The Fiddler’s Companion

© 1996-2010 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 ‑ "Land of Light" (1986). Green Linnet SIF‑104, The Tannahill Weaver's ‑ "The Celts Rise Again" (1990).

 

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 – “Scotland’s Champion Fiddler” (1975).

 

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. Anderson (Ringing Strings), 1983; pg. 39. Topic 12TS379, Aly Bain & Tom Anderson ‑ "Shetland Folk Fiddling, vol. 2" (1978).

 

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.

           


IBERIA BREAKDOWN. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, Missouri. The source for this tune was Bill Driver, an African-American fiddler from Iberia, Miller County, Missouri, one of R.P. Christeson’s sources in the mid-20th century. The title is Christesons, given to a tune he collected from Driver with no name. Missouri State Old Time Fiddlers' Association, Bill Driver (et al) – "Old Time Fiddler's Repertory" (1976).

           

ICE CREAM HORNPIPE, THE. Irish, Hornpipe. G Major. Standard. AABB. Composed by Falmouth, Massachusetts, musician and writer Bill Black. Black (Music’s the Very Best Thing), 1996; No. 301, pg. 161.

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 Augusta jams at the Ice House.

                       

ICE ON THE LAKE.  Irish, Reel. Composed by County Tipperary fiddler Seán Ryan (d. 1985). Ryan (Seán Ryan’s Dream), 21.

 

ICE ON THE PUMPHANDLE. AKA and see “Mountain Hornpipe [1],” “Old Skeddadalink,” “Woody’s Hornpipe.”  Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, Nebraska. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: Bob Walters (Burt County, Nebraska) [Christeson]. R.P. Christeson (Old Time Fiddlers Repertory, vol. 2), 1984; pg. 68.

           

ICE ON THE ROAD. Canadian (originally), American; Reel. E Dorian ('A' part) & G Major ('B' part). Standard tuning. AABB (Songer): AA'BB' (Bohrer/Kibler). Composed by Ontario fiddler Graham Townsend and named for a tense winter’s drive from Ottowa to Cornwall, according to Susan Songer (1997). Sources for notated versions: Scotty Campbell (Vermont) [Bohrer/Kibler]; accordion player Christy Keevil via George Penk (Portland, Oregon) [Songer]. Bohrer (Vic Kibler), 1992; No. 8, pg. 8. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; pg. 105. Condor 977‑1489, "Graham & Eleanor Townsend Live at Barre, Vermont." Fretless Records 101, "The Campbell Family: Champion Fiddlers."

 

ICK GOE MIJN SOETEN ENGEL.  Dutch, Air (3/4 time). A Minor. Standard tuning. AABBCC. Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes, vol. 2), 2005; pg. 78 (appears as “The Lover’s Farewell”, the name of a dance by Pat Shaw set to the tune).

 

ICY BLUE DAYS.  Canadian, Reel. Canada, Cape Breton. A Dorian. Standard tuning. AABB. Composed by the late Cape Breton fiddler Jerry Holland (1955-2009). Cranford (Jerry Holland: The Second Collection), 2000; No. 33, pg. 14.

           

ICY MORNING. American, Jig. E Dorian ('A' and 'C' parts), E Major ('B' part). Standard tuning. ABCC. Private collection (circulated among contra dance musicians). Wild Horse 2198312.

           

ICY MOUNTAIN. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, West Virginia. A Major/D Mixolydian. Standard or AEae tunings. AABB. There is a song collected in Kentucky by this title given by Roberts (pg. 105), which is a variant of "My Home's Across the Smoky Mountains" or "My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains;" it seems unrelated to this breakdown piece. However, the tune in circulation by this title was collected from Ward Jarvis (b. 1894), originally of Braxton County, West Virginia (later of southeastern Ohio), who learned it from a Clay County (W.Va.) left‑handed fiddler by the name Frank Santy. Spandaro (10 Cents a Dance), 1980; pg. 15. Front Hall 017, Michael, McCreesh, & Campbell ‑ "Dance Like the Waves of the Sea" (1978). Rounder 0132, Bob Carlin ‑ "Fiddle Tunes for Clawhammer Banjo" (1980). CD2001, “The Rough Deal Stringband.”

           

ICY SIDEWALKS. Canadian, March (cut time). Canada, Cape Breton. A Major. Standard tuning. AA'BB'. Composed by piano player Matthew Cook, editor of The Night in the Kitchen Collection and presently a student at St. Mary's Universtiy, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Cook (Night in the Kitchen Collection), 1996; pg. 20.

