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] |
SÉ AN BAILE REO TOGAD
NA DNOC AITE. Irish, Air (3/4 time). D Dorian.
Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: “From Frank Keane” [Petrie].
Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection),
1905; No. 1086, pg. 275.
'SÉ FÁTH MO BHUARTHA (‘Tis My Bitter Sorrow). Irish, Air. Below the Irish is an
English translation by Listowel (north Kerry) writer Bryan McMahon ( from Cúm: An Anthology of New Writing from Kerry,
edited by Moya Cannon):
***
Amhrán Ghrádha
***
Sé fáth mo bhuardhartha nach bhfaghaim faill uaire ort
San gleanntán uaigneach ag a mbíonn mo ghrádh;
Mar bhfuighinn mil ar luachair ann, im agus uachtar
Teacht don fhuacht bíonn na crainn faoi bhláth.
Ní bhíon gaoth adtuaidh ann ná sneachta buan ann,
Tá caladh is cuan ann ag luing is ag bád,
Tá tuilleadh buaidh ann, níl turas cruaiche ann,
Dá dtéigtheá síos le do chailín mná.
***
Ní ar shliabh nó ar chíbleach atá mo mhian-ra,
Acht ar thaltaibh míne, mar a mbíonn meas is bláth;
Bíonn an chuach ag glaodhach ann ar bharra craobh ann,
Tá cruithneach mhaol ann, agus coirce bán;
Bíonn an t-uan 's an laogh ann, 'is na bric 'n-a scaoith ann,
Tá an eala is aoibhne ar an loch ag snámh;
Tá an bheach chómh críonna 's go bhfuil a hárus líonta,
Agus mil dá taomadh ag mo mhuirnín bán.
***
Is aoibhinn Corr Shliabh I dtús an gheimhridh,
Ní bhíonn leac oidhre air, ná sneachta a dtuaidh;
Is ceolmhar traon ann, an chuach, 's a' londubh,
Mbarraidh coillte ins an duilleabhar ruadh.
Is binn guth gadhar ann ag tórnuidheacht
eilite,
Is an fiadh 'san am sin ag dul ar siubhal,
'S gur leat a chíntear in gach sruth glan aibhne
Go mbíonn an bradán finn-gheal 's an breac ar lúth.
***
Déanfainn m'éagnach leat-sa, a chéad ghrádh,
Dá mearfainn féin go mbéadh maith dhamh ann,
Mar is tú do réab mo chroídhe ó
chéile,
Agus d'fhág na néalta-sa thríd mo cheann.
A mhaighdean bhéasach na malaí chaola,
'S na gcurcán ghlégeal atá fáinneach fionnm
Triall dom' fhéachaint agus mé I n-éagcruas,
'S beidh beannacht Dé dhuit go bráth dá chionn.
***
'TIS MY BITTER SORROW
('Sé Fáth Mo Bhuartha: Traditional)
***
'Tis my bitter sorrow that by tomorrow
I go not out to my true love's bower
Where the stream that's running spills purest honey
And in wintertime see, the branch in flower.
No frost, no snowing; no red wind blowing
By the bright abode of my secret queen
But her body moving with the salmon's beauty
And her hair ashine like the barley green.
***
Oh may God be praised for young women's laughter
Tho' it scald the heart of one grey and cold
And may God be praised for the bitter rapture
That takes my body as in days of old
For Satan has me as a black companion
On her body moving with the salmon's beauty
And her hair ashine like the barley green.
***
Seamus Creagh & Aidan Coffey. FG 9701, Randal Bays – “Out of the Woods.”
X:1
T:’Sé Fáth Mo Bhuartha
S:Danny O'Donnell
D:The Donegal Fiddler
N:2nd time through 1 octave higher
M:3/4
L:1/8
Z:Transcribed by Juergen Gier
K:C
HGF|EDC2HEG|cdc2G2|E4EF|GED2HED|C2C2(C2|1C4):|2C3EGA/B/|]\
c2d3c|(3BGA
_B2c>d|cBG2FD|CCHD2GF|\
EDC2HEG|cdc2G2|E4EF|GED2HED|C2C2(C2|C4)|]
'SÉ GAOL A' BHODAICH FIONNLAGH. AKA and see "Finlay
is his Father's Darling."
