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] |
LITTEN HORNPIPE. English, Hornpipe. F Major (Huntington/Litten): D Major (Miller).
Standard tuning. AAB (Huntington/Litten): AABB (Miller). Presumably composed by
ship's fiddler William Litten at the very beginning of the 19th century.
Huntington (William Litten's), 1977;
pg. 18. Miller (Fiddler’s Throne), 2004;
No. 296, pg. 176.
LITTLE AND BIG SHIP, THE. English, Jig. A Minor. Standard tuning. AABB.
A modern composition by editor Michael Raven. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 193.
LITTLE ARK. AKA and see “Highland a’ choille,”
“Loudon’s/Louden’s
Bonnie Woods (and Braes).” Irish, Reel. G Major. Standard. AB. The tune is
popular as a schottische in
X:
1
T: Little Ark
S: "Johnny O'Leary of Sliabh Luachra" (#4 as gan ainm)
Z: B.Black
L: 1/8
M: 4/4
R: reel
K: G
G2 GA/B/ dedB|cABG AGEB|G2 GB d4|e/f/gfa gedB|
G2 GB dedB|cABG AGEF|G2 GB d2 d2|e/f/gfa g4 ||
gabg aged|egge dB B2|gabg aged|e/f/gfa g4|
gabg aged|efge dBBA|G2 GB d2 d2|e/f/gfa gedB ||
LITTLE BAG OF MEAL, THE. AKA and see "Ruaig an Mí‑ádh" (Banish Misfortune [1]), "The Bag of Meal," "Humors of Mullina(a)fauna
[1]," "Judy Hynes,” "Máire
Ní Eidhinn,” "Nancy Hines," “Nancy
Hynes,” “Parish Girl [2],” "Round the Cart House." Irish,
Double Jig. D Mixolydian. Standard. AABB'. Roche
Collection, 1983, Vol. 1; No. 85, pg. 38.
LITTLE BAG OF POTATOES
[1], THE (An Mála beag
Fataí). AKA and
see "The Bag of Potatoes."
Irish, Reel. G Major (Breathnach): D Major (Tubridy). Standard. AB (Tubridy):
AABB (Breathnach). Breathnach’s source, flute player Michael Tubridy, called
the tune “The Bag of Potatoes,” but since Breathnach had a reel by that title
he changed it a bit. The tune consists of one phrase, repeated, which Tubridy
told him was very widespread in
X:1
T:Little Bag of Potatoes [1]
M:4/4
L:1/8
R:Reel
K:D
FAAA FBBA|FAAF E2 DE|FAAA FBBA|defd
e2d2|FAAA FBBA|
FAAF E2 DE|FAAA FBBA|defd e2d2||defd
Be e2|defd B2A2|
defd Be e2|dBAF E2D2|defd Be e2|defd
B2A2|defd Be e2|dBAF E2D2||
LITTLE BAG OF POTATOES
[2], THE. Irish, Reel. D Major. Standard.
AABB’. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 4;
No. 162, pg. 19.
X:1
T:Little Bag of Potatoes, The [2]
M:C|
L:1/8
R:Reel
S:Kerr – Merry Melodies, vol. 4, No. 162 (c. 1880’s)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:D
d2 (df) edBA|Bdef e2 (de)|faaf g2
(fe)|fedB A2(AB):||
fdad fddd|faaf g2 (fe)|faae
fddd|fedB A2 (AB)|
fdad fddd|faaf g2 (fe)|faaa b2
(ba)|g2 fe g2fe||
LITTLE BARLY-CORNE, THE. See "Stingo."
LITTLE BEAUTY WALTZ. Scottish, Waltz. G Major. Standard. AABB. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 1; No. 4, pg. 50.
LITTLE BEGGAR BOY. AKA and see "Little Beggarman,"
"Red Haired Boy," "Gilderoy [2]" etc.
LITTLE BEGGARMAN. AKA and see "The Duck Chews Tobacco,"
“The First of May [3],” "Gilderoy [2]" (Ire.), "Giolla
Rua" (Ire.), "Johnny Dhu,"
"The Little Beggar Boy," "An Maidrin Rua(dh)" (The Little Red
Fox),” "The
Old Soldier (with a Wooden Leg) [2]" (W.Va.), "Old Soldier,"
“Red Haired Boy,” "The Red Haired Lad," "The Red Headed/Haired Irishman"
(Ky.), "Wooden Leg" (W.Va.). Irish, Hornpipe. A Mixolydian
(Kennedy, Mallinson): G Major/Mixolydian (Tubridy). Standard. AABB. Words to
the tune begin:
***
I am a little beggarman, a begging I have been,
For
And everybody calls me by the name of Johnny Dhu.
