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] |
IAIN AN CIBEIR. AKA and see "John the Shepherd."
IAIN CAIMBEUL A BANCA. Scottish, Pipe March. A version of “The Rock and the/a Wee Pickle Tow.”
The title is from Duncan Ban MacIntyre’s use of the tune, according to Jack
Campin (jc@purr.demon.co.uk).
IAIN
PETERSON’S COMPLIMENTS TO FRASER
McGLYNN.
Scottish, Reel. B Minor. Standard tuning. AABBCCDD. Composed by Iain Peterson.
Martin (Ceol na Fidhle), vol. 4,
1991; pg. 12.
IAIN RUAIRIDH'S LAMENT (Tuireadh Iain Ruaidh). Scottish, Slow Air (6/8 time). A
Major. Standard tuning. AABB. A relatively rare major-mode lament. Martin (Ceol na Fidhle), vol. 1, 1991; pg. 8.
IAIN'S JIG. Scottish, Pipe Jig. Green Linnet 1067, The
Tannahill Weaver's ‑ "
IAN AND ISOBEL. Scottish, Jig. E Major.
Standard. AAB. Composed by Scottish fiddler Arthur Scott Robertson. Robertson’s
son Neil told Randy Miller that Ian and Isobel Ferguson of Aberfeldy were close
friends of his parents. He remembered staying with them when his father
competed in a BBC sponsored event in 1969. Miller (Fiddler’s Throne), 2004; No. 60, pg. 46. Spectrum
Records FLP 5015, Arthur Scott Robertson – “
IAN POWRIE’S
COMPLIMENTS TO ANGUS FITCHET.
Scottish, Reel. D Major. Standard. AABB. Composed by Ian Powrie
(originally in the key of ‘F major) in honor of fiddler and band leader Angus
Fitchet. Miller (Fiddler’s Throne),
2004; No. 173, pg. 109. Waverly/EMI Records SZLP 2144,
“Ian Powrie, His Fiddle and his Friends” (1975).
IAN S. ROBERTSON. Shetland, Slow Air. B Flat Major. Standard. AA'B. Composed by Shetland
fiddler, teacher, collector and composer Tom Anderson, 1963, for the son of
Arthur Scott Robertson the Champion Scottish Fiddler.
IANTHE. AKA and see “Princess Royal [5].” English, Air. G
Minor. Standard. AABB. Simpson, in his volume British Broadside Ballads and
Their Music, says this air was originally entitled “Iantha” and was included in
the supplemental section called “Tunes of the French Dances” in the third
edition of Playford’s Dancing Master
(c. 1662, No. 28). It can also be found in twice in Playford’s Apollo’s Banquet (1670, No. 176 &
No. 200), first as “Ianythae” and then as “La Princess Royale.” The “Princess
Royal” title was used for subsequent editions of Playford
X: 1
T:Ianthe (Princess Royal)
M:4/4
L:1/4
S:Simpson (BBBM)
K:GMin
B/A/|Ggg>^f|g3 g/a/|bff>_e|dBBc/d/|_e/d/c/B/ B>A|A3:||a|b>d d3/4f/4
e3/4
g/4|f2e>f|d>_e c>B|B3 B/A/|Gcc>b|c3 f/_e/|db^f>g|g3:||
IANTHE THE LOVELY. AKA and see "Mourn
Hapless Caledonia," "When he holds up his hand."
English, Air. This melody appears in John Gay's The Beggar's Opera (1729) as "When he holds up his hand."
Kidson (1922) says the air is by John Barrett. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 67.
IARGAIN CUAIN. AKA and see "Wailing of
the Sea." Scottish, Air (4/4 time). A Minor. Standard. AAB. Neil (The Scots Fiddle), 1991; No. 174, pg.
226.
ICE CREAM HORNPIPE, THE. Irish, Hornpipe. G Major. Standard. AABB. Composed
by
X:1
T: Ice Cream Hornpipe
C: © B.Black
Q: 325
R: hornpipe
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: G
A | d^cd=c BGGF | EAce agfe | decd Bdgd | cAdF GABc |
dDDF GB (3BBB | (3cBA BG ABce | dggd cggc | BdAF G3 :|
B/c/|(3d^cd ef g2 d=c|(3BcB AF G2 Bc|(3d^cd ef gaba|(3gfe fd e2 Bc|
(3d^cd
ef gbbg | faef g2 ed | (3cdc (3BcB (3ABA (3GAG | cAdF G3 :|
ICE HOUSE. Old-Time, Breakdown. A Major. AEae tuning. Composed by Matt Gordon,
formerly of the Fiddle Puppets, in honor of the
ICE ON THE
ICE ON THE PUMPHANDLE. AKA and see “Mountain
Hornpipe [1],” “Old Skeddadalink.” Old‑Time, Breakdown.
