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]

 

 

 

SPREAD EAGLE.  English, Jig (9/8 time). C Major (?). Standard tuning. AABB. The melody appears in the 1770 music manuscript copybook of Northumbrian musician William Vickers. The tune is noted without sharps or flats in Vickers’ manuscript, but may be in the key of F.

X:1

T:Spread Eggal [sic]

M:9/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:William Vickers’ music manuscripts, pg. 22  (1770)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:C

B|F2c AFA GEG|F2c AFA dBG|F2c AFA GEC|AcA BeB c2:|

|:B|c2g ece dBd|c2g ece afd|cea Bdg dBG|AcA BeB c2:|

 

SPRIG OF IVY, THE. Scottish, March (2/4 time) or Highland Schottische. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB'CCDD'. Composed by B. Seton, originally for the Highland pipes. Martin (Ceol na Fidhle), vol. 1, 1991; pg. 29. William Ross (Book 5), pg 8. Culburnie Records CUL102c, Alasdair Fraser & Jody Stecher – “The Driven Bow” (1988).

                       

SPRIG OF SHILLELAGH [1] (Geagan Siol-eilig). AKA and see "Black Joke [1]," "Darling Nedeen," "Irish Dragoon," "Irish Oak," "O! Love is the soul of a neat Irish man," "Paddy McShane," "Shandrum Boggoon," "Sublime was the warning," "Thistle Sae Green," "When the bright spark of freedom." Irish, American; Air and Jig. D Major ('A' and 'B' parts) & G Major ('C' part) {Ford}: D Major (Hardings): G Major (Kerr, O'Neill). Standard. AAB (O'Neill): AABB (Hardings, Kerr): AABBCC (Ford). Shillelagh is a word that has become synonymous with the cudgel favored by Irish faction fighters in the 19th century. It still retains that connotation today, cemented by old stage-Irish performers who carried the implement as a stock symbol of their origin. The association of the name Shillelagh with ‘a club’ stems from the quality of wood that could be found in the oak forest at Shillelagh in County Wicklow (not far from Tinahely), from which a superior brand of cudgel could be fashioned. Terry Moylan notes the typical Irish fighting stick was oak, not blackthorn. The ‘sprig of Shillelagh’ in the title may refer to a sprig of oak from the forest of Shillelagh. Unfortunately, the stock of oak in Ireland has diminished considerably, so that modern shillelaghs are invariabley made of blackthorn, fashioned for the tourist trade in rather short, stubbly implements (the original oak shillelagh was a strudy three feet long).

***

Miller. Print, 1876. Note the shillelagh held by the dancer at center left in the style of faction fighters when dancing, also not the shillelagh at the foot of the chair of the sitting man with the tankard.

***

Ford (Traditional Music in America), 1940; pg. 55. Harding’s All Round Collection, 1905; No. 173, pg. 55. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 3; No. 254, pg. 28. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1986; No. 994, pg. 171. Green Linnet SIF 1087, Seamus Connolly ‑ "Notes From My Mind" (1988). Green Linnet SIF 1101, Seamus Connolly ‑ "Playing with Fire: the Celtic Music Collection" (1989).

X:1

T:Sprig of Shillelach [1]

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:O’Neill – Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems (1907), No. 994

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G
E|DEF GFG|ABA AGF|GBd dcB|AcB AGF|GAB EFG|DEF G2:|

|:c|BGB dBd|ece d2c|BGB def|gfe dcB|cec BdB|AcB AGF|

GBd dcB|AcB AGF|GAB EFG|DEF G2:|

 

SPRIG OF SHILLELAGH [2], THE. AKA ‑ "How Happy the Soldier That Lives on His Pay." Irish, English; March. A Major. Standard. AAB. Winstock (Songs and Music of the Redcoats), 1970; pg. 219.

 

SPRIG OF SHILLELAGH [3], THE. Irish, Polka. G Major. Standard. AABB’.  The Flanagan brothers played the tune with a ‘B’ part of only fourteen bars rather than the usual sixteen (Dave Mallinson added the extra bars in the setting he prints). Source for notated version: the Flanagan Brothers [Mallinson]. Mallinson (100 Polkas), 1997; No. 46, pg. 18.

