The Fiddler’s Companion

© 1996-2008 Andrew Kuntz

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ROD - ROR

 

 

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]

 

 

 

ROD TO ESHANESS, DA. Shetland, Air (4/4 time). A Major. Standard tuning. AAB. "The tune written (by Tom Anderson) in 1978 tries to describe the many twists and turns, hills and dales, etc., on the road to Eshaness" (Anderson). Anderson (Ringing Strings), 1983; pg. 29.

 

RODD TA HOULL, DA. AKA ‑ "Da Road to Houll." Shetland, Shetland Reel. D Major. Standard tuning. AA'B. Composed by Shetland fiddler and teacher Tom Anderson in 1936 for a school prize‑giving in Haroldswick. Anderson & Georgeson (Da Mirrie Dancers), 1970; pg. 31. Olympic 6151, The Shetland Fiddlers' Society ‑ Scottish Traditional Fiddle Music (1978). Philo 1051, Boys of the Lough ‑ "Good Friends, Good Music" (1977).

 

RODDY JOE’S REEL. AKA and see “Pigeon on the Gate [2]" and “Pride of the Ball.” Perlman (1996) lists “Roddy Joes” as a North-East Kings County, Prince Edward Island, title for “Pride of the Ball” and notes that there is sometimes confusion with “Pigeon on the Gatepost [2].”

 

RODDY/RODDIE MACDONALD'S FANCY/FAVORITE. Scottish, Reel. Flying Fish FF‑299, The Battlefield Band ‑ "There's a Buzz" (1982). Green Linnet SIF 3031, The Tannahill Weavers ‑ "Passage" (1984).

 

RODDY McCORLEY. Irish, Air or March (cut time). D Major (Miller & Perron): G Major (Carlin). Standard. One part (Miller & Perron): AABB (Carlin). While the tune is traditional, the lyrics are credited to Ethna Carberry and commemorate a martyr of the 1798 rebellion. They begin:
***
O see the fleet-foot host of men, who march with faces drawn,
From farmstead and from fishers' cot, along the banks of Ban;
They come with vengeance in their eyes. Too late! Too late are they,
For young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today.
***
Oh Ireland, Mother Ireland, you love them still the best
The fearless brave who fighting fall upon your hapless breast,
But never a one of all your dead more bravely fell in fray,
Than he who marches to his fate on the bridge of Toome today.

***

The song has been recorded by the Clancy Brothers, the Kingston Trio and others. It is a frequently heard in march medley’s played by Irish musicians and is considered a ‘grand old chestnut’ of a tune. Carlin (Master Collection), 1984; No. 134, pg. 82 (appears as “Roddy McCorley’s March”). Miller & Perron (New England Fiddler’s Repertoire), 1983; No. 62.

X:1

T:Roddy McCorley

M:C|

L:1/8

K:D

DE | F2EF A,2D(E | E F2 E D2A,2 | B,2D2D2C2 | D6 FG | A2A2A2FA |

B2B2A2FE | D2 B,D G2F2 | E6 FG | A2A2A2 FA | B2B2A2 FE|

D2 B,D G2F2 | E6 DE | F2 EF A,2 D(E | E F2 E D2A,2 | B,2D2D2C2 | D6:|

                       

RODDY McCURLEY THAT WAS HANGED AT TUOME BRIDGE. Irish, Air (2/4 time). B Flat Major. Standard. AB. No apparent relation to the march named ‘Roddy McCorley’. McCurley was a County Antrim rebel leader in the rising of 1798. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 738, pg. 185.

X:1

T:Roddy McCurley that was hanged at Tuome Bridge
M:2/4

L:1/8

S:Stanford/Petrie (1905), No. 737

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:B_

F/G/A/ | B>A BG | FG/F/ DF | GF/G/ BA | G2 FG/A/ | BA/c/ BG | FG/F/ DF |

GF/G/ BB | B3 || B/c/ | dc/d/ fd | c>d cB/c/ | dc/d/ fd | c3 d/c/ | BG/A/ BG |

FG/F/ DF | GF/G/ BB | B3 ||

                       

RODERICK CAMERON’S STRATHSPEY. Canadian, Strathspey. Canada, Cape Breton. Composed by Inverness, Cape Breton, fiddler Jerry Holland (b. 1955) for his friend Roderick Cameron, a baroque flute maker. Odyssey ORCS 1051, Jerry Holland – “Fiddler’s Choice” (1999).