ICE ON THE ROAD. Canadian (originally), American; Reel. E Dorian ('A' part) & G
Major ('B' part). Standard. AABB (Songer): AA'BB' (Bohrer/Kibler). Composed by
ICY MORNING. American, Jig. E Dorian ('A' and 'C' parts), E Major ('B' part).
Standard. ABCC. Private collection (circulated among contra dance musicians). Wild Horse 2198312.
ICY MOUNTAIN. Old‑Time, Breakdown.
ICY SIDEWALKS. Canadian, March (cut time).
I'D BE A BUTTERFLY. English, Country Dance Tune (2/4 time). G Major. Standard. AABB. Source
for notated version: a c. 1837-1840 MS by
I’D
CROSS THE WORLD OVER WITH YOU JOHNNY DOYLE. AKA and see “Johnny Doyle
[1].” Irish, Air (4/4 time). B Flat Minor. Standard. One part.
Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection),
1905; No. 443, pg. 112.
X:1
T:I’d cross the world over with you
Johnny Doyle
M:C
L:1/8
S:Stanford/Petrie (1905), No. 443
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:B_ Minor
fe | dB BA F2 E>F | FB BB B3F |
Bcde fedf | ecdB A2 F=A | Bcde fedf |
ecdB A2 f>e | dBBA F2 EF | FBBB
B2 ||
I'D DRUTHER BE A
NIGGER THAN A POOR WHITE MAN. AKA‑ "N….r Take a Dram," "I'm An Old N….r And I Will Take A Dram."
Old‑Time, Breakdown.
***
The poor white man, the poor white man,
Livin' up north in a cold white land;
Never seen a banjo or heard a nigger band,
I druther be a nigger than a poor white man.
***
The poor white man, the poor white man,
Never seen a possum or a possun in the pan;
never had a chicken or a razor in his hand,
I druther be a nigger than a poor white man.
***
I'm an old nigger and I'll take a dram,
I druther be a nigger than a poor white man.
(Thede)
***
This line is also sometimes heard
sung:
My name is Sam, I don’t give a damn,
I’d reather be a nigger ‘n a po’ white man.
{Sounds like a white minstrel show
ditty} Thede (The Fiddle Book), 1967;
pg. 62.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW. AKA and see "J'aimerais d'
Connaitre."
I’D MOURN THE HOPES
THAT LEAVE ME. AKA and see “Bhíosa lá I bport
láirge,” "The Dainty Besom Maker,"
“Forgive the muse that
slumbered,” "The Gimlet," “Johnny’s Grey Breeks [2],”
"The Old Lea Rigg,"
"Little Mary Cullinan,"
"Little Sheila Connellan,”
“Maureen from Giberland,” “Port Láirge,” “The Rose Tree [1]," “The Rose Tree in Full Bearing."
I’D RANGE
THE WORLD OVER WITH MY OWN JOHNNY DOYLE. AKA and see “Johnny Doyle [1].” Irish, Air (2/4
time). A Minor. Standard tuning. One part. Stanford (1902) notes it is a
variant of “I’d cross the world over with you, Johnny Doyle.” Source for
notated version: “From (the Irish collector) Forde” [Stanford/Petrie].
Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection),
1905; No. 629, pg. 158.