                       

SPRIGHTLY KITTY. Irish, Reel. D Major/Mixolydian. Standard. AB. Source for notated version: “From O’Neill’s MS” [Stanford/Petrie]. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 367, pg. 93.

X:1

T:Sprightly Kitty

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:Stanford/Petrie (1905), No. 367

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

A/d/d/e/ f/d/e/d/ | A/d/d AG/E/ | A/d/d/e/ f>d | =c/A/G/E/ D2 | A/d/d/e/ f/d/e/d/ |

A/d/d AG/E/ | A/d/d/e/ f>d | =c/A/G/E/ D2 || A/D/D =c/B/A/G/ | A/D/D AG/E/ |

A/D/D =c/B/c/A/ | G/A/G/E/ D2 | A/D/D =c/B/A/G/ | A/D/D AG/E/ |

A/D/D =c/B/c/A/ | G/A/G/E/ D2 ||

                       

SPRIGHTLY WIDOW, THE. AKA and see "How Much Has She Got?" Irish, Air or Jig (6/8 time). G Major. Standard. AB. Source for notated version: “From Mr. Pigot’s MS” [Stanford/Petrie]. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 590, pg. 149.

X:1

T:Sprightly Widow, The

M:6/8

L:1/8

S:Stanford/Petrie (1905), No. 590

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K: G

g | fed cBA | ecA A2g | fed cBA | dBG G2g | fed cBA | def g2 e | agf gfe | dBG G2 ||

B | A2a aec | aec A2B | G2g gdB | gdB G2B | A2a aec | def g2e | agf gfe | dBG G2 ||

                       

SPRING [1]. English, Country Dance Tune (6/8 time). A Major. Standard. AABB. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 119.

 


SPRING [2], THE. English, Country Dance Tune (cut time). G Minor. Standard. AA'BB'. The tune dates to 1699. Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes), 1986.

                       

SPRING AT LAST. Irish, Jig. D Major. Standard. AABB. Composed in 1990 by Falmouth, Massachusetts, musician and writer Bill Black. Black (Music’s the Very Best Thing), 1996; No. 121, pg. 63.

X:1

T: Spring at Last!

C: © B. Black

Q: 300

R: jig

M: 6/8

L: 1/8

K: D

B | AFA dBd | ece gfg | fga bge | afd ecA |

AFA dBd | ece gfg | fed gab | ecA d2 :|

e | gab a2 f | gee fdd | gBB cee | dcB A2 B |

AFA dBd | ece gfg | fdA Bed | cBc d2 :|

                       

SPRING CREEK. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, Missouri. A Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: Dallas Stamper (Miller County, Missouri) [Christeson]. R.P. Christeson (Old Time Fiddlers Repertory, vol. 2), 1984; pg. 4‑5.

                       

SPRING CREEK GAL. Old‑Time, Breakdown. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. James Bryan credits his version of the tune to Al Murphy. Source for notated version: James Bryan with Bob Carlin [Phillips]. Phillips, vol. 2, 1995; pg. 135. Rounder 0197, Bob Carlin ‑ "Banging and Sawing" (1985. Learned from Al Murphy).

X:1

T:Spring Creek Gal

M:C

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:Carl Jones, also Bob Carlin “Banging and Sawing”

N:From a transcription by John Lamancusa, by permission http://www.mne.psu.edu/lamancusa/tunes.htm

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

(fa2) (a a)baf | e2 d4 (ef|f2) fg fede|d2B2B2 dB|A2F2 [A3A3]F|1 E2 ([D4D4][D2D2]):|2

E2 [D4D4]D2||: F4 FEDE | F A2B A2 DE|FEDF A2F2|E2 [D4D4] DE|(EF2) (F F)EDE|

FA2 B A2 DE|FEDF A2F2|1 E2 [D4D4] DE:|2 E2 ([D4D4]D2) ||

                       

SPRING FIELD. See "Springfield."