           


I'D BE A BUTTERFLY. AKA and see “Butterfly (2) (The).” English, Country Dance Tune (2/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: a c. 1837-1840 MS by Shropshire musician John Moore [Ashman]. Ashman (The Ironbridge Hornpipe), 1991; No. 47b, p. 18.

           

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 tuning. 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:Bbmin

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. USA, Oklahoma. E Major. BEbe or DDad tunings. AABB. Learned in Davis, Indian Territory.

***

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, County Clare) for his students. The title with the tune in the ms. is “The Macks”  [Breathnach]. Breathnach (CRÉ II), 1976; No. 79 (appears as untitled slide). Breathnach (CRÉ V), 1999; No. 78, pg. 39. RTE CD174, “The Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master Pádraig O’Keeffe.” Spin CD1001, Eoghan O’Sullivan, Gerry Harrington, Paul De Grae - “The Smoky Chimney” (1996).

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 ASIA. AKA and see "Colleen Rue [1]," "As I Roved Out On a Summer Morning," "Kind Sir, Be 'Aisy,'" "Red‑haired Maiden," “Red-Haired Girl [3],” "Sails Were Unfurled."

           


IDA RED. AKA‑ "Idy Red." Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA; West Virginia, southwest Virginia, Kentucky, north Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas. A Major (Kuntz, Phillips): G Major (Krassen, Titon). AEae or Standard tuning. AB: AABB (Krassen). Ida Red was originally supposed to have been an African-American bad man, but the gender of the character in most versions is feminine or androgynous. Jeff Titon (2001) believes the lyrics suggest an African-American or minstrel origin. The tune, which varies widely in its melodic content although retains distinctive cadences, was recorded for the Library of Congress by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph from Ozark Mountain fiddlers in the early 1940's. Riley Pucket's (north Georgia) version of the tune, released in 1926, became the second best-selling country music record for the year. Kentucky fiddler Jim Bowles plays a cross-tuned version. Titon records that the tune was included in the 1915 Berea College students’ tune lists, but was not played in any of the Berea, Kentucky, fiddle contests of the era.

***

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}

***

Georgia fiddler Bill Shores, a native Alabamian who spent most of his life in the Rome, Georgia, area (according to Wayne Daniels), recorded the tune with guitarist Riley Puckett in Atlanta in 1926. Sources for notated versions: Double Decker String Band (Kuntz): Frank West (Murray County, Oklahoma) [Thede]; Bob Wills and Sleepy Johnson (Texas) [Phillips]; Tweedy Brothers (W.Va.) [Phillips]; Jake Phelps and Street Butler (Pea Ridge, Todd County, Ky., 1965) [Titon]. Kaufman (Beginning Old Time Fiddle), 1977; pg. 37. Krassen (Appalachian Fiddle), 1973; pg. 16. Kuntz (Ragged but Right), 1987; pg. 387‑388. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 117 (two versions). Thede (The Fiddle Book), 1967; pg. 60‑61. Titon (Old-Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes), 2001; No. 65, pg. 94. Davis Unlimited DU 33032, Clayton McMichen – “McMichen: The Traditional Years” (1977). County 791, Tommy Jarrell – “Rainbow Sign” (1986). Fretless 144, Double Decker String Band‑ "Giddyap Napoleon." Bluebird 5488A (78 RPM), Gid Tanner and His Skillet Lickers (North Ga.) {1934}. Gennett 6604 (78 RPM), 1928, Tweedy Brothers (Wheeling, W.Va. brothers Harry, George, and Charles who played twin fiddles and piano). Marimac 9060, Jim Bowles – “Railroading Through the Rocky Mountains” (1994). Meriweather 1001-2, Jim Bowles – “I Kind of Believe it’s a Gift: Field Recordings of Traditional Music from southcentral Kentucky” (1986). Old Homestead OHCS 0191, Dykes Magic City Trio (et al) – “Early String Band Classics, Vol. 1” (1987). Rounder 1008, Ernest V. Stoneman – “Ernest Stoneman and the Blue Ridge Corn Shuckers” (1978). Rounder 11131/1132, Ed Haley – “Forked Deer” (1997). Rounder CD0364, The Red Mules - “The Marimac Anthology: Deep in Old-Time Music.” Victor 19434 (78 RPM, recorded 1925), Fiddlin' Cowan Powers 1877‑1952? (Russell County, S.W. Virginia). 5 String Productions 5SP05002, The Hoover Uprights – “Known by their Reputation” (2005. Based on the Cowan Powers’ version).