***
Of all the trades a going, sure the begging is the best,
For when a man is tired he can sit him down and rest;
He can beg for his dinner, he has nothing else to do,
But to slip around the corner with his old rigadoo.
***
Kennedy (Traditional Dance Music of
X:1
T:Little Beggarman
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:G
GF|DGGF GABc|dedB c2 Bc|dGGF
GABG|AFDE =F2 FE|
DGGF GABc|dedB c2 Bc|dggf
gedc|B2G2G2:|
|:de|=f2 fe fede|=fedB c2 Bc|dGGF
GABG|AFDE =F2 FE|
DGGF GABc|dedB c2 Bc|dggf
gedc|B2G2G2:|
LITTLE BENCH OF RUSHES
[1] (An Beinsin Luacra). AKA and see "The Black Rogue [1]," "O! Pleasant Was the Moon,"
"Bunch of Green Rushes [2],"
"Bonny Bunch of Roses,"
"Life is All Chequered with
Plasures and Woes," "The Bark Is On the Swelling
Wave." Irish, Air (4/4 time, "gracefully"). D Minor
(O'Neill): D Dorian (Darley & McCall). Standard. AB. Darley & McCall
note the air became popular in
X:1
T:Little Bench of Rushes, The [1]
M:C
L:1/8
R:Air
S:O’Neill – Music of
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:D Minor
(A/=B/^c/d/4e/4) | ~f3g (agfe) | d4
(edcA) | c4 (dcAG) | A2A2A2 (A/=B/^c/d/4e/4) |
~f3g (agfe) | d4 (edcA) | c4 (dcAG)
| “tr”E3D D2 || (DE) | (~F3G) (.A2.A2) |
(AGFE) F2 (FA) | ~c3f (d>cAG) |
A2A2A2 (A/=B/^c/d/4e/4) | ~f3g (agfe) |
d4 (edcA) | c4 (dcAG) | “tr”E3D D2
||
LITTLE BENCH OF RUSHES
[2] (An Beinsin Luacra). Irish, Slow Air (4/4 time). A
Mixolydian/D Major. Standard. One part. Source Dowd was a fiddler who played
the tune in the Feis Ceoil held in
X:1
T:Little Bench of Rushes [2]
M:4/4
L:1/8
R:Air
S:transcription of cylinder
recording of James Dowd, Ceol (1986)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:C
G>E | D2 DE G2 A<c | d2 dc e2
d>c | A2 G>A c2 c>d | c6 G>E | D2 DE G2 A<c |
d2 dc e2 d>c | A2 G>A c2
c>d | c6 z A/c/ | G2 cA G2E2 | D2 DC A,2 C>D |
E2 ED C2 CA, | C2C2G2 A<c | d2 cA
G2E2 | D2 DC A,2 C>D | E2 ED C2 CA, | C6 ||
LITTLE BERTHA. Old-Time, Air (4/4 time). D
Major. Standard tuning. AB. Source for notated version: Gil Kiesecker
[Silberberg]. Silberberg (93 Fiddle Tunes
I Didn’t Learn at the Tractor Tavern), 2004; pg. 27.
LITTLE BETSY BROWN. Old‑Time. The title appears in a list of traditional
LITTLE BETTY. Canadian, Jig.
LITTLE BETTY ANN. American. A
LITTLE BETTY BROWN. Old-Time, Breakdown.
LITTLE BILLY WILSON. AKA and see "Billy Wilson
[1]."
LITTLE BIRD IN THE
ASHBROOK/ASHBANK. Old-Time. A Major. AEac# tuning.
From Jesse James (J.J.) Abbott,
LITTLE BIRDIE. Old‑Time, Song and Breakdown. Despite the similarity in names,
the song “Little Birdie” has nothing to do with the West Virginia fiddler tune
called “Birdie,” a ‘ragtime’ influenced piece.
***
Little birdie, little birdie,
Come sing to me your song.
Have a short time to be with you,
And a long time to be gone.
***
Flying Fish 102, New
Lost City Ramblers ‑ "20 Years/Concert Performances" (1978.
Learned from Wade Mainer and Zeke Morris).
LITTLE BIRDS OF THE
MOUNTAIN JIG. English, Jig. G Major. Standard
tuning. AABB. Composed by Michael Raven. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 192.
LITTLE BITTY ACORN IN
A GREAT BIG TREE.
Old-Time, Breakdown. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated
version: Floyd Engstrom [Silberberg]. Silberberg (93 Fiddle Tunes I Didn’t Learn at the Tractor Tavern), 2004; pg.
28.
LITTLE BLACK BULL. Old‑Time. The title appears in a list of traditional
LITTLE
BLACK DOG (COME A-TROTTIN’ DOWN THE ROAD). Old-Time, Breakdown. D Major.