SÉ LIAM UA RUAIRC AN
BUACAILL. AKA and see "Billy O'Rourke is the Boy."
SE MIR ME GO H-EAGNEAC. AKA and see "It
is Lonely You Have Left Me." Irish. It appears in mangaled Englished
Gaelic as "Shea veer me geh hegnough turshogh." The air appears in
Luke Wadding's (the Bishop of Ferns) A
Pious Garland of Godly Songs for the Solace of his Friends and Neighbours in
their Afflictions (1680).
SE MO CHAS CHRÙBACH (My lame leg has kept me behind). See “My
Lame Leg.”
'SÉ NIALL A DHUISG MI (It's Neil That Awoke Me). Scottish, Air (6/8 time). A Minor.
Standard tuning. AA. An ancient harp tune. Neil (The Scots Fiddle), 1991; No. 118, pg. 158.
SÉ SEAGAN AN BUACAILL. AKA and see "Jack's the Lad."
SÉ SO MARBHRANN MO
CHARAID. AKA and see "Death of My Friend."
SEA CAPTAIN, THE (An Taoiseac/Toiseac-Luinge). AKA and see "Young Lads (that
are) Prepared for Marriage." Irish, Hornpipe. D Mixolydian/Major.
Standard tuning. AABB. O'Neill (O’Neill’s
Irish Music), 1915/1987; No. 348, pg. 170. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg.
191. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850
Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 1674, pg. 311. O'Neill (Dance Music of
X:1
T:Sea Captain, The
M:C|
L:1/8
R:Hornpipe
S:O’Neill – Dance Music of
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:D
(3ABc | d2 ec ABce | dcAF DEFG |
ABGA FGAB | c2 AA A2 (3ABc |
d2 ec ABce | dcAF DEFG | ABGA FDEC |
D2 DD D2 :|
|: A2 | (3ABc de fefg | fdec dcAG |
A2 AG FGAB | c2 AA A3g |
fdec d2 cA | BGAF DEFG | ABGA FDEC |
D2 DD D2:|
SEA SONG. Irish, Slow Air (4/4 time). F Major. Standard tuning. One part. Source
for notated version: fiddler Courtney Jones (Avoca, Co.
SEAAN AN EITHIG (Truthful John). Irish, Double Jig. D Dorian. Standard. AABB. Roche Collection, 1982, Vol. 3; No. 89,
pg. 27.
SEAAN O'DUIBIR AN
GLEANNA.
AKA and see "Sean O'Dwyer of the
Glen."
SEABHAC NA h-EIRNE (The Hawk of Lough Erne). AKA and see "The Hawk of
Ballyshannon."
SEACHAIN NA NEANTOGA! (Mind the Nettles). AKA and see “Mind the Nettles.”
SEACHT bPREAB. See note for “Life in the Finnish
Woods.”
SEACHTAR SÚGACH, AN. AKA and see "The Jolly Seven."
SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS, THE. Scottish, Strathspey. A Mixolydian. Standard.
AB. MacDonald (The Skye Collection),
1887; pg. 17.
X:1
T:Seaforth Highlanders, The
M:C
L:1/8
R:Strathspey
S:MacDonadl - Skye Collection (1887)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:A
B|A/A/A a2 A/A/A e2|A/A/A a2 cAAA|A/A/A a2 A/A/A e2|B=gdg BGGB|
A/A/A a2 A/A/A e2|A/A/A a2
cAAc|d<d f>d c<c e>c|B=gdg BGG||B|
A/A/A e2 A/A/A f2|A/A/A e2
cABc|A/A/A e2 A/A/A f2|B=gdg BGGB|
A/A/A e2 A/A/A e2|A/A/A e2
cAAc|d<f d>f cece|BgBg BGG||
SEAFORTH LULLABY. AKA - “Kintail.” Scottish, Pipe Air.
SEAGAN DANA UA
LAOGAIRE. AKA and see "Bold John O'Leary."
SEAGAN UA DUIBIR AN
GLEANNA. AKA and see "John O'Dwyer of the Glen [1]."
SEAGAN UA DUNLAING. AKA and see "Jack Dolan."
SEAGAN UA LAIDEAN. AKA and see "Jacky Latin."
SEAGANIN AN LEIMEADOIR. AKA and see "Johnny
the Jumper."
