The Fiddler’s Companion

© 1996-2008 Andrew Kuntz

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[COMMENT1] [COMMENT2] 

LAS - LAZ

 

 

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]

 

 

 

LASAIRTEINIG, AN. AKA and see "The Lightening Flash."

 

LASLY'S MARCH. AKA and see "Leslie's/Lesley's March [1]." 

 

LASS AMONG THE ACTNACH. AKA – “Lass among the Aclenoch.” Scottish, Strathspey. A Minor. Standard. AB. John Glen (1891) finds the earliest printing of the tune in Alexander McGlashan's collection. McGlashan (Collection of Strathspey Reels), c. 1780/81; pg. 27.

X:1

T:Lass among the Aclenoch

M:C

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

S:McGlashan – Strathspey Reels  (c. 1780)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A Minor

E|G<G c>G A2 A>d|c>G c>G A>G E2|D>E G>c A/A/A A2|c>ded c>A A2|

G<G c>G A2 Ad|c>GA>G c>G E2|D>EG>c A/A/A A2|c>ded cA A||

a|g<e e>a g>e d<e|c>Gc>B A>G E2|D>EG>c A/A/A A2|c>de>d c>A Aa|

g<e e>a g>e d<e|cGA>G c>G E2|D>EG>c A/A/A A2|c>ded cA A2||

                       

LASS AND THE MONEY IS ALL MY OWN, THE. English, Jig. England, Northumberland. G Major. AABB. Bruce & Stokoe (Northumbrian Minstrelsy), 1882; pg. 172.

X:1

T:Lass and the Money is All My Own, The

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:Bruce & Stokoe – Northumbrian Minstrelsy  (1882)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

e|dBG GAB|c2B A2G|dBG GAB|A2B c2e|dBG GAB|

cBA A2G|BdB AcA|G2G G2:|

|:d|ece dBd|ece dBd|efg dBG|A2B c2e|def gfe|dcB A2F|

BdB AcA|G2G G2:|

                       

LASS FROM COLLEGELAND, THE. AKA and see "An Cliabh Mona," "The Basket of Turf," "The Unfortunate Rake [1]," "The Wandering Harper," "The Disconsolate Buck," "The Wee, Wee Man," "Bundle and Go [1]."

                       

LASS GIN YE LOE ME TELL ME NOW. Scottish, Jig. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Aird (Selections), vol. II, c. 1786; No. 10, pg. 4.

X:1

T:Lass Gin Ye Loe Me Tell Me Now

M:6/8

L:1/8

S:Aird, vol. II

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

F2A A2d | B>dA B3 | A>Bd d2e | f2g a3 | F2A A2d |

B>dA B>dg | f<ag {g}f2e | d<BA A3 :|

|: f>ef g2g | a>ga b3 | B2e e>fg | fed d2c | FGA A2d |

B>dA B>dg | f<ba g<fe | dBA A3 :|

                                   

LASS IF I COME NEAR YOU. Scottish. Bayard (1981) calls this tune a "special development" of "Boyne Water."

                       

LASS IN THE PARLOUR, THE (An Gearrchaile sa Pharlús). AKA and see “Tickle the Wig.” Irish, Slip Jig. A Mixolydian. Standard tuning. ABB. Source for notated version: from a manuscript in the possession of Sliabh Luachra fiddler James Buckley [Breathnach]. Breathnach (CRÉ V), 1999; No. 61, pg. 31.

 

LASS OF BALLINTRA(Y) [1] {Cailín Bhaile an tSratha}. AKA and see "The Mountain Dew." Irish, Reel. G Major. Standard. AB. Sources of notated versions: c. 1889 from "Mr. M. Flanagan of the Hibernian Military School, Phoenix Park, Dublin, a good player of the Union pipes. Mr. Flanagan picked them up in North Kildare" [Joyce]; piper Pat Brophy/Patrick Ó Broithe (Ireland) [Breathnach]. Breathnach (CRÉ I), 1963; No. 91, pg. 40. Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Songs), 1909; No. 356, pg. 164.