                       

RODERICK DHU.  Scottish, Reel. D Major. Standard. AABB. Kennedy (Traditional Dance Music of Britain and Ireland: Reels and Rants), 1997; No. 174, pg. 41.

 

RODERICK DHU, THE CLANALPIN CHIEF (Ruairi Dubh). Scottish, Slow Air (4/4 time). D Minor. Standard. AAB. "Mr. Scott's poem of The Lady of the Lake was presented to the editor by some young ladies in Edinburgh, on condition of furnishing this air from his ancient stock, to the Boat Song, beginning 'Hail to the Chief,' &c." (Fraser). Fraser (The Airs and Melodies Peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland and the Isles), 1874; No. 76, pg. 28.

X:1

T:Roderick Dhu, the Clanalpin Chief

T:Ruairi Dubh

M:C

L:1/8

S:Fraser Collection

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D Minor

D>E|F2 E2 D2 F>G|A2 d>e d2 f>d|c<AGF E2 FD|A,2 CA, C2 D>E|

F2E2D2F>G|A2 d>e d2 f>d|c<AGF E2 F>D|A2 ~D>E D2:|

A>B|A>Bc>d c2 fc|A>Bc>d c2 f>e|d>ef>g a>^gac|A2 ~de d2 f>g|

a>gf>e dcBA|F/E/F/G/ A/c/d/e/ f2 ag/4f/4e/4d/4|c<AGF E2 F>D|

A,2 D>E D2||

 

RODERICK MACDONALD. Scottish (originally), Canadian; Strathspey. Canada, Cape Breton. A Mixolydian. Standard. AA’B. A pipe tune. Cranford (Jerry Holland’s), 1995; No. 21, pg. 7. A & M Records 79602 2000-2, Ashley MacIsaac - “Close to the Floor” (1992). Rounder Records, Carl MacKenzie - “Welcome to Your Feet Again” (1976). 

 


RODNEY. English, Morris Dance Tune (4/4 time). A Major (Bacon): G Major (Bacon, Mallinson): C Major (Carlin). Standard. AABB (x4), AA. Collected from the village of Headington, Oxfordshire, in England's Cotswolds. It is perhaps "Admiral Rodney"?? Bacon (The Morris Ring), 1974; pgs. 176 & 179 (two versions). Carlin (Master Collection), 1984; No. 44, pg. 35. Mallinson (Mally’s Cotswold Morris Book), 1988, Vol. 2; No. 27, pg. 14.

 

RODNEY MILLER’S. AKA - “In Christ There is No East or West.” American, Hymn Tune. Rounder Records, Rodney Miller - “Airplang” (appears as “In Christ There is No East or West”).

X:1

T:Rodney Miller's

D:Mary Custy & Eoin O'Neill

D:With a lot of help from their friends

M:4/4

L:1/8

Z:transcribed by Paul de Grae

K:Gmix

GB|d2 d2 d2 de|f2 f2 e3 d|eg‑g2 gede|g4‑g2 ga|

b2 g2 ed‑d2‑|d2 c2 B2 GA|Bdde ABA>G|E4‑E2||

 

RODNEY MILLER’S (REEL). Shanachie 34014, James Kelly, Paddy O’Brien & Daithi Sproule – “Traditional Music of Ireland” (1995).

 

RODNEY’S FANCY. Irish, Hornpipe. 

 