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 England's Cotswolds. Idbury, Oxfordshire, is a village not far from Bledington, across the county border. The tune is also used for the dance "Three Musketeers," and a similar tune was collected in Bampton without the “slows”.

***

“Idbury Hill” appears to be a derivation of “Boyne Water [1].” See also the related Irish air “Rosc Catha na Mumhan” (The Battle Cry of Munster).

***

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 Taylor called it “London Pride.”

***

Source for notated version: Charles Benfield (Rollo Woods, Gloucestershire, England) via Dr. Kenworthy Schofield, 1925 [Bacon]. Bacon (The Morris Ring), 1974; pg. 77. Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes, vol. 2), 2005; pg. 62. Carlin (Master Collection), 1984; No. 39, pg. 33. Mallinson (Mally’s Cotswold Morris Book), 1988, vol. 2; No. 52, pg. 26.

X:1

T:Idbury Hill

M:4/4

L:1/8

S:Bacon (Benfield MS, 1925)

K:Ddor

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:Emin

.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’ (Cranford). Breathnach (1976) says this title is sometimes incorrectly applied to Denis Murphy’s “Cordal Jig.” The tune is known as “The Winding Road” in County Roscommon. Cotter (Traditional Irish Tin Whistle Tutor), 1989; pg. 52. Cranford (Jerry Holland’s), 1995; No. 261, pg. 75. Feldman & O’Doherty (The Northern Fiddler), 1976; No. 100b (appears as untitled jig). Flaherty (Trip to Sligo), 1990; No. 88. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 839, pg. 156. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 101, pg. 32. CAT-WMR004, Wendy MacIssac - “The ‘Reel’ Thing” (1994). Cló Iar-Chonnachta CICD 167, Peter Horan & Gerry Harrington – “The Merry Love to Play” (2007).

X:1

T:Idle Road, The

L:1/8

M:6/8

S:O’Neill – Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems (1907), No. 101

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. USA, New England. D Major (‘A’ part) & B Minor (‘B’ part). Standard tuning. AB (Cole, Ryan): AABB (S. Johnson): AABB’ (Songer). Susan Songer (Portland Collection) notes that Larry Nugent recorded it on his first album, having learned the tune from an elderly fiddler named Willie Johnston who lived near his parents’ home in Lack, County Fermanagh. Johnston maintained it was a ‘fairy tune’ he had learned one lonely night while walking home. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 79. S. Johnson (The Kitchen Musician No. 6: Jigs), 1982 (revised 1989, 2001); pg. 13. McQuaid (The Irish DADGAD Guitar Book). Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; pg. 106. Sage Arts 1101, Erin Shrader & Edith Farrar - “Enrichez Vous” (1991). Larry Nugent.

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.” Walker (1924) calls this tune “a magnificently majestic and solemn march to which Moore’s ‘Lay his sword by his side’ is exactly suited.” O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1979; No. 552, pg. 97. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 770, pg. 192. Walker (History of Music in England), 1924; No. 128, pg. 335.

X:1

T:If the Sea were Ink

L:1/8

M:C

N:”Moderate”

S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 552

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:Walker

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>E C2 CE|G2 A_B A2 GE|D2 DE GED>E|C6||

                       

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

S:Sharp – Country Dance Tunes   (1909)

K:D

A|B2A B2c|d3 D3|F2E F2G|(A3 A2) F|G2F G2A|B2G D2d|e2A B2c|(d3 d2):|

 


IF ALL THE YOUNG LADIES. AKA ‑ "Ma M‑Bideann Na Og‑Mna," “If all the young maidens.” Irish, Air (3/4 time). A Major (O’Neill/1850): A Dorian (O’Neill/1913). Standard tuning. One part. O’Neill (1913) identifies this as a “Luibin” air, a song sung by young women at quiltings and spinnings which involves extemporaneous verses and a regular chorus, in which each girl makes up a line and everyone chimes in with the chorus. “The name Luinigs, or Luinnochs, by which they are known, signifies cheerful chorus music.”  In Irish Folk Music,  O’Neill clarifies that Loobeen is the Irish term, according to Bunting, and that Luinig or Luinniochs is a Highland Scots term signifying cheerful chorus music. He prints an example:

***

If all the young maidens were blackbirds and thrushes, (x2)

How soon the young men would get sticks and wet bushes,

Fal the daw, fal the day, fal the didy o-dee.