                       

SPRING GARDEN('S HORNPIPE) [1], THE (Gort An Tobair). Irish, English; Hornpipe. England, Yorkshire. G Major (O'Neill): B Flat Major (Merryweather & Seattle). Standard tuning. AABB. Sources for notated versions: a MS collection by fiddler Lawrence Leadley, 1827-1897 (Helperby, Yorkshire) [Merryweather & Seattle]; Chicago Police Sergeant James O’Neill, a fiddler originally from County Down and Francis O’Neill’s collaborator [O’Neill]. Merryweather & Seattle (The Fiddler of Helperby), 1994; No. 31, pg. 36. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 193. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 1681, pg. 312. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 888, pg. 153.

X:1

T:Spring Garden, The [1]

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Hornpipe

S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 1681

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

(3A/B/c/ | d/f/d/f/ e/c/A/F/ | G/F/G/B/ A/F/D/C/ | B,/D/G/F/ Ec/B/ |

(3A/B/G/ (3F/G/E/ D(3A/B/c/ | d/f/d/f/ e/c/A/F/ | G/F/G/B/ A/F/D/C/ |

B,/D/G/F/ E/c/A/F/ | GG G :: c/B/ | A/G/A/B/ c/B/c/d/ | e/d/e/f/ g(3d/e/f/ |

g/f/ed/ c/B/A/G/ | A/d/d/^c/ d(3A/B/c/ | d/f/d/f/ e/c/A/F/ |

G/F/G/B/ A/F/D/C/ | B,/D/G/F/ E/c/A/F/ | GG G :|

 

SPRING GARDEN [2]. English, Country Dance Tune (6/8 time). A Minor/Mixolydian. Standard tuning. ABB (Sharp): ABBB (Barnes). The tune dates to 1665 and was published by Playford. Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes), 1986. Sharp (Country Dance Tunes), 1909/1994; pg. 36.

X:1

T:Spring Garden [2]

M:6/8

L:1/8

S:Sharp – Country Dance Tunes  (1909)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A Minor

A2A c2c | d>ed a3 | A3c3 | d>ed ^c A2 | A2A c2c | d>ed a3 | A3 c3 | d>ed ^c A2 ||

|: f2f g>fe f a2 g2e | f2f g>fe f a2 g2e | fga g>fe | ded f>ga | A3c3 | d>ed ^c A2 :|

                       

SPRING GLEE. English, Jig. G Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Carlin (Master Collection), 1984; No. 15, pg. 22.

                       

SPRING IN THE AIR.  Jig. Shanachie 34014, James Kelly, Paddy O’Brien & Daithi Sproule – “Traditional Music of Ireland” (1995).

 

SPRING IN THE VALLEY. Old‑Time, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Composed by fiddler Tom McCreesh, 1978. Source for notated version: Barbara Collins [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 230. Front Hall Records FHR017, Michael, McCreesh and Campbell ‑ "Dance Like the Waves of the Sea."

                       

SPRING INTO THE DRINK. AKA ‑ "Leim Asteac 'San Uisge." Irish, Air (3/4 time, "animated"). G Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Source for notated version: credited to Chicago Police Sergeant James O’Neill, a fiddler originally from County Down and Francis O’Neill’s collaborator [O’Neill]. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 572, pg. 100.

X:1

T:Spring into the Drink

M:3/4

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Animated”

S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 572

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

D/E/4F/4 GG/A/|Bd e/c/B/A/ GG/A/|B>G ED/E/ GG/A/|Bd e/c/B/A/ GG|G3:|

G/A/ B/d/e/f/|g2 fe/^d/ e/g/f/g/|e>d BA B/d/e/f/|g2 fe/^d/ e/g/f/d/|e3 f g(3e/f/e|

d>e BA GG/A/|B>G ED/E/ GG/A/|Bd e/c/B/A/ GG|G2||

                       

SPRING IS COMING, THE. English, Jig. D Major. Standard tuning. One part. Source: “From an old classical violin tutor found in Delph, as Olde English Tune” [Plain Brown]. Plain Brown Tune Book, 1997; pg. 39.

                       

SPRING LAMBS, THE. Irish, Slow Air (3/4 time). D Minor (Mixolydian parts). Standard tuning. AB. Source for notated version: Joe Martin of Kilfinane: 1852 (Joyce). Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Songs), 1909; No. 62, pg. 34.