RODNEY'S GLORY [1] (Gloire {Ui} Rodnaig). AKA and see "Irishman's Return from America," "My Name is Moll Mackey," "Praises of Limerick." Irish, Air and Long or Set Dance (2/4 time). A Aeolian/Mixolydian (O'Neill/1001, Welling): G Aeolian/Mixolydian (O'Neill/1915): A Dorian (Mitchell, Mulvihill, O'Neill/1850 & Krassen). Standard tuning. AABB. The tune is a set dance version of Turlough O'Carolan's air "Princess Royal [1]" or "Miss MacDermott." The title "Rodney's Glory," explains O'Sullivan (1983), was derived from verses by the poet Eoghain Rua Ó Súilleabháin in 1782, set to O’Carolan’s tune. The song commemorates a naval battle fought that year in which George Rodney (d. 1792), then vice-admiral of Great Britain, encountered a French fleet under Admiral Comte De Grasse. "The Battle of the Saints" or “Les Saintes” (named after Les Isles des Saintes, in the West Indies between Guadeloupe and Dominica), as the engagement was called, was one of the most important sea battles in wooden-ship history. Rodney’s thirty-three ships broke in two places the French line-of-battle of thirty-seven ships of the line, when, after the fleets had nearly passed each other on opposite tacks, a change of wind favored the British. The result was the capture of the French flagship and admiral along with five other ships. It was to be the final battle of the War of the American Revolution, and, strategically, although it did not negate Washington’s victory at Yorktown it did preserve Britain’s West Indian territories. Rodney was rewarded with a peerage although he came in for criticism for not following up his initial victory with the destruction of the remainder of the French fleet. Ó Súilleabháin served on The Formidable, a ship which saw some of the severest fighting and thus “Rodney's Glory" is a first-hand account of the battle.

***

“Admiral George Rodney” painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds, ca. 1756, following his promotion to Rear Admiral.

Courtesy of the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador (PANL VA27-9), St. John's, Newfoundland.

***

O’Neill (1913) believes the long-dance to be simply a direct adaptation from the song (see “Rodney’s Glory” [2]). “Rodney’s Glory” is included in a list of favorite set-dances in O’Keeffe and O’Brien’s Handbook of Irish Dance (O’Neill). See also the closely related tune "The Gaelic League March."

***

Éamon Kelly (Foreword, Stone Mad for Music, 1999) states that poet and folk hero Eoghan Rua (who died in 1784) is still an important figure in the Sliabh Luachra region of County Kerry that was his home. His verses are remembered, as was his voice which is said to have been sweet, melodious and eloquent. Kelly recalls:

***

Though the neighbouring men sitting around my father’s fire when I

was small knew no Irish they had a wealth of stories about Eoghan Rua.

It seems he was one day going to Cork and outside Millstreet a school-

master picked up something from the road and said to Eoghan, ‘Look

at that, I am in luck for the day—I found a horseshoe.’

‘No doubt,’ Eoghan remarked, ‘education is a wonderful thing. I

wouldn’t know whether that was a horseshoe or a mare’s shoe.’

***

The parish priest calling out the names of those who hadn’t paid

their dues enquired, ‘Where is Eoghan Ó Súilleabháin?’ Eoghan

answered and the priest asked, ‘Are you Eoghan a’ Dirrín?’ ‘Ní

mé,’ arsa Eoghan, ‘ach Eoghan a’ bhéil bhinn.’

***

Source for notated version: O’Neill learned the tune as a boy in Bantry, west Cork, from the singing of his father [O’Neill]; piper Willie Clancy (1918-1973, Miltown Malbay, west Clare) [Mitchell]. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 234. Cranitch (Irish Fiddle Book), 1988; 80. Mitchell (Willie Clancy), 1993; No. 138, pg. 109. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 7, pg. 110. O'Neill (O’Neill’s Irish Music), 1915/1987; No. 393, pg. 188. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 225. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 1784, pg. 334 and an air, No. 27. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 958, pg. 164. O’Neill (1913), pg. 132. Welling (Hartford Tunebook), 1976; pg. 24. Folkways FA 2475, "Old Reliable String Band." Leader LEACD 2004, “Martin Byrnes” (1969).

X:1

T:Rodney’s Glory

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Set Dance

S:O’Neill – Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems (958)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A Dorian

e/d/|cB/c/ A/B/c/A/|B/G/E/F/ Gc/d/|e/=f/e/d/ c/d/e/^f/|{a}g/e/d/c/ d/=f/e/d/|

cB/c/ A/B/c/A/|B/G/E/F/ Ge/d/|cB/c/ G/A/B/G/|A2 A:|

|:d|e/a/a/b/ a/g/e/d/|e/f/e/d/ c>A|gf/g/ a/g/e/c/|d/c/A/F/ GG|A/G/A/B/ c/B/c/d/|

e/d/e/g/ aa/b/|a/g/e/d/ c/d/e/f/|g/f/g/e/ d/=f/e/d/|(3cdc (3BcB A/B/c/A/|

B/G/E/F/ Ge/d/|cB/A/ G/A/B/G/|A2 A:|

 

RODNEY'S GLORY [2] (Gloire Rodnaig). Irish, Slow Air (4/4 time). A Dorian. Standard tuning. AB. See also the close variant “An Samhra Cruaig” (The hard summer) from the mid-19th century. James Goodman manuscripts. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 27, pg. 5. O’Neill (1913), pg. 132.