SEAGANIN LEIS AN RUD
GREANNMAR. AKA and see "Johnny with the Queer Thing."
SEAGHAN BUIDHE (Yellow John). See "Sean
Buidhe."
SEAGHAN RUADH (Red John). AKA ‑ "Shaun Rua." Irish. A
16th century tune composed for John of Desmond (Flood, 1906).
SEAGHAN UA DUIBHIR AN
GLEANNA. AKA and see “Sean/John O’Dwyer of the Glen.”
SEALG A'S SUGRADH
SEAMAISIN. Irish, Air or Polka. The song to the melody is called “An bhFaca tu mo
Sheamaisin” (Have you seen my Jimmy), and tells of a parents love for their
child who is on his way to school. It is sometimes rendered as a polka. Shanachie 79005, De Dannann - “The Mist Covered Mountain.”
X:1
T:Seamaisin
R:Polka
S:Dave Bulmer
D:Shamrock "Mo Cheoil Thú"
POLYDOR
Z:Michel Sikiotakis 1998
M:2/4
L:1/8
K:ADor
A2 GE | cd e>d | cA GE | G2 EG |\
A2 GE | cd e>d | cA BG | A2 A2
:|\
ea a>g | ed e>d | cd ef | g2
fg |\
ea a>g | ed e>d | cA BG | A2
A2 |\
ea a>g | ed e>d | cd ef | g2
fg |\
af g/2f/2e | fd e>d | cA BG | A2
A2 |
"with ornaments"
|:AB/2A/2 GE | cd e/2f/2e/2d/2 | cA
GE | GA/2G/2 EG |\
AB/2A/2 GE | cd e/2f/2e/2d/2 | cA BG
| A2 {c}A2 :|\
ea {b}a>g | ed e/2f/2e/2d/2 | cd
ef | ga/2g/2 fg |\
ea {b}a>g | ed e/2f/2e/2d/2 | cA
BG | A2 {c}A2 |\
ea {b}a>g | ed e/2f/2e/2d/2 | cd
ef | ga/2g/2 fg |\
{b}af g/2f/2e | {a}fd e/2f/2e/2d/2 |
cA BG | A2 {c}A2 ||
SEAMAN'S CLUB, THE (Cumann Na Mairnealac/Mairnealaig). Irish, Hornpipe. G Major. Standard.
AABB. Collector Captain Francis O’Neill was a sailor in his youth, and was even
shipwrecked in the Pacific for a time before being rescued by a passing vessel.
He also worked for a time on the
X:1
T:Seaman’s Club, The
M:C|
L:1/8
R:Hornpipe
S:O’Neill – Dance Music of
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:G
D2|D>GG>B
A>GE>G|D>GG>B e2 d>B|d>gf>e d2 c>B|c>Bc>e
d>BA>G|
D>GG>B
A>GE>G|D>GG>B e2 d>B|d2 g>f e>dc>B|d>cA>B G2:|
|:g>a|b>gf>g
e>gd>B|c>BA>G F>GA>B|B>GB>d e>ce>g|a>gf>e
d2 B>A|
Ggfg egfg|dgfg bgfg|d>gf>e
d>cB>A|G2G2G2:|
SEAMAS OG PLUINCEAD (Young James Plunkett). Irish, Air (2/4 time). G Major.
Standard tuning. AB. O'Sullivan (1983) believes perhaps the melody and almost
certainly the words were the composition of the blind Irish harper Turlough
O'Carolan. Various possibilities exist for the identity of 'young James
Plunkett,' a member no doubt of a celebrated Roscommon family. Hardiman (1831)
identifies him as James Plunkett of Bunenedin,
SEAMO’S POLKA. English, Polka. G Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Source for notated
version:
SEAMROG NA CUIG DUILLE. AKA and see "The
Five-Leaved Clover."
SEAMUS AN CHACA {A CHAILL
SEAMUS COOLEY’S JIG. AKA and see “The Hole in the Hedge.” Irish, Jig. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB’. Green Linnett GLCD 1155, Martin Hayes - “Under the Moon”
(1995).