X:1

T:Spring Lambs, The

M:C

L:1/8

R:Air

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

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

N:”Slow and expressive”

K:D Minor

D>E|F4E4|D>EFG A2 d>e|f4e4|dAAG A>GFE|F2 F>F E2 E>E|DEFG A2 d>e|

f>dec dAAd|cAGE D2||A=B|c>dcA FGAd|f2g2 a2 fg|agfa gece|f2e2d2 A>=B|

c>dcA FGAd|f2g2 a2 f>g|agab afde|f2e2d2||

                       


SPRING MORNING, THE. American, Waltz. C Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Composed in 1993 by fiddler George Wilson (Wynantskill, N.Y.). The title refers to rising at six in the morning to complete the tune, which he had begun composing the night before while listening to a folk show on the radio while traveling home after a gig. Matthiesen (Waltz Book II), 1995; pg. 57. 

                       

SPRING REEL. Canadian, Reel. Canada, Cape Breton. C Major. Standard tuning. AB. Composed by Cape Breton fiddler and composer Dan R. MacDonald (1911-1976). Cameron (Trip to Windsor), 1994; pg. 19.

                       

SPRING STREET WALTZ. Old‑Time, Waltz. Bluebird 5858‑B (78 RPM), Arthur Smith with the Delmore Brothers, 1935.

                       

SPRING WELL [1], THE (An Tobar-Fioruisge). Irish, Jig. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Related to “The Kesh Jig [1].” See also “Mountaineers’ March.” Source for notated version: Chicago Police Sergeant James O’Neill, a fiddler originally from County Down and Francis O’Neill’s collaborator [O’Neill]. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 66. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 1080, pg. 203.

X:1

T:Spring Well, The [1]

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 1080

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

G2E GAB | A2G ABd | ede gdB | BGF E2D | G2E GAB | A2G ABd |

ede gdB AGG G2z :: BGG dGG | ege dcA | BGG dGG | AGA BGE |

BGG dGG | efe def | gfg ecA | BGG G2z :|

 

SPRING WELL [2]. See “Springwell [1].”

                       

SPRINGAR. A genre of Norwegian musical forms which takes its name from the Norwegian 'spring'‑‑to run or bound. It is a lively dance form usually defined  as possessing triple meter and a four‑part organization, which displays a significant amount of variation on a regional basis. Dance meters are in three catagories: 3/4 time, asymmetrical 3/4 time (in which one or more beats are of slightly unequal length according to a fixed pattern per measure), and no measure divisions (Hopkins, 1985). Roughly, these are characterized by light semi-running steps or uneven ("limping") three-beat steps.

                       

SPRINGBANK HOUSE. Scottish, Strathspey. A Major. Standard tuning. AB. Composed by the great Scottish fiddler and composer J. Scott Skinner (1841-1927). Source for notated version: Winston Fitzgerald (1914-1987, Cape Breton) [Cranford]. Cranford (Winston Fitzgerald), 1997; No. 85, pg. 37.

                       

SPRINGFIELD. AKA – “Spring Field.” Scottish, Strathspey. G Minor. Standard tuning. AB. A well‑known strathspey composed by Abraham Macintosh (b. 1769, son of Robert 'Red Rob' Mackintosh), who, like his father, was a skilled fiddler and composer. It appears in Abraham’s Thirty New Strathspey Reels Etc. (Edinburgh, c. 1792). Glen (The Glen Collection of Scottish Dance Music), vol. 1, 1891; pg. 43. Hunter (Fiddle Music of Scotland), 1988; No. 178. S. Johnson (A Twenty Year Anniversary Collection), 2003; pg. 17.