***

O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1979; No. 101, pg. 18. O’Neill (1913), pg. 119.

X:1

T:If all the Young Ladies

M:3/4

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Moderate”

S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 101

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A

(cd) | e2A2A2 | A2G2A2 | c2d2e2 | f2e2d2 | e2A2A2 | A2G2A2 | c2d2e2 | e2d2d2 |

e2a2a2 | e2g2 ge | d2c2B2 | A2G2 AB | c4Bc | d4 cd | e2A2A2 | A4 ||

 

IF ALL THE YOUNG MAIDENS WERE BLACKBIRDS AND THRUSHES. Irish, Air (6/8 time). E Minor. Standard tuning. AAB. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 821, pg. 205.

X:1

T:If all the young maidens were blackbirds and thrushes
M:6/8

L:1/8

N:”Moderate”

S:Stanford/Petrie (1905), No. 821

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

G/A/ | BEE E>GF/E/ | DEF/G/ AF :| G/A/ | Bed/d/ B^cd |

AA/B/A/G/ FDE/F/ | G2 F/E/ A2 G/A/ | BEE E2 ||

 

IF ANY OF THOSE CHILDREN OF HUNGER SHALL CRY. Irish, Air (4/4 time). C Major. Standard tuning. One part. "This is a song of the time of the American War of Independence. I learned it when a child from hearing it often sung: and two verses (with the air) have remained in my memory" (Joyce).

***

If any of those children of hunger shall cry,

I hope you will relieve them, that are now standing by;

I hope you will relieve them from hunger thirst and cold,

While we are in America like jolly soldiers bold—

With a fal-lal-li-da.

***

Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Song), 1909; No. 41, pg. 23.

X:1

T:If any of those children of hunger shall cry

M:C

L:1/8

R:Air

S:Joyce – Old Irish Folk Music and Songs (1909)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:C

GF|EGcd cGEG|c2 c>c c3d|e2 ee {e}g2 ec|d2 d>d d3f|ecce f2 ef|

g2 G>G G2 (3GAB|c2 Bc d2 gf|ecce f2 dB|d2 c>c c2||

 

IF ANY WENCH VENUS'S GIRDLE WEARS. AKA and see "Cold and Raw," "The Farmer's Daughter [2]." An Anglo‑Scottish song appearing in John Gay's Beggar's Opera of 1729.

 

IF EVER I GO TO A WEDDING. AKA and see “Cat in the Hopper.”

 

IF EVER I MARRY I’M THE SON OF A WHORE. Irish, Air (6/8 time). A Minor. Standard tuning. AABBCCD. O’Farrell (Pocket Companion), c. 1805; pg. 15.

X:1

T:If Ever I Marry I’m the Son of a Whore

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Slow”

S:O’Farrell – Pocket Companion (c. 1805)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:Amin

E | A>BA AGA | cde f2g | fed cAG | G>AG GEG | A>BA AGA | cde fag |

fed cAG | A3 A2 :: e | a>ba g>ag | f>gf e2d | c>de ged | cAG G3 |

EAA AGA | cde fag | fed cAG | A3 A2 :: B | cEE GEE | cEE G2G |

AEE cEE | dcd e3 | EAA AGA | cde fag | fed cAG | A3 A2 :| e |

a2a g2g | fgf e2d | cde ged | cAG G3 | EAA AGA | cde fag | fed cAG | A3A2 ||

 

IF E’ER YE DO WELL IT’S A WONDER. Scottish, Slow Air (3/4 time). D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. McGibbon (Scots Tunes, Book 1), c. 1762; pg. 27.