X: 1
T: Seamus Cooley's Jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
Q: 325
S: Martin Hayes: "Under the Moon" (via
D. Payne)
Z: Transcribed by Bill Black
R: jig
K: G
BAB G2E | DB,D DEG | GAB AGE | A3 AGA |
BAB G2E | DB,D DEG | GAB AGE | G3 G3 :|
BAB d3 | BAB d2B | A3 AGE | ABA AGA |
|1 BAB d3 | BAB d2B | G2B AGE | G3 G3 :|
|2
BAB G2E | DB,D DEG | GAB AGE | G3 G3 ||
SÉAMUS CONNOLLY’S JIG
[1]. Irish, Jig. D Major. Standard.
AA’BB’.
X:1
T:Seamus Connolly's Jig
M:6/8
L:1/8
S:Kevin Griffin's recording
K:D
DFA def|edB gab|afd Adf|edB AFE|
DFA def|edB gab|afd Adf|1 edc dAF:|2
edc d2e|
|fdf afa|bgb a2g|fdf afa|bgb a2f|
gfg fef|edB gab|afd Adf|1 edc d2e:|2
edc dAF||
SÉAMUS CONNOLLY’S JIG
[2]. AKA – “McKenna’s Jig.” Irish, Jig.
D Major. Standard. AABB. Composed by the late
X:1
T:Séamus Connolly’s Jig [2]
M:6/8
L:1/8
R:Jig
K:D
A|~d3 AFD|DFA ECA,|…
SÉAMUS CONNOLLY’S (REEL). AKA and see “Aggie Whyte’s (Reel) [2],” “The New Found Out,” “Satin Slipper.” Irish, Reel. D Major. Standard. AA’BB. Séamus Connolly, one of the most renowned fiddlers now alive, won All-Ireland championships eleven times, which may be a record. There is a story (perhaps even true!) that a young Seamus, aged 17, entered the junior level competition one year and won handily. The judges of the juniors were so impressed that they had him return, and since CCE competitions were at that time conducted behind a screen so as not to prejudice the judges, Séamus entered the senior competition. He won that too. Soon after the rules were amended to preclude entry in more than one age division.
X:1
T:Séamus Connolly's
R:Reel
S:
D:
Z:Adrian Scahill
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:D
A3B AFFA|d2cd BGGB|(3ABA FA
dcdf|eBBA BcdB|\
AFBF ADFA|BdcA G3B|(3ABA FA dcdf|1
edcB cAdB:|2 edcB cAde||\
fdd2 geag|(3fgf df edcA|defa
g3b|afdf efde|\
fdd2 geag|(3fgf df edcB|(3ABA FA
dcdf|eBBA Bcde:||
SÉAMUS COOLEY’S JIG. See “Joe
Cooley’s Jig.”
SÉAMUS CUSSEN’S [1]. AKA and see “Captain
Moonlight’s Army,” “Christmas
Comes but Once a Year,” “Dálaigh’s No.
4,” “Downey's (Polka),” “The
Kerry No. 2.” Irish, Polka. E Minor. Standard. AABB. Mallinson (101 Polkas), 1997; No. 22, pg. 9. Donncha Ó Briain – “The Golden Eagle.”
X:1
T:Séamus Cussen’s
T:Captain Moonlight's Army
T:Christmas Comes But Once a Year
M:2/4
L:1/8
Q:240
R:Polkas
D:Larry Lynch, "Set Dances of
Z:Lorna LaVerne
K:E Aeolian
E>F GA | Be dB | A>B AF | EF
D2 |
E>F GA | Be dB | AF dF | FG E2 |
e2 ed/e/ | fe dB | d>e dB | AB e2
|
e2 ed/e/ | fe dB | AF dF | FG E2 |
SÉAMUS CUSSEN’S [2]. AKA and see “Andy Boyle’s,” “Cathy’s Favourite,” “Kerry Polka [3]," “Pat Horgan’s [1]." Irish, Polka.
SEAMUS EGAN’S. Irish, Reel. G Major. Standard. AABB.
X:1
T:Seamus Egan's
D:Birkin Tree: A Cheap Present
Z:Lorenzo Zampetti, a flute player
from
M:C|
L:1/8
K:G
GF EG BE GB| EG BE cE BE| GF EG B2
GG| AF ~F2 DF ~F2|!
GF EG BE GB| EG BE cE BE|~G3 A AG
BG| ~A3B AGFA:|!
~G3A BDBA|GA (3Bcd ef g2|~G3A AGBG|
A3B AG F2|!