X:1

T:Spring Field

M:C

L:1/8

S:Glen Collection

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G Minor

d|B<G G<B D<G G>B|c<F F>A c<F c>A|B>AB>G E<G B>d|c<A d>c BGGd|

B<G G>B D<G G>B|cFFA cFcA|dbca BgA^f|g<e d>c BGG||d|g>a b<a g<d b>d|

C<aB<g A<F c>A|g>ab>a g<db>d|c>A d/e/d/c/ BGGd|g>ab>a g<d b>d|

C<aB<g A<F c>A|(3BdB (3GBG (3DGD (3B,DB,|CA,DC B,G,G,||

                                               

SPRINGFIELD GIRL/GAL. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA; Missouri, Oklahoma. G Major. Standard tuning. AB (Silberberg): AABB (Thede): AA'BB (Phillips). Thede's and Phillips' versions are remarkably similar. Sources for notated versions: Eddie Kennedy (Tulsa County, Oklahoma) [Thede]; Jere Canote [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 230. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; pg. 148. Thede (The Fiddle Book), 1967; pg. 88. County 2730, Rafe Stefanini – “Glory on the Big Spring.”

                       


SPRING'S A-COMING, THE. AKA and see “Bath Medley,” "The Humours of the Bath." English, Air (6/8 time). E Flat Major. Standard. AB. The air appears in Watts' Musical Miscellany (1729), The Dancing Master (vol. iii), Walsh's Dancing Master (vol. iii), and many ballad operas, including The Wedding. See note for “Bath Medley.” Chappell (Popular Music of the Olden Time), vol. 2, 1859; pg. 177.

                       

SPRINGTIME IN BATTERSEA. English, Waltz. C Major (‘A’ and ‘B’ parts) & G Major (‘C’ part). Standard. ABACAB. Composed by Tommy Williams, a duet concertina player Tommy Williams, who recorded an album for Free Reed Records at the age of 86. On the recording he talked about his career playing and tuning concertinas for the famous maker Lachenal in London in the early 20th century. He took his concertina to the trenches in France to entertain the troops in World War I. 

X:1
T:Springtime in Battersea
C:Tommy Williams
Z:Anahata
D:Eponymous Free Reed album of interview and music from Tommy Williams
M:3/4

L:1/8
K:C
"intro (then play ABACAB)"
GA | B6 | A4 G2 | B6 | A4 G2 | (3GAG ^F2 G2 | e4 d2 | c6- | c4 ||
P:A
CD | E4 G2 | E4 G2 | E6- | E2D2E2 | F4 A2 | F4 A2 | F6- | F2 G2 A2 |
B4 f2 | B4 f2 | B6- | B2 A2 B2 | c4 e2 | c4 A2 | G6- | G4 CD |
| E4 G2 | E4 G2 | E6- | E2D2E2 | F4 A2 | F4 A2 | F6- | F2 G2 A2 |
B4 f2 | B4 f2 | B6- | B2 A2 B2 | c4 e2 | c4 e2 | c6- | c6 ||
P:B
c6 | B6 | d6 | c6 | c2 e2 f2 | A4 f2 | A6- | A2 G2 A2 |
B6 | A4 G2 | F6- | F2 E2 F2 | A6 | G6 | E6- | E4 G2 |
c6 | B6 | d6 | c6 | c2 e2 f2 | A4 f2 | A6- | A2 G2 A2 |
B4 B2 | A4 G2 | B6 | A4 G2 | (3GAG ^F2 G2 | e4 d2 | c6- | c4 ||
P:C
K:G
D2 | (3GAG D2B2 | (3GAG D2 B2 | A2 z2 F2 | D6 | D2 F2 A2 | d3c BA |\
B2 G2 E2 | D4 D2 |
(3GAG D2B2 | (3GAG D2 B2 | A2 z2 F2 | D6 | D2 F2 A2 | d3c BA |\
G2 B2 A2 | G4 :|

                       

SPRINGWELL [1]. Canadian, Jig. Canada, Cape Breton. F Major. Standard. AABB. Composed by Cape Breton fiddler and composer Dan R. MacDonald (1911-1976). Cameron (Trip to Windsor), 1994; pg. 60. Rounder Records 7052, Buddy MacMaster – “The Cape Breton Tradition” (2003). 

 

SPRINGWELL [2]. See “Spring Well [1].”

                       

SPRITE, THE. Irish, Slow Air (3/4 time). G Major. Standard. AABB. Source for notated version: Patrick MacDowell, "the distinguished sculptor, born in Belfast 1799: died 1870" (Joyce). Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Songs), 1909; No. 788, pg. 384.