X:2

T:If e’er ye do well it’s a Wonder

M:3/4

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Slow”

S:McGibbon – Scots Tunes, Book 1 (c. 1762) 

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

F>E | D2F2 A>B | A4 (B/c/d) | (A2B2)d2 | ({f}e4) de | f2D2F2 | A3BAG | “tr”F6 | d4 :|

|: d>e | f2 (gf)(ed) | ({f}”tr”e4) (d/e/f) | (A2B2)d2 | ({f2}e4) de | (f/d/e/f/ g/)f/e/d/ |

A3 BAG | “tr”F6 | d4 de | f2 (gf)(ed) | ({f}e4 (de)| f2D2F2 | A3 BAG | “tr”F6 | d4 :|

 

IF EVER YOU WERE MINE. Irish, Air or Waltz. G Major. Standard tuning. ABB’. Composed by Leitrim fiddler Maurice Lennon, a member of the Irish group Stockton’s Wing. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Green Linnet GLCD 1074, Jerry O'Sullivan - "The Invasion.” NMAS 1972, Natalie MacMaster - "Fit as a Fiddle" (1993).

X:1

T:In Memory of You

C:Morris Lenahan

S:Cherish the Ladies CD

N:I think this appears as If Ever You Were Mine on J. O'Sullivan's 1st cd.

Z:Transcribed by Phil Sexton

M:3/4

K:G

DE|"G"G4 e2|"G"d4 (3BAG|"G"AB G4|"G"G4 DE|

"G"G4 e2|"G"d4 Bd|"D"d6|"D"d2 e2 f2|"G"g4 ed|

"G"g4 ed|"G"e2 d3B|"G"AB G2 (3GFE|"G"D4 e2|

"G"d4 (3BAG|"C"DE G2A2|"G"G6|"G"{A}G4 dc||

|:"G"B3d (3BAG|"G"d4 Bd|"C"c2 d2 e2|"G"d4 Bc|

"G"B3d (3BAG|"G"d4 Bd|"C"c2 d2 e2|"D"def def|"G"g4 ed|

"G"g4 ed|"G"e2 d3B|"G"AB G2(3GFE|"G"D4 e2|"G"d4 (3BAG|

"C"DE G2A2|"G"G6 |[1 "G"G4dc :|[2 "G"G4 DE ||

X:2
T:If Ever You Were Mine
C:Maurice Lennon
R:Waltz
S:Natalie MacMaster, "Fit As A Fiddle"
N:From her handwritten notation at
N:http://www.nataliemacmaster.com/tunes/faaf/ifeveryouweremine.jpg
N:(I have halved the values of some of the notes -
N:in bars 7, 14, 16, 22, 31, 33 & 34
N:to normalise the lengths of those bars)
N:also recorded by Stockton's Wing & Cherish the Ladies

Z:Si Garbet
M:3/4
L:1/8
Q:200
K:G
DE|G4 e2|d4 B/A/ G|AB G2 G2|G4 DE|G4 e2|d4 Bd|d6|d2 e2 f2|
g3 g ed|g3 g ed|e2d3B|ABG2G/F/ E|D4e2|d4B/A/ G|DE G2GA|G6-|G4dc|
B3d B/A/ G|d4 Bd|c2d2e2|d4 Bc|B3d B/A/ G|d4 Bd|c2d2e2|de fd ef|
g3 g ed|g3 g ed|e2 d3 B|ABG2G/F/ E|D4e2|d4B/A/ G|DE G2GA|G6-|G4||

 


IF I GET A BOANIE/BONNIE LASS. AKA and see "Gin you Meet a Bonny Lass." Shetland, Shetland Reel. Shetland, Mainland and Whalsay districts. G Major ('A' part) & D Major ('B' part). Standard tuning. AABB. "These were favourite dancing tunes in Vidlin for the dance 'The Shetland Reel'" (Anderson). Source for notated version: 'the late' Henry Thomson of Vidlin (Shetland) [Anderson]. Anderson (Ringing Strings), 1983; pg. 41. Bain (50 Fiddle Solos), 1989; pg. 16. Carlin (Master Collection), 1984; No. 120, pg. 76. Martin (Traditional Scottish Fiddling), 2002; pg. 93. Topic 12TS379, Aly Bain & Tom Anderson ‑ "Shetland Folk Fiddling, vol. 2" (1978).

X:1

T:If I get a boanie lass

M:C

L:1/8

R:Reel

K:G

dcBA GA B2|dBGB gage|dcBA GA B2|efed ^c2A2:|

|:defd gfe^c|defd g2B2|defd gf e2|efed ^c2 A2:|

 

IF I HAD A BONNY LASS (LITTLE SLEEP WOU’D SAIR ME). Scottish, Reel. G Mixolydian. Standard tuning. AAB. Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 467. Gow (Complete Repository), Part 2, 1802; pg. 19. MacDonald (A Second Collection of Strathspey Reels), 1789; pg. 5.