X:1

T:Lass of Ballintra [1]

M:C

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:Joyce – Old Irish Folk Music and Song (1909), No. 356

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

A|GFGe dGBd|edBG AGEF|GFGe dGBd|gbaf gedB|GFGe dGBd|

edBG AGEF|GFGe dGBd|gbag eg g2||dg g2 bagb|agbg agef|

dg g2 bagb|c’bag eg g2|dg g2 bagb|afbg afeg|bagf gfed|egfa gedB:|

 

LASS OF BALLINTRAE [2]. AKA – ‘The Bonny Lass of Ballintrae.” Scottish, Reel. F Major. Standard. AB (Surenne): AAB (Gow, Stewart-Robertson). The tune appears in Joseph Lowe’s 1844 collection where it is attributed to Captain Fraser (perhaps musician and collector Captain Simon Fraser, although it does not seem to appear in any of Fraser’s collections). See also the related Irish reel “Flags of Dublin.” Gow (Complete Repository), Part 4, 1817; pg. 22. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 206 (appears as “Bonny Lass of Ballintrae”). Surenne (Dance Music of Scotland), 1852; pg. 52.

X:1

T:Lass of Ballintrae [2]

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:Gow – 4th Repository  (1817)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:F

d|cFAc dfef|cFAF GDDd|cFAc dfeg|afce f3:|

c|fcfa gceg|(f/g/a) g>f ecce|fcfa gcgb|afce f3c|

fcfa gceg|(f/g/a) g>f eccf|(d/c/B) fd cFAc|dfeg f3||

 

LASS OF BALLINTRA [3], THE. Irish, Reel. D Major. Standard. AABB. Composed by the late pianist Liam King of Belfast and Dublin [McGuire and Keegan]. McGuire & Keegan (Irish Tunes by the 100, vol. 1), 1975; No. 44, pg. 12.

X:1

T:Lass of Ballintra, The [3]

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

K:G

(3ABc | dcdA FDDF | GBed cABc | dcdA FADF | GFEF GABc |

dcde fdec | dcAB =cAGE | FEDE FGAd | cAGE FD D2 :: c |

d2 fd Adfd | Gbed cABc | d2 fd adfd | gfed ceAc | defd gece |

dcAB (3=cBA GE | FEDE FGAd | cAGE FD D2 :|

 

LASS OF CARRACASTLE, THE. AKA and see “Miss Langford.” Irish, Reel. C Major. Standard. AABB. Composed by Paddy Sweeney. Treoir.

X: 1

T: Lass of Carracastle

S: Treoir

C: Paddy Sweeney

M: 4/4

L: 1/8

Z: Transcribed by Bill Black

Q: 350

R: reel

K: C

E |: G2 cA G2 EG | (3ABc GE FDDF | EC C2 EG G2 | (3ABc df eccA |

GAcA G2 EG | cGEG FDDF | EC C2 EG G2 | (3ABc df ec c2 :|

egge f2 de | fedc BG G2 | (3efg eg f2 ef | gfgf eccd |

egge f2 de | fedc BGGB | AGAc BcdB | cegf ec c2 :|

W:

P: transposed to D

K: D

F |: A2 dB A2 FA | (3Bcd AF GEEG | FD D2 FA A2 | (3Bcd eg fddB |

ABdB A2 FA | dAFA GEEG | FD D2 FA A2 | (3Bcd eg fd d2 :|

faaf g2 ef | gfed cA A2 | (3fga fa g2 fg | agag fdde |

faaf g2 ef | gfed cAAc | BABd cdec | dfag fd d2 :|

 

LASS OF CARRIE MILLS. AKA and see "The Lass o' Corrie Mill."

                          

LASS OF CARROWCASTLE [1], THE. AKA and see “Miss Langford.”

 

LASS OF CARROWCASTLE [2], THE. AKA and see “George White’s Fancy/Favorite."

 

LASS O' CORRIE MILL, THE. AKA and see “Carlisle Lasses.” Scottish, Strathspey. F Major. Standard tuning. AB (Cranford, Fiddler Magazine): AA'BB' (Kerr). The tune appears in Feldman and O’Doherty’s Northern Fiddler as “Neil Gow’s Strathspey,” from the playing of Donegal fiddler Danny O’Donnell. It has also been recorded by Cape Breton fiddlers such as Winston Fitzgerald (on a 78 RPM), and Buddy and Natalie MacMaster. Fiddler Magazine, vol. 3, No. 2, Summer 1996; pg. 10. Sources for notated versions: Natalie MacMaster (Port Hastings, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia) [Fiddler Magazine]; Winston Fitzgerald (1914-1987, Cape Breton) [Cranford]. Cranford (Winston Fitzgerald), 1997; No. 155, pg. 62. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 1; Set 27, No. 1, pg. 17. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. NMAS 1972, Natalie MacMaster - "Fit as a Fiddle" (1993). Rounder Records 7052, Buddy MacMaster – “The Cape Breton Tradition” (2003). 