                       

SPRUCETOPPER'S POLKA. American, Polka. G Major ('A' part) & C Major ('B' part). Standard. AA'AA"BB'. Source for notated version: Stuart Williams [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 2, 1995; pg. 355.

                       

SPRY YOUNG LAD, THE. Irish, Hornpipe. G Major. Standard. AABB. O’Neill (Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody), 1922; No. 324.

X:1

T:Spry Young Lad, The

M:4/4

L:1/8

S:Capt. F. O'Neill

Z:Paul Kinder

R:Hornpipe

K:G

(3def|g2 dc BG G2|GABG A3 z|GABc d2 g2|fgag fdef|

g2 dc BG G2|GABG A3 z|GABc d2 g2|fgaf g2:|

|:Bc|dBGB d2 e2|dcBA G2 AB|cAFA c2 d2|c2 BA G2 Bc|

dBGB d2 g2|f2 e2 c2 c2|d2 (3ddd d2 d2|^cdec d2:||

                       

SPUD ISLAND (JIG).  Canadian, Jig. Composed by Sarnia, southwestern Ontario, fiddler John(ny) Durocher (1934-1989). Spud Island is the nickname for Prince Edward Island, a tribute of sorts to the farming communities there, although according to Ron Ritchie, Durocher never visited the Martimes. Durocher was born the youngest of sixteen children, to a modest family of few resources. He quit school in his young teens to help make family ends meet and remained a factory worker for most of his life, not even possessing a drivers license. John came to fiddling when he found a broken fiddle in the trash one day and asked the owner for permission to retrieve it; with some repair work he had his first instrument. A few lessons from a local teacher (which served to teach him how to read and write music), were all the formal music education John received. He was a prolific composer of fiddle tunes, however, and named them for sports and current events, family and friends and topics of his day, explains Ritchie. Durocher’s music was picked up by radio fiddler Don Messer, who included many of his tunes in his broadcasts and printed collections, helping Durocher to become quite influential in the Ontario scene for his over 400 compositions. [For more see Ron Ritchie, “John Durocher: A Gifted Composer,” Fiddler Magazine, vol. 12, No. 2, Summer 2005, pgs. 25-27].

 

SPUD ISLAND (REEL). Canadian, Reel. Maritime fiddler Don Messer’s version of “Le Reel Du Cordonnier” (the Cobbler’s Reel [3]).

                       

SQUALL, THE. English, Reel. England, North‑West. D Major. Standard. AABB. Knowles (Northern Frisk), 1988; No. 115.

                       


SQUARE AND COMPASS, THE. Scottish, Reel. C Major. Standard. AB (Athole): AAB (Kerr). The square and compass is a Masonic symbol. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 2; No. 87, pg. 12. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 68.

X:1

T:Square and Compass, The

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

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

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:C

E|C2E2 cGEG|FDD^c dfed|cGEG cdec|Aagf ec ~cE|C2E2 cGEG|

FDdc dfed|cGEG c>dec|Aagf ecc||f|ecgc acge|fdad bdad|ecgc acgc|

fagf eccf|ecgc acge|fede fgac|AcBd cedf|eag>f ecc||

                       

SQUARE DA/THE MIZZEN. Shetland, Shetland Reel. Shetland, Yell and Unst. D Major. Standard. AABB. "A traditional tune from the North Isles of Shetland. A good lively dancing reel with a sailing title (Mizzen is the name of a mast and sail)" (Anderson). Anderson (Ringing Strings), 1983; pg. 73. Front Hall 018, How To Change a Flat Tire ‑ "Traditional Music of Ireland and Shetland" (1978. Learned from Tom Anderson).

                       

SQUARE OF CROSSMAGLEN, THE. Irish, Reel. G Dorian. Standard. AA’BB’. Crossmaglen is a village deep in rural County Armagh, with a mostly Catholic population and Republican sentiments. The broad-based square is reputedly the largest town square in Ireland, and a fair is held there every second Friday. The tune was composed by Mullaghbawn, south County Antrim, fiddler and piano player Josephine Keegan (b. 1935). Keegan (The Keegan Tunes), 2002; pg. 26. Brendan Larrissey – “A Flick of the Wrist.”