LITTLE BLACK EYES. AKA and see "'Tits Yeux
Noirs."
LITTLE BLACK FOOT. Old‑Time, Breakdown.
LITTLE BLACK MOUSTACHE
[1]. French‑Canadian, Reel. D
Major. Standard tuning. AABB. The first part is shared with the tunes "Elk's Festival" and "Texas Quickstep [2]," and an
untitled Lancer's tune in Bayard (Dance
to the Fiddle), 1981; Appendix No. 5, pg. 574. Messer (Way Down East), 1948; No. 22. Messer (Anthology of Favorite Fiddle Tunes), 1980; No. 42, pg. 31.
X:1
T:Little
Black Moustache [1]
M:4/4
L:1/8
Z:Transcribed
by Bruce Osborne
K:D
AG|FDFG
A2dc|BGBd g2ag|fedf edcA|BcdA BdAG|
FDFG
A2dc|BGBd g2ag|fedf edce|d2f2 d2:|
|:A2|f4
a4-|a2ba ^g2a2|f4 f4-|f2e/fa/ g2f2|
e4 B4-|B2ed
cABc|d8-|d2A2 F2A2|
f4 a4-|a2ba
^g2a2|f4 f4-|f2e/fa/ g2f2|
e4 B4-|B2ed cABc|d2cB AGFE|D6:|
LITTLE BLACK MUSTACHE
[2]. Old-Time, Breakdown. C Major.
Standard tuning. County 3514, Gene Clardy – “
LITTLE BLACK PIG. AKA and see “Bobby Casey’s
Jig [2],” “Diamond [2],” “Hag’s Purse,” “Roscommon Jig.” Irish, Double Jig. D
Mixolydian. Standard tuning. AABB. Similar to “Walls of Liscarroll [1].”
X:1
T:Little Black Pig, The
R:double jig
B:The Cumann na bPi/obai/ri/ Collection of Pipe-Friendly Tunes
B:by John B. Walsh
Z:Phil Sexton
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:D Mixolydian
G|(3A.c.A .A DFA|dcA AGF|GEE cGE|GAB cAG|
(3A.c.A .A D (3FG.A|dcA AGF|GEE cEE|~D3 D2:|
A|d2d ecA|~A2d ecA|GEE cGE|GAB cAG|
d2d ecA|~A2d ecA|GEE cEE|~D3 D2:|
LITTLE BLACK ROSE [1], THE (An Róisín Dub). AKA and see "The Black Rose," "Little Black Rose Bud." Irish, Air (3/4
time, "tenderly"). C Minor. Standard tuning. AB. O'Neill (Music of
Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 70, pg. 12.
X:1
T:Little Black Rose [1]
M:3/4
L:1/8
R:Air
N:”Tenderly”
S:O’Neill – Music of
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:C Minor
G=A | (B2G2) e>c | (d>c) (BG)
(FD) | D2C2C2 | C4 (cd) | e2e2 dc | e2 (dc) (BG) |
c3B GF | G4 (cd) || e2 (ef) (dc) |
e2 (dc) (BG) | c3 B GF | D4 (G=A) | B2 c>d ec |
d>c BG FD | C4 C2 | C4 ||
LITTLE BLACK ROSE [2], THE (An Róisín Dub). AKA and see "Margaret Roche [1]." Irish,
Air (3/4 time, "tenderly"). C Minor. Standard tuning. AB. O'Neill (Music
of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 71, pg. 13.
X:1
T:Little Black Rose [3]
M:3/4
L:1/8
R:Air
N:”Tenderly”
S:O’Neill – Music of
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:C Minor
c>B | G2G2 {A}G^F | G2G2
(5G/A/=B/c/d/ | e2d2 {d}c=B | c4 cd | e2g2 f>d |
c>
B4 (GB) | c2e2 dc | B3c B>G |
F2E2 C>=B, | C4 ||
LITTLE BLACK ROSE [3] (An Róisín Dub). AKA and see "Rois Bheag Dhubh," "Róisín Dubh [1]." Irish, Slow Air
(3/4 time). G Dorian. Standard tuning. AB. See notes for "Rois Bheag
Dhubh." O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No.
181, pg. 32.
