beautiful apparition
-I am asleep and don't waken me-
Her curly, ringleted, cascading surplus of tresses fell over her trembling
limbs,
As she launched the arrows that pierced me in the side.
-I am sleep and don't waken me-
***
Arise my loyal family and take up your weapons
-I am asleep and don't waken me-
And level to the ground every English clown.
-I am asleep and don't waken me-
If only three survive, let there be shouts of triumph in all your towns;
From Carrick-on-Suir west to the banks of Dingle
Raise your blades and give the English their own treachery;
-I am asleep and don't waken me-
***
The melody was a part of the old
Irish harp tradition, and was also absorbed into piping tradition. Brian
McNamara (2004) calls it one “of the great airs associated with the Uilleann pipes.”
Source for notated version: Bunting noted the melody from Hempson the harper at
Magilligan in 1792. Holden (Collection of
Old-Established Irish slow and quick tunes), volume II, Nos. 15 & 35.
Mulholland (Ancient Irish Airs), No.
32. Neal (Collection of most Celebrated
Irish Tunes), 1726 (?); pg. 12. O'Farrell (Pocket Companion for the Irish or Union Pipes), No. 168. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies),
1903/1979; No. 599. O'Sullivan/Bunting, 1983; No. 100, pgs. 144-146.
Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection),
1905; No. 488, pg. 123. Burke Thumoth (Twelve
Scotch and Twelve Irish Airs), pg. 15. Walker (Historical Memoirs of the Irish Bards), No. 32. Drumlin Records BMNCD2, Brian McNamara – “Fort of the
Jewels” (2004). RCA 09026-61490-2, The Chieftains - "The Celtic Harp"
(1993). Topic 12T184, Willie Clancy - "The Breeze From Erin" (1969).
X:1
T:I’m Asleep and Don’t Awaken Me
M:3/4
L:1/8
R:Air
S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 599
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:F
F>D|C>D F2F z|F4 F2|G2
F/4G/2<A A/4G/2<F|D4 C2|D2F2F2|A2 c2 d/4c/2<A|
G3 F A/4G/2<F|F4:||c>d|{d}e4
ef/e/|{^c}d4 d_e/d/|{=B}c4 d>e|d2c2A2|c2d2f2|
f4 d>c|A2G2F2|F>G D>F
C2|{d}e4 f>_e|{^c}d4 =c>A|c>d f>d c>A|G>F D>F C2|
D2F2f2|[D2d2] c>A G>F|G4
F2|F4||F/4G/2<A|B2 cBAG|A2 BAGF|G>A c>G A>F|
D4 C2|D2F2f2|d2 c<A G<F|G4
F2|F4||C>D|[C4_E4] [CE] z|[B,4D4][B,D]z|C4 C z|
C2 A,2 C2|C2 D2 F2|F3G
F/4G/2<A|AG F/4G/2<A A/4G/2<F|D4 cd|[c4_e4][ce]|
[B4d4] c<A|c>d f>d
c>A|G>F D>F C2|D2F2f2|d2 cA GF|G4F A/4G/2<F|F4||
X:2
T:I am asleep and don’t wake me
M:3/4
L:1/8
S:Stanford/Petrie (1905), No. 488
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:F
FG/A/ | B2B2B2 | A2A2A2 | FA/c/ BA
GF | D4 C2 |
C2D2 F>G | A2c2 (3dcB | A4G2 | F4
:|
|| cd | _e4 e2 | d4 cA | c2d2f2 | f2
dc A2 | _e2 e2e2 |
d4 cA | F2 FG AF | G2F2 F/A/c/d/ | _e2
ef gf | _e2 dc fd/c/ |
B2 AF GD | F2D2C2 | D2F2F2 | AB c2
f/d/c/B/ | A4 G2 | F4 ||
I AM MY MOTHER'S
DARLIN' CHILD. AKA and see "Soldier's Joy [1]." Old-Time.
I AM SO DEEP IN LOVE. AKA and see "Cupid's
Courtesie." English, Air. The air is usually known as "Cupid's
Courtesie." The alternate title "I am so deep in love" is taken
from the first line of a song entitled "The Maiden's Complaint against
Young Men's Unkindness" (to the tune of "Cupid's Courtesie").
I AM SO SORROWFUL. See “Tha mise cho muladach.”
I AM THE BRAVEST
COWBOY. Old‑Time, Song and Breakdown.
I AM THE DUKE OF
***
I am the Duke of
Newly come to
***
and one of the gathered group would
be crowned with a pillow or cushion, while another kneeled before him and
presented him with a jug of ale. The one so crowned was required to then drink
off the ale without spilling it or letting the cushion fall. The editor of the
"Suffolk Garland" (1818, pg. 402) says that "this custom has
most probably some allusion to the homage formerly paid to the Lords of
Norfolk, the possessors of immense domains in the country." Whether or not
this was the origin, the term "to serve the Duke of Norfolk" entered
tradition as equivalent to making merry, and Chappell finds references to it in
literature as early as 1617; Shakespeare's Falstaff also makes reference to
using a cushion as a crown. Chappell (Popular
Music of the Olden Time), vol. 1, 1859; pgs. 282‑283.
I AM WAITING FOR YOU. Irish, Reel. Kilfenora Ceili Band - “Irish
Traditional Fiddle Music.” Gael‑Linn CEF 092, “Billy Clifford” (1982).
X:1
T:I am waiting for you
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:G
D|G2BG dGBG|AGFG ABcA|BAGF GABc|defd
cAFA|B~G3 dGBG|
AGFG ABcA|(3Bcd)GB cBAG|FGAF G3
:| d|g2fg ecAG|(3FED) AD
BDAD|~E3F~G3A|(3Bcd) ^ce d2ef|
gfed ecAG|(3FED) AD BDAD|G2FE
DGBd|cAFA G3:|
I AM WEARING A COAT IN PRAISE OF
THE MILL. See “Tha Cota Orm
S’Ardach Muillin.”
I
ASKED THAT PRETTY GIRL TO BE MY WIFE. AKA and see "Miss Sally at the Party,” “Old Miss Sally.” Old‑Time,
Breakdown.
***
Asked that pretty girl to be my wife,
She wouldn't do it to save my life;
Asked that pretty girl to be my wife,
She run at me with a carving knife (or 'old case knife'). {Thede}
***
The tune was collected in 1939 in
I AWOKE FROM MY DREAM (Do Duisig Me
X:1
T:I Awoke from My Dream
L:1/8
M:6/8
N:”Gaily”
S:O’Neill – Music of
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:D
A|ABc d2d|d2d edc/A/|ABc d2d|fed
cdB|ABc d2d|e>dc BcA|d2d ecA|d3 d2||
f/g/|a2f gfg|a3 f3|e2e efd|B3
A2A|ABc d2d|e>d BcA|d2d ecA|d3 d2||
I
bhFOISCEACHT MILE DO BHAILE ATHA CLIATH. AKA and see "Within a Mile of Dublin."
I BHI
I BRIDLED MY NAG. Irish, Air (6/8 time). D Major. Standard. One part. "Air and words
learned in early life from hearing the people sing the song. The hero was
evidently what sporting people now call a 'welsher'" (i.e. one who has no
funds to pay any debts incurred) {Joyce}. It begins:
***
I bridled my nag and away I did ride
Till I came to an alehouse hard by a town side,
There I saw three gentlemen throwing dice,
And the took me to be some noble knight:
Cho:
With my right fol-ol de diddle, right fol-lee,
And in my pocket bur one pen-nee.
***
Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Song), 1909; No. 60, pg. 33.
X:1