X:1

T:The Square of Crossmaglen

C:Josephine Keegan

R:reel

S:Brendan Larrissey

M:C|

L:1/8

K:Gdor

~G3A B2GA|BGAG FDA,=B,|CFFE FdcA|F~C3 A,=B,CF|

DGGA BGAG|~_E3F DGGA|BABc ~d2cA|1 BdA=F DGGD:|2 BdA=F DGG=f||

fggd Bcd=f|~g3d BcdB|cffe f2ag|f~c3 Acd=f|

~g3d Bcd=f|gbag fddc|~B3c AdcA|1 BdA=F DGG=f:|2 BdA=F DGG2|

                       

SQUARE ORDER SHUFFLE.  American, Jig. C Major. Standard tuning. AABB. A Shaker melody. Miller (Fiddler’s Throne), 2004; No. 101, pg. 70.

 

SQUAW IN THE CANEBREAK. Old‑Time. The title appears in a list of traditional Ozark Mountain fiddle tunes compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, published in 1954.

                       

SQUAW RAPID REEL, THE. Canadian, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Composed by Canadian radio and TV fiddler Don Messer. Messer (Anthology of Favorite Fiddle Tunes), 1980; No. 78, pg. 53.

                       

SQUEEZE YOUR THIGHS. AKA and see “Barr na Feirste,” “Behind the Haystack [1],” “(An) Bhláthach Mhuimhneach,” “Munster Buttermilk [4],” "The Sports of Multyfarnham," “Take Her or Leave Her.”

                       

SQUINT-EYED PIPER, THE. AKA and see "The Unfortunate Rake [2]," "The Misfortunate Rake," "General White's Jig," "The Shamrock (Reel) [1]," "(Next) Sunday is/was My Wedding Day," "An Piobaire Caoch," "Rattle the Quilt (to Pieces)," "Apples in Winter [1]," "Kennedy's Jig."

                       

SQUIRE, THE. Irish, Air (6/8 time). E Flat Major. Standard tuning. One part. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 600, pg. 151.

X:1

T:Squire, The

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Air

S:Stanford/Petire (1905), No. 600

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:E_

B2B B2B | B2B B3 | BcB G2B| e3 e2z |

“Chorus”

f2f f2f | f2f f3 | f3 b2g | g2e fgf | c3 c3 | BBB B3 | a2g f3 | BcB G2B | e3 e2 ||

                       

SQUIRE (OF) BENSHAM. English, Jig. England, Northumberland. C Major. Standard tuning. AABB. In the 19th century Bensham was a fashionable suburb of Gateshead, north east England. The name Bensham is thought to have derived from the Saxon ‘beornic’s ham’ or homestead. Hall & Stafford (Charlton Memorial Tune Book), 1974; pg. 59. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 113.

X:1

T:Squire (of) Bensham

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

K:C

c|edc A2c|G2c E2c|edc g2c|B2d d2c|edc A2c|G2c E2c|def e2d|e2c c2:|

|:c|edc g2c|c’2a g2c|edc g2c|Adc BAG|edc g2c|c’2a g2g|abc’ gag|e2c c2:|

                       

SQUIRE PARSON'S. Irish, Planxty. G Major. Standard. AB. The tune is attributed to blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738), thought Donal O’Sullivan, in his definitive work on the bard could find no incontrovertible evidence of its origin. Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 147, pg. 102.

                       


SQUIRE WOOD'S LAMENTATION ON THE REFUSAL OF HIS HALFPENCE. AKA and see "Soor Plooms" or "Sour Plums of Galashiels" (Scot.), “Wood’s Lamentation.” Irish, Slow Air (4/4 time), Long or Set Dance (cut time). G Major. Standard tuning. AB (Complete Collection, Stanford/Petrie): AABB (Mulvihill, O’Neill). Composition has been credited to blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan, though Robin Williamson notes not before the Victorian collector George Petrie (1855, Ancient Music of Ireland). He speculates "O'Carolan wrote, to an existing tune, a song in which he satirized the scandal of 1722 involving the minting of excessive amounts of copper money by the aforementioned William Wood, a conniving copper mine owner" (Williamson). Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 213, pg. 145. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 4, pg. 110. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 220. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1979; No. 1786, pg. 334. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 1023, pg. 260 (appears as “Wood’s Lamentation”). Flying Fish FF358, Robin Williamson ‑ "Legacy of the Scottish Harpers, Vol 1" (appears as "Soor Plooms").