X:1

T:If I had a bonny Lass

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:Gow – 2nd Repository  (1802)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

d|BGdG B>cd=f|AFcF {_B}A2 FA|BGdG B>cdg|BgcA G3:|

f|~g>agd g>agd|=f>gfc {B}A2FA|~gagd gagd|B>dgd B2 Gd|

~gagd gagd|=fgfc {B}A2 FA|BgcA dBge|dcBA G3||

 

IF I HAD A COURT AND CASTLE. AKA and see "Da mBeadh Cuirt Agam is Caislean."

 


IF I HAD A WIFE [1] (Dá mBeadh Bean Agam). AKA and see “Mick Mahony’s [1].” Irish, Slide (12/8 time). G Major. Standard tuning. AABB’CC (Moylan): AABB'CC' (Breathnach). Editor Moylan (1994) states that this is not the usual tune associated with the rhyme “If I Had a Wife.” Source O’Leary played the tune paired with “The Kilcummin Slide” and “Mick Mahony’s [2]." Sources for notated versions: fiddler Kevin Burke (Co. Clare) & accordion player Jackie Daly (Ireland) [Breathnach]; accordion player Johnny O’Leary (Sliabh Luachra region of the Cork-Kerry border), recorded in recital at Na Píobairí Uilleann, February, 1981 [Moylan]. Breathnach (CRE III), 1985; No. 41, pg. 20. Moylan (Johnny O’Leary), 1994; No. 90. Mulligan Records LUN 039, Kevin Burke & Jackie Daly ‑ "Eavesdropper" (1981). RTE CE174, “The Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master Padraig O’Keeffe.” Topic 12T357, Johnny O’Leary - “Music for the Set” (1977).

 

IF I HAD A WIFE [2]. AKA and see “Mad Dancing,” “Nellie Mahony’s Slide [1].” Irish, Slide (12/8 time). G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source O’Leary maintained the Chieftains obtained this tune from himself and fiddler Denis Murphy as well as many others after being visited by Sean Keane and Paddy Moloney. Source for notated version: accordion player Johnny O’Leary (Sliabh Luachra region of the Cork-Kerry border), recorded in 1985 at Kenmare [Moylan]. Breathnach (CRE II), 1976; No. 70. Ceol, Vol 2, No. 4 (appears as “A Single”). Moylan (Johnny O’Leary), 1994; No. 128, pg. 75. Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, Vol. 1), 1999; pg. 26.

X:1

T:If I Had a Wife [2]

M:12/8

L:1/8

R:Slide

K:G

G2A ABd e2d d2B|AGA B2A G2D D3|B2A ABd e2d d2B|1

AGA B2A G3 G2A:|2AGA B2A G3 G2B||

|:d2g gfg age dBd|e2a aba g2a bge|d2g gfg age dBd|1

efg aba g3 gfe:|2 efg aba g2A B2A||

 

IF I HAD A WIFE [3].  See "Bless My Soul, Why Shouldn't I?" “Boring with a/the gim(b)let,” “I have a wife of my own,” "Jack Won't Sell His Fiddle," "Ragged Lady," "Spatter the Mud,” “(A) Wife of my own.”

 

IF I HAD IN THE CLEAR. AKA and see “The Cordal Jig,” "Five Hundred a Year," “Jackson’s Bouner Bougher,” "Land of Potatoes,” “Morgan Rattler.”

 

IF I HAD MAGGIE IN THE WOODS. AKA and see “Maggie in the Woods.”

 

IF I HAD MY CHOICE. AKA and see “Da bhFaighinn mo Rogha.”

 

IF I HADN'T BEEN A FOOL, I MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LADY. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, Missouri. A Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: Bill Katon (Tebbetts, Missouri {b. 1864}) [Christeson]. R.P. Christeson (Old Time Fiddlers Repertory, vol. 2), 1984; pg. 14.

 

IF I WERE NEAR THE PEA-FIELD. Irish, Air (4/4 time). D Major. Standard tuning. AB. Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Songs), 1909; No. 715, pg. 357.

 

IF I’M ALIVE IN IRELAND. Irish, Air (3/4 time). A Major. Standard tuning. AB. Source for notated version: collected September 9th, 1857, by George Petrie from Peter Cooke (Arranmore) [Stanford/Petrie]. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 299, pg. 75.