X:1

T:Rodney’s Glory [2]

M:C

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Slow”

S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 27

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A Minor

e>d | c2 B>c A2 Ac | B2 B>A G2 cd | e2 ed cde^f | gedc d2 ed |

c2 B>c A2 Ac | B2 B>A G2 e>d | c2A2 BAGB | A4 A2 || z d |

ede^f g2 ed | c2 d2 c2 cd | ede^f g=fed | dcBA G3B | A2 A>B c2d2 |

e2e2 a3b | aged c2 Ac | B2 B>A G2 e>d | c2 B>c A2 A>c |

B2 B>A G2 e>d | c2 A2 BAGB | A4 A2 ||

 


RODNEY’S GLORY [3]. Irish, Air (4/4 or 2/4 time). Ireland, Londonderry/Derry. D Major: E Flat Major. Standard tuning. AB. “As sung in the county of Londonderry” [Stanford/Petrie]. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 407, pg. 103.

X:1

T:Rodney’s Glory [3]

M:C

L:1/8

R:Air

S:Stanford/Petrie (1905), No. 407

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

A | A2 Bc d2d2 | dcBc A2 AB | =c2 AF G2 AG | F2D2D3 || A |

B3A G3F | G2 Ac d3c | A2 FA G2 FD | D4 D2 ||

 

RODS OF RAIN, THE. English, Jig. E Minor. Standard tuning. AABB. Newly composed by Hugh Blake, 1985. English Dance and Song,  vol. 48, No. 1, Spring 1986.

 

RODY GREEN. Irish, Air (4/4 time). Ireland, County Kilkenny. G Major. Standard tuning. One part. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 843, pg. 210.

X:1

T:Rody Green

M:C

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”A County of Kilkenny air.”

S:Stanford Petrie (1905) – No. 843

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

D | GFGA B2 AG | GEED D3 A/B/ | cBcd e2 dB | AGAB d3B |

cBcd e2 ed | dBAB d2 e>d | dBAG B2 B>A | AG ED D2 ||

AG | GFED D2 ed | dBAG B2 BA | AG EE E2 ||

 

ROE HUNT, THE. Scottish, Reel. E Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Composed by Alexander Walker. Walker (A Collection of Strathspeys, Reels, Marches, &c.), 1866; No. 110, pg. 38.

 

ROGA...(Fancy). See also "Rogha..."

 

ROGA AN ATAR DOLLAIRD. AKA and see "Father Dollard's Favorite."

 

ROGA AN ATAR UI FITCEALLAIG. AKA and see "Father Fielding's Favorite."

 

ROGA AN BAINTRIGE CATMAEIL. AKA and see "The Widow Cantwell's Fancy."

 

ROGA AN TAOISAIG UI NIALL. AKA and see "Chief O'Neill's Favorite."

 

ROGA CAIT-M CEALLAIG. AKA and see "Kate Kelly's Fancy."

 

ROGA CAITILIN. AKA and see "Katie's Fancy."

 

ROGA CILLE-DARA. AKA and see "The Kildare Fancy."

 

ROGA INGEAN BRUNAC. AKA and see "Miss Brown's Fancy [1]."

 

ROGA INGEAN NI UISEMAN. AKA and see "Miss Wiseman's Fancy."

 

ROGA INGEAN UI BREATNAIG. AKA and see "Miss Walsh's Fancy."

 

ROGA INGEAN UI DOUNAIG. AKA and see "Miss Downing's Fancy."

 

ROGA INGEAN UI FAITCE. AKA and see "Miss Fahey's Fancy."

 

ROGA MAIRE NI NEILL. AKA and see "Mary O'Neill's Fancy."

 

ROGA MAOR STAIC. AKA and see "Sergeant Stack's Favorite."