X:1
T:I’d range the world over with my
own Johnny Doyle
M:2/4
L:1/8
R:Air
S:Stanford/Petrie (1905), No. 629
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:F
ed | cA AG | E2 DE | EA AA | A2 GE |
AB cd | ed ce | dB cA | G3E |
AB cd | ed ce | dB cA | G2 ed | cA
AG | E2 DE | EA AA | A2 ||
I’D RATHER BE MARRIED
THAN LEFT (B’Fhearr liom a
bheith Pósta ná Tréigthe). Irish, Slide. D Major. Standard tuning. AA’BB’. The melody was recorded
by Seamus Ennis in January, 1949, from the fiddle playing of Kerry musicians
Padraig O’Keeffe and Denis Murphy (O’Keeffe’s pupil). Alice C. B Bunten, in an
article entitled “Irish Songs in the Beggar’s Opera” (Journal of the Irish Folk Society, vol. 5, pg. 19), identifies the
tune as a derivative of the English song “Would
you Court a Young Virgin of Sixteen Years” in Gay’s 1728 work. She states:
“In Charles II’s reign [1660-1685] Tom D’Urfey wrote the words of ‘Would you
Court’ &c. for his play Modern
Prophets, and used this tune, which was an old one, for it.” The tune has a
long pedigree—see note for “Would you…” See also “La Native” in the “Lancer’s Quadrilles.” Source for
notated version: a manuscript dated 1919, written by Michael S. Meany (Tulla,
X:1
T:I'd rather be married than left
M:12/8
L:1/8
R:slide
D:The Smoky Chimney, track 1(a)
K:D
ABA AFA d2 D D2 F|ABA AFA B2 E E2 F|
ABA AFA B2 g f2 e|1dcB ABc d2 D D2
F:|2dcB ABc d2 D D2 e||
~f3 def e2 A A2 e|fef def gfg e2
g|fef g3 fef a2 f|
1gfe ABc d2 D D2 e:|2gfe ABc d2 D
D3||
I'D ROAM THROUGH
IDA RED. AKA‑ "Idy Red." Old‑Time, Breakdown.
***
Ida Red who lives uptown, weighs three hundred and forty pounds,
Down the road and 'cross the creek, don't get a letter but once a week.
***
Refrain
Ida Red, pearly blue,
My little honey don't I love you.
***
I don't know and I don't care, know there's hard times everywhere,
Ida Red you won't do right, won't do nothin' but quarrel and fight.
***
Down the road hat in my hand, hello sheriff I've killed my man,
Ida Red you won't do right, won't do nothin' but quarrel and fight.
***
Down the road a mile and a half, my little honey looks back and laughs,
Ida Red you're workin on the road, work enough money to buy a load.
***
Ida Red, Ida Blue, Ida bit a hoecake half in two,
If I'd a‑listened to what Ida said, I'd a‑been sleepin' in
Ida's bed. {Kuntz}
***
I went down town one day in a lope,
Fool around till I stole a coat;
Then I come back and I do my best,
Fool Around till I got the vest.
O weep! O my Idy!
For over dat road I'm bound to go. {Thede}
***
|
See also listing at: Jane Keefer’s Folk
Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources
|
X:1
T:Ida Red
M:2/4
L:1/8
B:Kuntz – Ragged but Right
K:A
c>c BB|A/B/A/F/ EF|AA/c/ B/A/F|EF
AA/B/|cc/c/ BB|A/B/A/F/ EE/F/|
AA/c/ B/A/F|EF A>(c||c/)e/e
[ee][ee]|c/A/B AA|B/A/B/A/ c/A/B|
E/E/F AA|c/B/c/d/ ee|c/d/e
AA|B/A/B/A/ cB|E/F/A A2||
IDBURY HILL. AKA and see “London Pride.”
English, Morris Dance Tune (4/4 time). E Minor (Mallinson): D Dorian (Bacon,
Carlin). Standard timomg. AABB, x4 (Mallinson): AABA (Bacon): AA'BB' (Carlin).
Idbury Hill is a side-step handkerchief dance collected with the melody in the
Bledington, Gloucestershire, area of
***
A portrait by artist A van Anrooy of an old country fiddler was printed on the cover of Peter Kennedy’s influential Fiddler’s Tune Book. It depicts Charles Benfield (1841-1929), fiddler for the Bledington morris men in the second half of the 19th century. Benfield started out by playing the pipe and tabor, instruments he had ‘inherited’ from the renowned Sherbourne and Northleach musician Jim ‘the laddie’ Simpson, who had succumbed to an overdose of alcohol in 1856. Benfield played at various times for the morris sides of Milton-under-Wychwood, Idbury, Fyfield and Longborough and became a key figure in the Bledington morris tradition of the latter 19th century. He eventually lead the “junior side” of dancers born in the 1860’s, men who survived to pass on their tradition to larger audiences when collectors visited in the 1930’s. Cecil Sharp’s biographer, Fox Strangway, relates that the famous collector presented a bow to Benfield, whose own had been broken some years previously and as a result his fiddle had been silent. The elderly musician took the bow, tuned up the fiddle and played a few tunes, but was not pleased with the result. He then appraised the bow thoughtfully, and admitted that ‘it seemed a nice bow’ and ‘looked all right’, but that it “somehow won’t keep time with the other hand.” [Pete Cooper].