X:1

T:Lass o’ Corrie Mill, The

M:C

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

S:Kerr – Merry Melodies, vol. 1, No. 1, set 27  (c. 1880’s)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:F

F>GA>F (E<G) F2|A>Fc>F (A<c) c2|d>f c>f B>f A>f|(3agf (3efd (3cdB (3ABG|

F>GA>F (E<G) F2|A>Fc>F (A<c) c2|d>f c>f B>f A>f|(3agf (3def A<F F2||

A>Bc>B (A<f) f2 |e>fg>e (f<a) a2|(b>a)(a>g (g>f)(f>e)|(3agf (3edc (3dcB (3ABG|

A>Bc>B (A<f) f2|e>fg>e (f<a) a2|(b>a) (a>g) (g>f) (f>e)|(3agf (3efg a<f f<a||

 


LASS OF CUMBERLAND, THE. English, Air (4/4 time). C Minor. Standard tuning. One part. The air appears in 180 Loyal Songs (printed in 1685 and 1694), Apollo's Banquet, and all editions of Pills to Purge Melancholy. Chappell (1859) also states it is in a 1670 manuscript at one time in the Music School Collection, Oxford. Several ballads were written to the air including "Cumberland Laddy; or, Willy and Nelly of the North," "The Creditors' Complaint against the Bankers; or, The Iron Chest the Best Security," "The Honour of great York and Albany," and "The Northern Lad; or, The Fair Maid's Choice." Chappell (Popular Music of the Olden Time), vol. 2, 1859; pg. 24.

 

LASS O' DALLOGILL, THE. AKA – “Lass of Dallowgill.” AKA and see "North Skelton Sword Dance." English. Topic TSCD 669, Arthur Marshall (et al) – “Ranting and Reeling: Dance Music of the north of England” (1998. North Yorkshire accordion player Marshall was born in 1896).

 

LASS OF DUNCE, THE.  English, Jig. G Major. Standard tuning. AB. The melody appears in the 1842 music manuscript collection of Cumbrian musician John Rook. Perhaps meant as a companion piece to the well-known “Lads of Dunse.”

X:1

T:Lass of Dunce, The

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:John Rook manuscript (Cumbria, 1842)

K:G

b/c’/|d’bg afd|g2d d2f|ece dBd|A2A A2 b/c’/|d’bg afd|

g2d d2f|BGB AFA|G2G G2||B/c/|dBd ece|dBd g2g|

dBd ece|f2A A2 b/c’/|d’bd’ c’ac’|bgb afa|gfe dcB|g2G G2||

 

LASS OF DUNDEE, THE. English, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Hall & Stafford (Charlton Memorial Tune Book), 1974; pg. 19. Howe (1000 Jigs and Reels), c. 1867; pg. 162.

X:1

T:Lass of Dundee

M:4/4

L:1/8

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

B | G2 BG dGBG | dGce dBBg | G2 BG dGBG | ecdB cAA :|

|: d | g2 bg agfe | dgBg edBd | g2 bg ageg | dBgB AGG :|

 

LASS OF ELGIN, THE. Scottish, Reel. The melody appears in the Gillespie Manuscript of Perth, 1768.

 

LASS O' GLENSHEE. See "The Kerryman's Visit to Dublin."

 

LASS O' GOWRIE [1]. AKA and see “Battle of Garvagh,” "I'm O'er Young To Marry Yet [3]," "Lakes of Sligo,” "Loch Erroch Side," "Over the Hills to Glory," “Rocky Road to Dublin [4],” “Tom Billy’s (Polka) [2].” Scottish, English; Reel. Scotland, Lowlands region. England, Northumberland. C Major (Kennedy, Williamson): D Major (Dixon, Kerr vol. 4, Perlman). Standard. AABB (most versions): AABBCCDDEEFF (Dixon). A very well known tune in the British Isles, states Bayard (1981), descended from an air used as a reel, strathspey, and song melody, and known usually by one of the alternate titles. Perlman (1996) remarks that it is “basically a simplified variant of the strathspey ‘Loch Erroch Side’.” In southwestern Pennsylvania it was one of several tunes to which the title "The Rocky Road to Dublin" [Bayard's No. 304, pg. 258] became attached. Irish musicians know it as the polka “Lakes of Sligo.” Williamson (1976) remarks that Dunsinane Castle (of MacBeth fame) overlooks the Carse of Gowrie  (a carse is a fertile plain near a river).