 

IF LOVE IS THE CAUSE OF MY MOURNING. Scottish. Appears in Henry Playford's 1700 collection of Scottish dance music.

 

IF LOVE THE VIRGIN'S HEART INVADE. AKA and see "Why is your faithful slave disdained?"  English, Air. The air appears in Gay's Beggar's Opera of 1729 and Pills to Purge Melancholy, Vol. III, 1719.

 


IF LOVE'S (A) SWEET PASSION (HOW CAN IT TORMENT). AKA and see "When young at the bar you first taught me to score." English, Air. The air appears in John Gay's "The Beggar's Opera" (1729), but originally was by Henry Purcell and used in his "Fairy Queen." It appears also in Pills to Purge Melancholy, Vol. III and on half‑sheets. Kidson (1922) says there was a later setting of the song by Joseph Baildon. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 62.

 

IF THE GROG IS GOOD, WE WILL HAVE MORE OF IT. Irish, Air ("lively", 6/8 time). G Major. Standard tuning. AB. Source for notated version: Paddy Conneely, the Galway piper, via Forde (Joyce). Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Songs), 1909; No. 466, pg. 260.

X:1

T:If the Grog is Good, We Will Have More of It

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Air
N:”Lively, not too fast”

S:Joyce – Old Irish Folk Music and Songs (1909)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

G>AG d2d | G>AG FED | E>FE e>de | BAB e3 | d>ed g>fg | B>cB BAG |
A>AA BAB | G>FG E2F || G>AG B>cd | G>AG FED | E>FE e>de | BA>B e3 |

d>ed g>fg | B>cB BAG | A>AA BAB | G>FG E3 ||

 

IF THE HEART OF A MAN (IS DEPREST WITH CARES). AKA and see "Would You Have a Young Virgin )of Fifteen Years)," "Poor Robin's Maggot." English, Jig. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. The air appears under this title in Gay's Beggar's Opera, 1729. It also appears in Pills to Purge Melancholy, Vol. 1. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 119.

X:1

T:If the Heart of a Man

M:6/8

L:1/8

K:D

F/G/ | A>BA A>BA | d2A A2 F/G/ | A>BA A>BA | e2A A2F/G/ | A>BA A>BA |

d2A e2A | f>ed Adc | d2D D2 :: D | d2d cBA | B3 A2A | d2d cBA | B3 A2G |

F>FF FGA | B>BB Bcd | A>BA AGF | E3 D2 :|

 

IF THE KIRK WOULD LET ME BE. Scottish. Appears in full in the Guthrie MS. of the late seventeenth century. Guthrie, a covenenting minister who was beheaded in 1661, was probably no friend to dance music, and Alburger (1983) speculates that some wag sewed the music MS. pages into one of his books of sermons. The melody appears in the Gillespie Manuscript of Perth (1768).

 

IF THE SEA WERE INK (Da M-Bud N-Dubac An Muir Lan). See “If all the sea were ink.”

 

IF THERE WEREN’T ANY MEN. AKA and see “The Hills of Tara.” Irish, Barndance (4/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. The tune was recorded in the 78 RPM era by both the Four Provinces and the Garryowen Irish Orchestra under the title “The Hills of Tara.” Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 51, pg. 129.

X:1

T:If There Weren’t Any Men

M:4/4

L:1/8

R:Barndance

K:G

Bc|:d2G2G2 A>B|c2E2E2 A>G|F>GA>B c>Bc>d|e2d2d2 B>c|d2G2G2 A>B|

c2E2E2 A>G|F>GA>B c>AF>G|A2G2G2:|

|:Bd|g2g2f2f2|e>fe>c A2 A>G|F>GA>B c>Bc>d|e2d2d2 B>d|g2g2f2f2|

e>fe>c A2 A>G|F>GA>B c>AF>G|A2G2G2:|

 

IF THERE WEREN’T ANY WOMEN (IN THE WORLD). AKA – “If We Hadn’t Any Women in the World.” Irish, Barndance (4/4 time). Ireland, County Donegal. G Major (Mulvihill): A Major. Standard tuning. AB. Frequently recorded in the 1920’s and 1930’s and still a popular barndance in County Donegal. James Morrison and Paddy Killoran both recorded it—on the Morrison record its subtitled “The Berrefroy,” according to Philippe Varlet. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 50, pg. 129. Reavy (Music of Corktown).