~G3A BDBA|GA (3Bcd ef g2|af ge d2
dB|AG FG ~A2 AF:||
SEAMUS ENNIS' JIG. Irish, Jig. Seamus Ennis (1919-1982) was a famous Irish traditional
music collector, storyteller and Uileann piper born in
***
Seamus Ennis (NPU)
***
Mark Johnson relates the story of
Seamus Ennis and the bodhran player:
**
There are many great stories about Seamus Ennis, and many have to do
with his
less than enthusiastic reception of bodhran players seeking to accompany
his
playing. I heard this story from
Joe Burke, who says that he witnessed the event
personally. It was during one of
the great music festivals, and Seamus Ennis was
holding court, playing solo sets in the back room of one of the
pubs. Many great
musicians had crowded into the small place to hear Seamus play, and he
was in
great form, knocking out one great tune after another, and all was right
with the world.
After a brief intermission in the loo, Seamus returned to find that a
bodhran player had
installed himself in the chair immediately to Seamus's right, with the
obvious intention
of providing some rhythmic accompaniment to his tunes. Well, the craic level dropped
precipitously, and after one or two more desultory tunes (with bodhran
backup), Seamus
packed up his pipes. As he was
packing to leave, one of the other musicians in the
room asked Seamus if he knew the fellow that had been playing the
bodhran. "No,"
Seamus answered, "but you can be damned sure that he's tried
everything else."
***
Green Linnet Records SIF 1058, Matt Molloy & Sean Keane ‑ "Contentment is Wealth" (1985).
SEAMUS MAC MURCHADHA. AKA and see “James McMurrough.”
SEAMUS MACNEIL. Scottish, Jig. A Major. Standard tuning. AABBCCDD’. Composed by the
late bandleader and accordion player Bobby MacLeod of
SEAMUS McMANUS. Canadian, Waltz. A Major. Standard tuning. AA'BB. Traditional. Source
for notated version: Joe McIsaac (
SÉAMUS
MEEHAN’S. Irish, Reel. B Minor. Standard tuning. AABB
(Taylor/Tweed): AA’BB’. According to Karen Tweed the tune was not written by
Meehan, but rather played by him. Taylor (Traditional Irish Music: Karen
Tweed’s Irish Choice), 1994; pg. 33.
X: 1
T: Séamus Meehan's
R: reel
M: C
L: 1/8
K: Bm
Bg | f2 Bc dBfB | eA ~A2 aecA | f2 Bc (3dcB fB |
ceAc cB ~B2 |
fB ~B2 FBfB | eA ~A2 aecA | BcdB cdeg |1 fedc dB
:|2 fedc dBBA ||
B2 ba faed | cAeA aecA | ~B2 ba faed | cAeA dB
~B2 |
B2
ba faed | cAeA aecA | BcdB cdeg |1 fedc dBBA :|2 fedc dB B2 :|
SEAMUS MO MILE STOR. See note for “The
Enniskillen Dragoons.”
SEAMUS O'BRIEN('S). AKA and see "James O'Brien," "Shamus O'Brien." Irish, Slow Air:
American, Canadian; Waltz. G Major. Standard tuning. AB. The melody is very popular in the American Mid‑West
as a waltz tune. Source for notated version: Eleanor Townsend (
SEAMUS O’THOMUSH. AKA - “James Melvin,” “Shamus O’Thomush.” Irish, Air (3/4 time). E Flat
Major. Standard tuning. One part. Identified by Petrie (1855) as a Jacobite
air. Souce for notated version: “From Mrs. Close” [Stanford/Petrie].
Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection),
1905; No. 625, pg. 157.
X:1
T:Shamus O’Thomush or James Melvin
M:3/4
L:1/8
N:”A Jacobite air”
S:Stanford/Petrie (1905), No. 625
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:E_
(.E/.F/.G/.B/.c/.d/) | e>d cd BG
| {G}F2 E3G | B>c BG Bc | e4 F/G/B/c/ |
e>d cd BG | F2 E3G | B>c BG
c>B | e4 de | {d}cB B2 (3FGB | (3Bcd f3g |
gf/e/ cB c>d | e4 (6E/F/G/B/c/d/
| e>d cd BG | G2 FE/F/ GB | c>e {d}cB B/d/f/g/ | e4 ||
SEÁN AMONG THE RIDGES. Irish, Reel.
Composed by