***
Sharp
also in 1911 noted a G minor version of “Idbury Hill” from 68 year old Harry
Taylor, from the Longborough morris tradition, although
***
Source for notated version: Charles
Benfield (Rollo Woods,
X:1
T:Idbury Hill
M:4/4
L:1/8
S:Bacon (Benfield MS, 1925)
K:D Dorian
A2 AB c2A2|GFED C2 DE|F2A2 AGFE|D4D4:|
||A2 AB c2A2|dcBA G2G2|A2 AB c2A2|d3c A4|
A2
AB c2A2|GFED C2 DE|F2A2 AGFE|D4 D4||
IDEAL. American, "Straight Jig" (2/4 time). E Minor. Standard
tuning. AA'BB'. A kind of ragtime tune. Harding’s
All Round Collection, 1905; No. 63, pg. 19.
X:1
T:Ideal
M:2/4
L:1/8
R:”Straight Jig”
N:”Not too fast”
B:Harding’s All Round Collection, No. 63 (1905)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:E Minor
.E.F .G.A|Be fg|c3 g|B3
g|AcBA|GABG|1 E3 e|^dB (GF):|2
FB2B|Ez Ez||:F(e
e/)>d/d/>A/|F=FE_E|D(e e/>d/B/>G/|EDAG|1 F(d d/>)A^G/>A/|
dA d2|G(e e/>)B/^A/>B/|eB
d2:|2 FE (^GA)|(Bc)fe|dc/>A/ EF|Gz [Bg]z||
IDER
DEIGHRIC ‘GUS BREO’. Irish, Air. Shanachie 79064, Matt Molloy – “Heathery Breeze” (1999).
IDLE ROAD, THE (Botar Diomaoin). AKA and see “The Winding Road.” Irish, Jig. G Major.
Standard tuning. AABB (O’Neill’s): AABBCCDD’ (
X:1
T:Idle Road, The
L:1/8
M:6/8
S:O’Neill – Dance Music of
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:G
D|D>BB D>cc|D>BB c2e|dBG
FGA|BAG AFD|
D>BB D>cc|D>BB c2e|dBG
FGA|BGG G2:|
|:G|G>gg efg|fed cAF|G>gg
gfg|afd cAF|
D>BB D>cc|D>BB c2e|dBG
FGA|BGG G2:|
X:2
T:Idle Road, The
S:Raphael Meehan (flute), Donegal
Z:Nigel Gatherer
M:6/8
L:1/8
R:Jig
K:G
E|DBB Dcc|DBB c2e|dBG FGA| BGB AFD|
DBB Dcc|DBB c2e|dBG FGA|1BGF G2:|2BGF GBd||
efg efg|fed cAF|G2g gfg|afd cAF|
DBB Dcc|DBB c2e|dBG FGA|1BGF GBd:|2BGF G2||
X:3
T:Idle Road
R:Jig
S:Conor Keane
Z:Jeff Lindqvist
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G
DBB Dcc|DBB c2e|dBG FGA|BAG AFD|
DBB Dcc|DBB c2e|dBG FGA|1 BGF G2D:|2 BGF G2G||
Ggg efg|fed cAF|GBd gfg|afd cAF|
DBB Dcc|DBB c2e|dBG FGA|BGF G2F|
Ggg efg|fed cAF|GBd gab|afd cAF|
DBB Dcc|DBB c2e|dBG FGA|BGF G2D||
IDLEWILD. American, Clog Dance (cut time). D Major. Standard tuning. AB (Cole):
AABB' (Kerr). Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes),
1940; pg. 79. Kerr (Merry Melodies),
vol. 2; No. 417, pg. 47. Ryan’s Mammoth
Collection, 1883; pg. 113.