X:1

T:If There Weren’t Any Women in the World

M:4/4

L:1/8

R:Barndance

K:G

Bc|d>ed>B G>AB>G|E2_E2 D2 G>A|Bd^cd edBG|A6 B>c|

d>ed>B G>AB>G|E2 _E2 D2 G>A|B>dB>G A>^GA>B|(G4 G2)||

d2|e3f g3f|e2d2d2 G>A|B>d^c>e e>dB>G|(A4A2) B>c|

d>ed>B G>AB>G|E2 _E2 D2 G>A|B>dB>G|A>^GA>B|(G4 G2)||

X:2

T:If There Weren’t Any Women in the World

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Barndance

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A

cd | (ef)ec (AB)cA | F2 =F2 [E3A3]E | A2 GA (fe)cA | B2B2 [E2B2] (cd) |

(ef)ec (AB)cA | F2=F2[E2A2] (AB) | c2 ec (BA)Bc |1 A4 A2 :|2 A4 A2 |: de |

[A2f2][A2f2] a3g | (f2e2)e2 AB | [c2e2]Bc (fe)cA | B2B2 [E2B2] (cd) |

(ef)ec (AB)cA | F2=F2E2 (AB) | [c2e2] ec (BA)Bc | A4 A2 :|

 

IF TO A FOREIGN CLIME I GO. Irish, Air. One of a reputed seven or eight hundred compositions of the ancient Irish harper Thomas O’Connellan (see note for “The Breach of Aughrim”).

 

IF YE HAD BEEN WHERE I HAE BEEN. AKA and see "Kilecranky," "Had ye been whar I hae been ye wadna be sae canty." Scottish, Strathspey. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB'. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 114.

X:1

T:If Ye Had Been Where I Hae Been

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

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

K:D

e/f/|a<A A/A/A B>AG>B|a<A A/A/A B<d d>f|a<A A/A/A B>AG>g| f>ae>d B<dd:|

|:e|f2 f>d g2 g>e|f2 f>d f<a a>g|1 f2 f>d g2 g>e|f<a e>d B<d d>e:|2

f<a f>d g<b g>e|f>ae>d B<dd||

 


IF YOU AT AN OFFICE SOLICIT YOUR DUE. AKA and see "London Ladies." The tune appears under this title in Gay's Beggar's Opera of 1729. It also appears in Playford's Dancing Master, and in editions of D’Urfey’s Pills to Purge Melancholy.

 

IF YOU HAVE THAT (Ma se sin agutsa). Irish, Air (2/4 time). G Major/G Mixolydian. Source for notated version: "Mr. Denny Lane, a well known Cork literary man" (Joyce). Standard. ABB.

 

IF YOU WILL NOT HAVE ME, YOU MAY LET ME GO. English, ‘Double’ or ‘Old’ Hornpipe (3/2 time). B Minor. Standard tuning. AABBCCDD. The melody appears in the 1770 music manuscript book of Northumbrian musician William Vickers (about whom, unfortunately, nothing is known). Vickers gives the same notes with a key of two flats (rather than two sharps), set in 6/8 time. Callaghan (Hardcore English), 2007; pg. 76. Knowles (A Northern Lass), 1995; pg. 40. Plain Brown Tune Book, 1997; pg. 27. EFDSSCD13, Rising Sun Band – “Hardcore English” (2007. Various artists). Folksound FSCD37, Rising Sun Band – “Setting it Right.”

 

IGGIE AND SQUIGGIE. Canadian, Reel. Canada, Cape Breton. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Composed by the late Inverness, Cape Breton, fiddler Jerry Holland (1955-2009). Cranford (Jerry Holland’s), 1995; No. 125, pg. 36. Songer & Curley (The Portland Collection, vol. 2), 2005; pg. 91. Fiddlesticks cass., Jerry Holland - “A Session with Jerry Holland” (1990). Wildcat Records WILDCD 101, Ronan Martin – “Ronan Martin” (2008).

See also listings at:

Alan Snyder’s Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index

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

 

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 [COMMENT1]This was Font/Pitch 1,10 - Off.

 [COMMENT2]This was Font/Pitch 1,10 - On.

 [COMMENT3]This was Font/Pitch 1,10 - Off.

 [COMMENT4]Note:  The change to pitch (12) and font (1) must be converted manually.