***

The title “Lass o’ Gowrie” comes from lyrics set to the melody by Caroline Oliphant of Gask (1766-1845), whose father joined the Jacobite rebellion of Bonny Prince Charlie in 1745. With the failure of the rebellion, the Oliphant family’s fortunes collapsed, but Caroline was born into the post-Jacobite sympathies The song was one of those requested by Queen Victoria for a recital by noted singer of Scots songs John Wilson, when she visited Taymouth Castle in 1842.

***

March versions of the melody were employed by several regiments in the British army, as recorded by David Murray (Music of the Scottish Regiments, Edinburgh, 1994). For example, it was the march of the 55th Foot, raised in Stirling in 1755. Although the regiment later became an English one (affiliated with Westmoreland, in north-western England), the melody was kept due to the regiment’s Scottish roots. The 2nd battalion of The Border Regiment played “Lass of Gowrie” along with “John Peel” as their march tunes. Similarly, “Lass of Gowrie” was played by the 70th Regiment (originally raised in Glasgow in 1756) which became the 2nd Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment. The old 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment, which became the Middlesex Regiment in 1881, also chose “Lass of Gowrie” as their march for several years. 

***

An interesting variant appears below, from a Dingle (Ireland) fife and drum band who played the tune as part of the 1982 Dingle ‘Wren’, a St. Stephens day tradition in that part of Ireland. The tune was originally transcribed by Steve MacDonogh in his book Green and Gold, that used the 1982 Wren event as an opportunity to explore historic and folklore background of the tradition. Dixon (1995) prints the tune with variation sets by Robert Whinham (1814-1893), a musician, teacher, composer, dancing master and fiddler originally from Morpeth, Northumberland. Sources for notated versions: George MacPhee (b. 1941, Monticello, North-East Kings County, Prince Edward Island) [Perlman]; an un-attributed 19th century manuscript in the collection of Tommy Breckon [Dixon]. Dixon (Remember Me), 1995; pg. 60. JEFDSS, vol. 2, pg. Kennedy (Fiddlers Tune Book), vol. 1; No. 45. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 4, No. 377, pg. 42. Perlman (The Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island), 1996; pg. 160. Williamson (English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish Fiddle Tunes), 1976; pg. 52.

X:1

T:Ladd O’ Gowrie, The

M:2/4

L:1/8

S:Kerr – Merry Melodies (c. 1880’s), vol. 4, No. 377

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

A|FAA (B/c/)|d>edc|B>AB (c/d/)|e>feA|FAA (B/c/)|d>ef>e|d/c/B/A/ df|(e2d):|

|:g|fad>e|f/e/f/g/ a(g/f/)|gbe>f|g/f/g/a/ b(a/g/)|faef|d>ef>e|d/c/B/A/ df|(e2d):|

X:2
T:untitled
B:Green and Gold, Steve MacDonogh, Brandon, 1983
N:a Dingle Wren tune, variant of the Scottish "Lass of Gowrie"
N:transposed from Eb

Z:Transcribed by Paul de Grae
M:2/4
L:1/8
K:G
B/A/|GD B,D|ED DB/A/|GD B,D|EA AB/A/|
GD B,D|ED D2|G/A/G/E/ D/E/G/A/|BG G:|:B/c/|
d>B cA|BG GB/c/|d>B cd|eA AB/c/|
d>B cA|B/A/G/A/ B>A|G/A/G/E/ D/E/G/A/|BG G:|

 

LASS OF GOWRIE [2]. AKA and see "The Lassie of Gowrie."

 

LASS OF HUMBER SIDE. Scottish, Slow Air (3/4 time). G Major. Standard. AABB. "An old Highland air, communicated by Miss Jane Boswell (Gow)." Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 547.

 

LASS OF INVERNESS, THE. Scottish. Composed by James Oswald (1711‑1769),

 

LASS OF KILLIECRANKIE HIGHLAND, THE. Irish, Highland. Ireland, northern Ireland. A Mixolydian/D Major. Standard. AAB. Source for notated version: fiddler John Loughran [Feldman & O’Doherty]. Feldman & O’Doherty (The Northern Fiddler), 1979; pg. 247.

 

LASS OF LIVINGSTONE, THE.  Scottish, Scottish Measure. F Major (Gow, McGlashan): G Major (Geoghegan). Standard. AB (McGlashan): AAB (Gow): AABB (Geoghegan). As "The Lass of Leving‑stone,” it appears in Henry Playford's 1700 collection of Scottish dance tunes. Bruce Olson finds it was used for one of the songs in the ballad-opera The Highland Fair or Union of the Clans (1731), written by Joseph Mitchell and published in London by J. Watts. Later, the melody appears in the 1768 Gillespie Manuscript of Perth. It is included, along with other Scots songs and dance melodies, in the music manuscripts of Setauket, Long Island, painter and fiddler William Sydney Mount (1807-1868).  Mount played a good amount of music for dancing and his own pleasure, and had access to both printed and local sources. The tune was in use in the United States some years before that, however, for it appears in a commonplace book of 54 square dance instructions from around the year 1795, probably from a New Hampshire enthusiast (New Hampshire Historical Society). The tune is actually given under the name “Revenge,” with the “Lass of Livingstone” a secondary title. Gow (1817) directs, “Slowly.” Geoghegan (Compleat Tutor for the Pastoral or New Bagpipe), c. 1745-46; pg. 26. Gow (Complete Repository), Part 4, 1817; pg. 13. McGlashan (Collection of Scots Measures), 177?; pg. 8.

X:1

T:The Lass of Levingston

T:The Lass of Livingstone

M:C|

L:1/8

B:McGlashan – Collection of Scots Measures  (177?)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:F

CD|F3G A2f2|cAcd cAGF|A2G4 FG|A2G4FD|CDFG A3f|cAGF GABc|d2 D4 CD|

F2D4 CD|FDFG AGAf|cAcd cAGF|FG/A/ G4 FG|FG/A/ G4 FD|CDFG A2fd|

cAGA FGAc|d2D4 CD|(3FGF (3EFE D2||

cd|f3g fgag|fcdf cAGF|F>GA G4FG|F>GA G4 fg|afga fcdf|cAGF GABc|d2D4 CD|

F2D4 ag|fcfg fgag|fcdf cAGF|fg/a/ g4 fg|fg/a/ g4fg|afga fcdf|cAGF GABc|

d2D4 CE|FAGF EGFE D2||

X:2

T:Lass of Livington (sic)

M:C

L:1/8

R:Air

S:The William Sydney Mount music manuscripts (c. 1840’s)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D Minor

(CD) | F3G A3d | cA cd cA GF | {F/G/}A2G2G2 (FG) | A2G2G2 (FD) |

C>D F>G A3d | (cA) (GA) (F>GA) c | d2D2D2 (CD) | F2D2D2 || (cd) |

f3g (fg)a g | fc df cA GF | {F/G/}A2G2G2 (FG) | A2G2G2 (fg) |

(a/g/f) ga (fc) (df) | cG AF GA Bc | d2D2 D2 (CD) | F2D2D2 ||

X:3

T:Lafs of Levinftone, The

M:C|

L:1/8

S:Geoghegan – Compleat Tutor for the Pastoral or New Bagpipe (c. 1745-46)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

DE | G3A B2g2 | dBde dBAG | B2A2A2 (GA) | GABA A2GE | (DE) (GA) (Bd) (AB) |

GFGA BcdB | e2E2 EFGA | B2E2E2 :: f2 | g3a gaba | gdeg dBAG | B2A2A2 (GA) |

B2A2A3d | g3a gaba | gdeg dBAG | G2E2 EFGA | B2E2E2 ||

 


LASS OF LUNCARTY, THE. Scottish, Strathspey. Composed by Scots fiddler-composer Niel Gow. Emmerson (1971) reports that the fiddler's intimate friends believed he composed the popular tune in 1745, when as a teenager he followed Bonnie Prince Charlie and Lord Murray's Highland army through Luncarty as far as Perth. He left the cause at that time, not willing to leave his native area.

 

LASS OF PARTH. English. England, Northumberland. One of the "missing tunes" from William Vickers' 1770 Northumbrian dance tune manuscript. Probably "Lass of Perth."

 

LASS OF PATIE'S MILL, THE. AKA and see “Carolan’s Cap [3],” "Peggy's Mill," "I like the fox shall grieve." English, Scottish; Air and Country Dance Tune (2/4 time). D Major (most versions): C Major (Howe). Standard tuning. AB (Howe): ABB: AABB (Huntington, Johnson/2003, Sweet): ABCD (O’Farrell): AABBCCDDEEFFGG (McGibbon). A "highly popular" “enduring favourite” song air in the 18th and early 19th century, and indeed, it can be found in a variety of older publications throughout Britain and Ireland. Many sources attribute the song to Allan Ramsay, a Scot, who mentioned his own song in his ballad opera The Gentle Shepherd published (though not performed) in 1725, but who published the song in his Tea-Table Miscellany (1724-27). According to poet Robert Burns:

***

The Lass o'