X:1

T:Squire Wood’s Lamentation on the Refusal of His Halfpence
T:Wood’s Lamentation

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Slow Air

S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 1786

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

G/A/ | B/c/B/A/ Bg | d/c/B/d/ BA/G/ | d/e/d/^c/ dg/f/ | e/^d/e/g/ Ag/f/ |

e/d/c/B/ d/c/B/A/ | c/B/A/G/ AG/E/ | G/F/G/A/ B/G/d/B/ | A/^G/A/B/ =G :|

|: d | e/^d/e/f/ gG | g/a/b/g/ e>d | Bd e/f/g/f/ | e/d/^c/e/ dB/d/ |

e/f/g/a/ g/f/e/f/ | g/a/b/g/ e>d | B/A/B/c/ d/c/d/e/ | f/d/e/f/ ge/f/ | ge/g/e/d/e/g/ |

d/B/d/e/ d/c/B/A/ | Gg/e/ d/g/d/B/ | A/^G/A/B/ =G :|

X:2

T:Wood’s Lamentation

M:C

L:1/8

R:Air

N”by Carolan.”

B:Stanford/Petrie – The Complete Petrie Collection of Ancient Irish Music, No. 1023 (1905)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

GA|B4 B3g|d2 Bd B2 A>G|d4 d3g|e2 dg B3g|

E2 dB d2 dA|B2 AG A2 GE|G3A BG dB|”tr”A4 G2||d|ef g2G2g2|

Ga b/a/g e3d|B2d2 efgf|”tr”e4 d3d|efga g2g2|ga b/a/g e3d|

BA B2 dB d2|ede2 =f4|ge g2 ed e2|dB d2 BG B2|g3||

                       

SQUIRREL HEADS AND GRAVY. Old‑Time, Breakdown. G Major. Standard or GDad. AABB. Composed by fiddler Chris Germain c. 1975, originally from Ferguson, Missouri, lately of Washington D.C., apparently as part of a joke. Ironically, the tune has entered tradition and is sometimes listed as a "traditional" melody. The rumor that there is an older tune by the same name only seems to be part of the joke. One story goes that Germain asked around at fiddlers gatherings and parties whether anyone had heard the ‘old’ tune called “Squirrel Heads and Gravy,” then, a few months later started playing his composition allowing people to assume he had unearthed a long-lost piece. Germain played the tune in GDad tuning, although it has also been played in GDgd and AEae tunings.

***

Squirrel heads and gravy is a delicacy, said Missouri fiddler Taylor McBaine (1911-1994) of his favorite food: "You get a skillet with those squirrel heads in that gravy; you take a hammer and crack open those skulls and suck out those brains. Now that's good eatin" (Old Time Herald, vol. 4, No. 5). Missouri fiddler Howard Marshall is of the opinion Germaine was influenced by McBaine in his choice of the title. That squirrel brains were a delicacy to some is well documented. An Associated Press article by Charles Wolfe of 9/8/97 quoted Janet Norris Gates, who said they were the choicest morsels of the game her father once hunted in Tennessee. “’In our family, we saw it as a prized piece of meat, and if he shared it with you, you were pretty happy. Not that he was stingy,'’ said Mrs. Gates, an oral historian in Frankfort, ’but there's just not much of a squirrel brain.'' The article went on to warn that researchers had recently found a possible link between eating squirrel brains and the rare and deadly human variety of mad-cow disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. It has been reported that in some rural traditions small-sized biscuits were called ‘squirrel-heads’. Train on the Island Records, TI‑12, Bovee & Heil ‑ "For Old Times Sake."

See also listing at:

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

X:1

T:Squirrel Heads and Gravy

M:C

L:1/8

R:Reel