X:1
T:Little Black Rose [3]
M:3/4
L:1/8
R:Air
N:”Slow”
S:O’Neill – Music of
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:G Dorian
{A}(G>F) | D2D2 {A}(G>F) |
D2D2 (G>A) | B4A2 | G4 (G>A) | (B2 B)(dcB) |
(A2 A)(cBA) | G4 G2 | G4 ||
(D>=E) | (F2 F)(.G.A.B) | (c2 c>)d (c/B/A/G/ ) |
F2 D=E “tr”E2 | (F2 F)(D.A.c) |
{B/c/}(B2 B)(.A.G.^F) | (.G.A.B.c) A>G | G4 G2 |
G4 (D=E) | (F2 F)(.G.A.B) | c2
c>d (c/B/A/G/) | F2 D=E “tr”E2 | (F2 F)D.A.c |
{B/c/}(B2 B)(AG^F) | (.G.A.B.c.)
(A>G) | G4 G2 | G4 ||
LITTLE BLACK ROSE BUD. See "Rois Bheag
Dhubh," "Roisin Dubh [1]."
LITTLE BLACK-HAIRED
ROSE. See "Rois Bheag Dhubh," "Roisin Dubh [1]."
LITTLE BLUE EYES. AKA and see "'Tits Yeux
Bleus."
LITTLE BOGTROTTER. AKA and see "Greensleeves."
LITTLE BOSS. AKA and se “Richmond Cotillion.”
LITTLE BOBBY. Old-Time, Breakdown.
LITTLE BOY, LITTLE BOY. See “Little Boy,
Where’d You Get Your Britches?”
LITTLE BOY WENT
A-COURTIN'. Old‑Time, Breakdown.
LITTLE
BOY, WHERE'D YOU GET YOUR BRITCHES?
AKA and see "Little Boy, Little
Boy." Old-Time, Breakdown.
***
Daddy cut ‘em out and Mammy sewed
the stitches.
***
Source for notated versions: Clyde
Davenport (
LITTLE BOY WORKING ON
THE ROAD [1]. Old‑Time, Breakdown.
LITTLE BOY WORKING ON
THE ROAD [2]. Old‑Time, Breakdown.
***
Little boy, little boy, working on
the road,
Working for a dollar to pay his
board.
***
Source for notated version: Effie
Pierson (Green Hall, Owsley County, Ky., 1979) [Titon]. Titon (Old-Time
LITTLE BRANCH OF NUTS. See "Little Cluster of
Nuts."
LITTLE BROTHER OF MY
HEART ("Dearbratairin
O Mo Croide" or "Drahaareen-O Mochree"). Irish, Air (3/4 time). D Major (Joyce/1909,
Roche): F Major (Joyce/1890). Standard tuning. One part. In his 1890 edition of
Ancient Irish Music P.W. Joyce notes
that this air was well-known all over the south of Ireland, and that he had
known both air and words since his childhood (in the 1840's in Limerick).
"This song, sung to the same air as 'Jemmy, My Thousand Treasures'
(which is an older song), was perhaps more familiar in
***
I am a young follow that always loved rural sport;
The fairs and the patrons of
The true sons of Bacchus were always my companie,
Until I was deprived of my Draharee-O-Machree!
***
Howe (1000 Jigs and Reels), c. 1867; pg. 24.
Joyce (Ancient Irish Music), 1890;
No. 38, pg. 40. Joyce (Old Irish Folk
Music and Song), 1909; No. 402, pgs. 212‑213. Roche Collection, 1982, vol. 1; No. 18, pg. 12.
X:1
T:Drahareen-O-Machree
T:Little
Brother of My Heart
M:3/4
L:1/8
R:Air
S:Joyce – Ancient
Irish Music (1890)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s
Companon
K:F
DE | F2G2A2
| A f3 ed | c2d2A2 | G4F2 | F4 c2 | f2A2A2 | c3d e2 |
f4 (3gfe |
d4 (3cAG | A4 (3cde | f2A2A2 | c2d2e2 | f4 (3gfe |
d4 (3cAG |
A4 DE | F2G2A2 | A f3 ed | c2d2A2 | G4F2 | F4 ||
LITTLE BROWN DOG WALTZ. ("Oh where, oh where, has my little dog gone?") AKA and see
"Lauderbach."
LITTLE BROWN HAND. AKA and see “Brown Leaf Rag.”
Old-Time. In the repertoire of
LITTLE BROWN JUG. American; Jig, Schottische (2/4 time) and Song Tune. D Major ('A' part)
& D Mixolydian ('B' part) [Cole]: D Major [Bayard, Ruth, Silberberg,
Sweet]: C Major [Ford]: G Major [Phillips]. Standard tuning. AB (Ruth,
Silberberg): AA'B (Bayard): AABB (Phillips): AA'BB' (Sweet). The tune goes to a
once‑popular college song, but it appears to have originally been
composed for the minstrel stage by one 'Eastburn', believed to be a pseudonym
for Joseph E(astburn) Winner (1837-1918). He copyrighted the melody in 1869.
J.E. Winner, as the name on the copyright goes, of