X:1
T:Idlewild
M:C|
L:1/8
R:Clog Dance Tune
S:Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (1883)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:D
(D>.D) (3FED (F>.A)(d>.A) |
(3Bcd A>F E>DB,>A, | D>D (3FED F>Ad>A | (3Bcd A>F E>F
Dz |
D>D (3FED F>Ad>A | (3Bcd
A>F E>DB,>A, | D>D (3FED F>Ad>A | (3Bcd A>F E>F Dz ||
(B>.F) {G}(3F^EF (d>.B)
{c}(3BAB | f>B {c}(3BAB b>f {g}(3fef | g>ef>d e>cd>A | (3Bcd
A>c B>AF>A |
B>F {G}(3F^EF {c}(3BAB | f>B
{c}(BAB b>f {g}(3fef | g>efd> e>cd>A | (3Bcd A>F
E>DB,>A, ||
IDLEWILD JIG. AKA and see “Cricket’s
March Over the Saltbox.” American, Irish (?); Jig.
X:1
T:Idlewild
M:6/8
L:1/8
R:Jig
S:Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (1883)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:D
D2D FED|F2A d2A|Bcd A2F|G2F E2D|D2D
FED|
F2A d2A|Bcd A2F|EFE D3||B2F
F=F^F|d2B BAB|
F2B BAB|b2f fef|g2e f2d|e2c d2A|Bcd
A2F|E2D D3||
IDYL. American, Hornpipe. E Major. Standard tuning. AABB. "Can be used
as a Clog" (Cole). Cole (1000 Fiddle
Tunes), 1940; pg. 96. Ryan’s Mammoth
Collection, 1883; pg. 130.
X:1
T:Idyl
M:C|
L:1/8
R:Hornpipe
S:Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (1883)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:E
B2 | e2 g>e B>AG>F |
E>GB>e g>ef>g | a>ba>g f>gf>e | (de)f>d B2 (cd) | e2
g>e B>AG>F |
E>GB>e g>ef>g | (3aba
(3gag (3fgf (3efe | d>ef>d e2 :: B2 | b2 (3gbg (3efe (3BdB |
E>GB>e g>ef>g | (3aba (3gag (3fgf (3efe | .d.e(fg) .a.B(cd) | e2
g>e B>AG>F |
E>GB>e g>ef>g | (3aba
(3bab (3fgf (3efe | d>ef>d e2 :|
IF ALL THE SEA WERE INK. AKA – “If the sea were ink.” AKA and see "Ah! Where Is the Vow?,"
"Lay His Sword By His Side." Irish, Air (4/4 time). C Major
(Walker): G Major/E Minor
(O’Neill): E Flat Major/Mixoldyian (Stanford/Petrie). Standard tuning.
One part (Stanford/Petrie, Walker): AAB (O’Neill). It’s hard
not to believe the title is not a take-off on Playford’s “If the world were
paper.”
X:1
T:If the Sea were Ink
L:1/8
M:C
N:”Moderate”
S:O’Neill – Music of
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:G
e/f/g/e/|dBAB G2 GB|d2 e>f e2
dB|A2 AB dBAB|G4 z2:|Bd|e2 dB d2 ef|
g2 g>a b2 ag|e2 g>e dcBd|e3
f/e/ d2 Bd|e2 dB d2 e>f|g2 g>a {c’}b2 ag|
{f}e2 g>e edBd|e3 d g2||
X:2
T:If all the sea were ink
M:C
L:1/8
S:
K:C
cA|GED>E C2 CE|G2 A_B A2 GE|D2 DE GED>E|C6 EG|
A2 GE G2 AB|c>Bcd e2 dc|A2 cA AGEG|A3 G G2 EG|
A2 GE G2 AB|c>Bcd e2 dc|A2 cA AGEG|A3G c2 A/B/c/A/|
GED>
IF ALL THE WORLD WERE
PAPER. English, Country Dance Tune (6/8 or
6/4 time). D Major (Karpeles, Raven, Sharp): C Major (Kidson). Standard tuning.
One part (Karpeles, Raven, Sharp): AB (Kidson). First published by Playford as
a round dance for eight persons in his English
Dancing Master (1651) and subsequent editions through the eighth (1690).
The tune goes to a well-known nursery rhyme which runs:
***
If all the world were paper,
And all the sea were ink?
And all the trees were bread and cheese,
What should we do for drink?
***
Karpeles & Schofield (A Selection of 100 English Folk Dance Airs),
1951; pg. 15. Kidson (Old English Country
Dances), 1890; pg. 1. Raven (English
Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 24 & 39. Sharp (Country Dance Tunes), 1909; pg. 27.
X:1
T:If All the World Were Paper
M:6/8
L:1/8
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion