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]

 

 

 

SWAGGERING BONEY. AKA and see "The Old Frog Dance." English, Morris Dance Tune (6/8 time). G Major. Standard tuning. AABBB (x4), AACCC (x4), AA. The morris dance version was collected from the village of Longborough, Gloucestershire, in England's Cotswolds, but "the tune was apparently popular all over England, as a number of different songs were written to it" (Williamson, 1976). The title refers to Napoleon Bonaparte, dating the tune from the late 1700's to early 1800's. Bacon (The Morris Ring), 1974; pg. 256. Mallinson (Mally’s Cotswold Morris Book), 1976; No. 12, pg. 12. Williamson (English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish Fiddle Tunes), 1976; pg. 21.

                       

SWAGGERING JIG [1], THE (“An Port Bagarac” or “Port na Buaiceála”). AKA and see “Drunken Gauger [1],” "Girls take care how you marry," “Give Us a Drink of Water [2],” “In debt in the public house,” “Jockey has gotten a wife,” "Just at/in the height of her bloom," “McDonnell’s Rant” (O’Farrell), "The Noggin of Cream," "Oh! The Marriage;," “Pol ruadh,” “An Seanduine Coileáilte” (Breathnach - CRÉ II, 98), "The Silly Old Man," “Taim in Arrears,” "Taim in Arreir dTigh an Oil," "Tiggit along the Room," “The Virgin Queen,” "Welcome the Piper.” Irish, Slip Jig. G Major. Standard. AAB (most versions): AABB (Kennedy). There are several jigs with the title “Swaggering Jig.” Words have been set to the tune, these from the band Dervish:

***

I went to the fair of Bellaghy,

I bought a wee swag of a pig,

I gathered it up in my arms,

and danced the swaggering jig.

And it's high to the top of the heather,

and high to the but of the sprig,

and high to the bonnie wee lassie

who danced the swaggering jig.

***

As I went to the fair of Bellaghy,

I bought a wee slip of a pig,

and being down by the poor house,

I whistled the swaggering jig.

And it's high to the cups and the saucers,

and high to the butter and bread,

and high to the bonnie wee lassie

who danced the swaggering jig.

***

I being down by the poor house,

I whistled so loud and so shrill,

I made all the fairies to tremble

that lived around Corcoran's hill.

And it's high to the top of the heather

and high to the but of the sprig,

and high to the bonnie wee lassie

who danced the swaggering jig.

***

Sources for notated versions: “From Mrs. Close” [Stanford/Petrie]; Bothy Band [Sullivan]. Kennedy (Fiddler’s Tune-Book: Slip Jigs and Waltzes), 1999; No. 81, pg. 19. O'Neill (O’Neill’s Irish Music), 1915/1987; No. 220, pg. 117. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 79. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 1118, pg. 211. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 413, pg. 82. Roche Collection, 1982, Vol. 2; No. 269, pg. 28. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 961, pg. 245. Sullivan (Session Tunes), Vol. 3; No. 10, pg. 5. Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, Book Two), 1999; pg. 41. Vallely (Learn to Play the Fiddle with Armagh Pipers Club), 197?; No. 29, pg. 29. Green Linnet Records SIF 1058, Matt Molloy & Sean Keane ‑ "Contentment is Wealth" (1985). Kells Music 9502, Dervish – “Harmony Hill.”

X:1

T:Swaggering Jig, The [1]

M:9/8

L:1/8

R:Slip Jig

K:G

d|BGG AGE DEG|BGG GFG A2d|BGG AGE DEG|cBA BGE D2:|

d|Bdd dge dBG|Bdd dBG A2d|Bdd dge dBG|cBA BGE D2d|

Bdd dge dBG|Bdd dBG A2d|gfe ded cBA|cBA BGE D2||

 

SWAGGERING JIG [2], THE (Port na Buaiceála). Irish, Slip Jig. E Minor. Standard. AABB. Breathnach points out the name was often used for jigs, although he does not think this particular tune is the same as he found printed in other collections. It is related in the first part to “Rakes of Drumlish [1].” Breathnach (CRÉ IV), 1996; No. 39, pg. 21.

 

SWAGGERING JIG [3].  Irish, Slip Jig. Giblin (Collection of Traditional Irish Dance Tunes), 1928; 78.

                       


"SWALLOW," SLOOP OF WAR. AKA and see “The Swallow [1].” American, Reel. D Major. Standard. AB. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 48. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 75.

X:1

T:”Swallow,” Sloop of War

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

R:Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (1883)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

(FD)FA d2 de | fdgf eEEG | (FD)FA d2de | (fa)ef d<d d2 | (FD)FA d2 de | fdgf eEEG |

(FD)FA d2 de | (fa)ef d<d d2 || fdfd afdf | egfe dBAg | fdfd afdf | (eg)fe d<d d2 |

fdfd afdf | egfe dBAG | FDFA dfag | (fd)ef d<d d2 ||

                       

SWALLOW [1], THE. AKA and see “Swallow, Sloop of War.” Scottish, Reel. D Major. Standard. AAB (Gow, Skye): AABB' (Athole). John Glen (1891) finds the earliest printing of the tune in Neil Stewart's 1761 collection (pg. 36). Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 527. Gow (Complete Repository), Part 2, 1802; pg. 37. MacDonald (The Skye Collection), 1887; pg. 63. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 84. Green Linnet GLCD 1127, “Martin Hayes” (1993).

X:1

T:Swallow, The

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

B:The Athole Collection

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

A|FD F/G/A d2 d>g|f2 d>f eEEA|FD F/G/A d2 d>g|faef dDD:|

|:g|fefg aeeg|fdgf e>EE>g|1 fefg aeeg fdec dDD:|2 fefg abag|fdec dDD||

 

SWALLOW [2], THE. AKA and see "Ballyket Courthouse," "Barry's Fancy," "Kathleen's Fiddle," "Micho Russell's Favorite," "Rattigan's,"  "St. Andrew's." Irish, Reel. Irish, Reel. G Major (also played in F Major). Standard tuning. AABB. Cló Iar-Chonnachta CICD 167, Peter Horan & Gerry Harrington – “The Merry Love to Play” (2007). Green Linnet GLCD 1127, “Martin Hayes” (1993). Three Men and a Dog - "Shifting Gravel." Moher - "Out on the Ocean."

 

SWALLOW [3], THE. American, Country Dance Tune. May be the tune in version #1. Printed by John Carr in his American-published First Book of Cotillions (1801). Maggie’s Music MMCD216, Hesperus - “Early American Roots” (1997).

                       

SWALLOWTAIL COAT, THE. AKA and see "The Family Estate," "The Girl with the Handsome Face,” "Joshua Gray," "McKenna's Reel," "Miss Wright's Reel," "Mollie's Bonnet," "Molloy's Night Cap," "Pigeon on the Gate [1]," "The Pride of the Ball," "The Queen's Wedding," "Steeple Chase [1]," “The Swallow’s Tail Reel,” “The Swallowtail Coat,” "Take your Hand Away," "The Village Reel."

                       

SWALLOWTAIL JIG [1], THE. Irish, American; Jig. USA, western Pennsylvainia. A Dorian. Standard tuning. AB (Bayard): AABB (Carlin, Phillips). See Bayard's (1944) note for "Red Brick House in Georgia Town" for extensive notes on this tune family. Source for notated version: fiddler Tom McCreesh with Fennig's All Star String Band (N.Y.) [Phillips]. Bayard (Hill Country Tunes), 1944; No. 45. (appears as "Swallow Tail"). Carlin (Master Collection), 1984; No. 238, pg. 138. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes) Vol. 2, 1995; pg. 381.

 


SWALLOWTAIL JIG [2], THE (Drioball na Fáinleoige). AKA and see "From the New (Next) Country," "Swallow's Nest [1]," "The Dancing Master." Irish, English, Canadian, American; Double Jig. USA; New England, southwestern Pa. E Dorian (most versions): A Dorian (Allan's): B Minor (Shears). Standard tuning. AB (Bayard): AABB (most versions). A popular tune in Ireland, Britain and North America, especially with beginners, although often considered too hackneyed for session play. The title (in conjunction with the alternate title in O’Neill’s, “The Dancing Master”) may possibly refer to the type of coat typically worn the by early 19th century dancing master. Bayard (1981) identifies as another member of the "protean" "Welcome Home" tune family. Ken Perlman (1979) dates “Swallowtail Jig” to the mid‑nineteenth century (perhaps on the strength of its appearance in Kerr’s c. 1880’s collection), and says it is often used as the vehicle for Northumbrian sword dancing (for five dancers with two‑handled swords). See also related tune “Dromey’s Fancy.” Source for notated versions: Hiram Horner (fifer from Westmoreland and Fayette Counties, Pa., 1960); Thomas Hoge (fiddler and fifer from Greene County, Pa., 1948); Amasiah Thomas (elderly fiddler from Jefferson County, Pa., 1952) [Bayard]; Winston Fitzgerald (1914-1987, Cape Breton) [Cranford]. Allan's Irish Fiddler, No. 21, pg. 6 (appears as "Swallow's Nest"). Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle), 1981; No. 594A‑C, pgs. 522‑523. Brody, 1983; pg. 270. Carlin (Master Collection), 1984; No. 239, pg. 139 (appears as "Swallowtail Jig #2"). Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 69. Cranford (Winston Fitzgerald), 1997; No. 193, pg. 76. DeVille, 1905; No. 52. Jarman (Old Time Fiddlin' Tunes); No. or pg. 17. S. Johnson (The Kitchen Musician No. 6: Jigs), 1982 (revised 1989, 2001); pg. 8. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 2; No. 271, pg. 29. Miller & Perron (New England Fiddlers Repertoire), 1983; No. 51. Reavy (The Collected Compositions of Ed Reavy), 1979; No. 28. Reiner (Anthology of Fiddle Styles), 1979; pg. 50. Robbins, 1933; No. 143. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 100. Shears (The Gathering of the Clans Collection, vol. 1), 1986; pg. 65 (pipe setting). Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; pg. 155. Spandaro (10 Cents a Dance), 1980; pg. 22. Sweet (Fifer’s Delight), 1965/1981; pg. 31. White's Unique Collection, 1896; No. 42. White's Excelsior Collection, 1907; pg. 22. Fretless 101, "The Campbell Family: Champion Fiddlers" (1977). Front Hall 05, Fennigs All Stars‑ "Saturday Night in the Provinces" (1975). Gael-Linn CEF 045, “Paddy Keenan” (1975). Kicking Mule KM-228, Bonnie Phipps – “Autoharpin” (1982). Living Folk LFR-100, MacArthur Family – “On the Mountains High” (1971). Transatlantic 341, Dave Swarbrick‑ "Swarbrick 2."

See also listings at:

Alan Snyder’s Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index

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

Alan Ng’s Irishtune.info

X:1

T:Swallow Tail

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:White’s Unique Collection (1896), No. 38

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:E Minor

(E/F/) | GEE BEE | GEE BAG | FDD ADD | d^cd AGF | GEE BEE |

GEE (B2^c) | d^cd AGF | (GE)E E2 :: B | B^c^d e2f | efe =d2B |

B^c^d e2f | (ed)B d3 | B^c^d e2f | e2f edB | d^cd AGF | (GE)E E2 :|

                       

SWALLOWTAIL REEL. AKA and see "Swallow's Tail Reel."

                       

SWALLOWS IN FLIGHT. AKA and see “Bog of Allen.” “Tailor’s Thimble.” Irish, Double Jig. The tune was miss-attributed as a composition of Gerry Harrington; it is actually the jig “Banks of Allan,” a Scottish tune that can be found in  Kerr’s collection. According to Paul de Grae, an honest mistake after a long day’s recording, when a tune title eluded Mr. Harrington who thought he might have penned the melody. Spin CD1001, Eoghan O’Sullivan, Gerry Harrington, Paul De Grae - “The Smoky Chimney” (1996).

X:1

T:Swallows in Flight

R:jig

C:Gerry Harrington (actually a misattribution-the tune is “Banks of Allan”).

D:The Smokey Chimney
Z:Harrington and de Grae sounds in B flat on the record

Z:however, the fiddle is tuned down 2 steps (i.e. played in the ‘D’ postion)

M:6/8

L:1/8

K:D

F2F FED |FAA A2G |FGF FED |GBB BAG |FGA EFG |D2F
FED |G2B AFD |FEE
EDE :| |:~F FED|FAA A2d|Bcd Add|

~B AFE|~F FED|FAA A2d|Bcd AFD|FEE EDE:|

                       

SWALLOW'S NEST [1]. AKA and see “Dancing Master,” "Swallowtail Jig" [2].

 

SWALLOW’S NEST [2]. Irish, Jig. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB’. Composed by County Cavan/Philadelphia fiddler and composer Ed Reavy (1898-1988). Reavy (The Collected Compositions of Ed Reavy), No. 89, pg. 99.

X: 1

T:The Swallow's Nest

R:jig

C:Ed Reavy

M:6/8

L:1/8

Z:Joe Reavy

N:Ed could not explain why certain tunes became

N:jigs and not reels or hornpipes. His simple

N:retort was:

N:"I guess a jig was just meant to be a jig."

K:D

A/2c/2 | dcd gdc | dAG FED | FAd cAF | E=cE GFE | DFA dAF |

EGB efg | f/2f/2df gec | edc d2 :: f/2g/2 | a<ba fdf | gag ecA | fef gfg |

ecA GFE | DFA dAF | EGB efg |1 f/2f/2df geA | edc d2 :|2 f2 f gec | edc d2 :||

 

SWALLOW’S NEST [3], THE.  AKA and see “The Stolen Reel.” Irish, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Composed by County Tipperary accordion player Paddy O’Brien (1922-1991).

                       

SWALLOW’S RETURN, THE. Irish, Jig. Composed by the late County Tipperary fiddler Seán Ryan (d. 1985). Ryan (Seán Ryan’s Dream), 29.

 


SWALLOW'S TAIL REEL, THE ("An Earbuill Ainleog," "Earball an Ainleoige," “Driobhall na Fáinleoige” or "Eireaball na Fáinleoige"). AKA ‑ "Swallowtail Reel." AKA and see "The Family Estate," "The Girl with the Handsome Face,” "Joshua Gray," "McKenna's Reel," "Miss Wright's Reel," "Mollie's Bonnet," "Molloy's Night Cap," "Pigeon on the Gate [5]," "The Pride of the Ball," "The Queen's Wedding," "Steeple Chase [1]," “The Swallowtail Coat,” "Take Your Hand Away," "The Village Reel." Irish, New England, Shetland; Reel. Ireland; County Sligo, Kilkenny, Donegal, Tyrone. Shetland, Yell. A Dorian (Am). Standard tuning. AB (O'Neill/1850): AABB (Allan, Breathnach, Brody, Flaherty, Mallinson, Miller & Perron, O'Neill/Krassen, Sweet, Tolman, Tubridy). Similar to "Pride of the Ball." Mulvihill gives “Swallow’s Tail” as an accompaniment for the sixteen-hand reel. Caoimhin Mac Aoidh (1994) states the tune is more correctly called in County Donegal the “Swallow’s Tail Coat,” named after the long split-tail coats dancing masters wore. The late Donegal fiddler Danny O’Donnell (1910-2001) said that it was a very popular reel in his home of The Rosses, Donegal, for a particular type of dance, and that people in the lower Rosses knew it under the title “The Queen’s Wedding.” Breathnach (1985) gives titles for the tune in Ulster as “McKenna’s Reel,” “The Queen’s Wedding,” “Mollie’s Bonnet,” “Molloy’s Night Cap,” and “Joshua Gray.” Paddy Kelly (originally of Co. Tyrone) called the tune “McKenna’s Reel” after a local dancer named McKenna. The names under which it appears in O’Neill are “The Swallow’s Tail,” “The Steeplechase” and “Take your Hand Away,” while Ryan’s/Cole’s has it as “The Pigeon on the Gate” and “The Pride of the Ball.” P.W. Joyce collected the tune in the mid-19th century in Kilkenny; it appears as an untitled reel in D Mixolydian in his Old Irish Folk Music and Songs. Accordion player Joe Burke (b. 1939), originally from Coorhoor, above Loughrea in County Galway, has an early playing memory of fiddler Martin Hanny on a settle bed at a ‘station’ (house mass) fiddling this tune (Vallely & Piggott, Blooming Meadows, 1998), which so impressed him that he wished to get a similar sound on his accordion. See also the related melody “Grand Gates of Annesbrook.” Sources for notated versions: fiddler Michael Coleman (County Sligo/New York City) [Breathnach]; flute player Colm O'Donnell (b. 1962, Aclare, County Sligo) [Flaherty]. Allan's Irish Fiddler, No. 45, pg. 11. Breathnach (CRÉ III), 1985; No. 196, pg. 87. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 270. Flaherty (Trip to Sligo), 1990; pg. 14. Giblin (Collection of Traditional Irish Dance Music), 1928; 11. Lyth (Bowing Styles in Irish Fiddle Playing, vol. 1), 1981; 54. Mallinson (Enduring), 1995; No. 11, pg. 5. Miller & Perron (New England Fiddlers Repertoire), 1983; No. 128. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 38, pg.  126. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 108. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 1268, pg. 238. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 536, pg. 100. Sweet (Fifer’s Delight), 1965/1981; pg. 68. Tolman (Nelson Music Collection), 1969; pg. 10. Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, vol. 1), 1999; pg. 19. Edison 50604 (78 RPM), John H. Kimmel (accordion player from New York City), 1918 (appears as last tune of "Bonnie Kate Medley Reels"). Folkways FG 3575, Barry, Gorman, Ennis, and Heaney‑ "Irish Music in London Pubs." Gael-Linn CEF 045, “Paddy Keenan” (1975). Globestyle Irish CDORBD 085, The Kerry Fiddle Trio - “The Rushy Mountain” (1994. Reissue of Topic recordings). Shanachie 33002, Michael Coleman‑ "The Legacy of Michael Coleman." Sonet 764, Dave Swarbrick and Friends‑ "The Ceilidh Album.” Topic TSCD 602, K. Scanlon – “Irish Dance Music” (1995. A reissue of the 1929 original). Topic TSCD 669, Davie Rogerson (et al) – “Ranting and Reeling: Dance Music of the north of England” (1998. Northumbrian fiddler Rogerson was born in 1901). Ón tSean-Am Anall’ (Danny O’Donnell).

X:1

T:Swallowtail Reel

M:C|

L:1/8

K:A dor

gf|eA (3cBA eA cA|cd ef ge dB|G2 BG dG BG|Bd ef g2 fg|

eA (3cBA eA cA|cd ef g2fg|af ge dB GB|cA BG A2:|

|:cd|ea ag ab ag|ed ef ge dB|G BG dG BG|cd ef g2fg|

ea ag ab ag|ed ef g2fg|af ge dB GB|cA BG A2:|

                       

SWALWELL LASSES. English. England, Northumberland. The tune can be found in a notebook of the 19th century Northumbrian collector John Stokoe. Front Hall FHR‑08, Alistair Anderson ‑ "Traditional Tunes" (1976).

                       

SWAMP CAT RAG. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, north Ga. G Major. GDad tuning. AABB. The melody is known as a north Georgia tune, although Tony Russell says it appears to be a version of “Cotten-Eyed Joe [1].” The tune was recorded in 1930 by Lowe Stokes (1898-1933) with his band The Swamp Rooters, which included (among others) Bert Layne on fiddle and Arthur Tanner on banjo. Source for notated version: Liz Slade (Yorktown, New York) [Kuntz]. Kuntz, Private Collection. County 514, The Swamp Rooters (Lowe Stokes & Bert Layne) ‑ "Hell Broke Loose in Georgia" (orig. rec. in 1930). Document DOCD8045, Lowe Stokes in Chronological Order, vol. 1: 1927-1930 (1999 reissue). Global Village C‑302, Okey Dokey St. Band ‑ "New York City's 1st Annual String Band Contest ‑ November 1984."

X:1

T:Swamp Cat Rag

L:1/8

M:2/4

S:Liz Slade

N:GDad tuning

Z:Transcribed by Andrew Kuntz

K:G

A|B/A/B/c/ dB/(d/|d/)e/d/A/ B>A|B/A/B/c/ dB/d/|d/e/d/A/ B>A|B/A/B/c/ dB/d/|

d/e/d/d/ B>A|B/A/G/B/ A/G/E/G/|(A/ [GB]) ([G/B/] [GB]):|

|:(A|B/)A/G/D/ E/D/G/A/|B/G/B/(c/ c/)d/c/A/|B/A/G/D/ E/D/G/B/|(A/ [GB]) ([G/B/] [GB]):|

                       

SWAMPLAKE BREAKDOWN, THE. Canadian, Breakdown. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Messer (Anthology of Favorite Fiddle Tunes), 1980; No. 5, pg. 6.

                       

SWAN, THE. AKA and see "Sean Ryan's Fancy Hornpipe." Irish, Hornpipe. A Major (Ryan): G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. The tune is one of Tipperary fiddler Seán Ryan's compositions, and is sometimes played in the key of A Major. Ryan (Hidden Ireland), pg. 15. Taylor (Crossroads Dance), 1992; No. 55, pg. 42. Liz Doherty – “Last Orders” (learned from Fisherstreet). 

 

SWAN [2], THE.  English, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AA’BBCC. The melody appears in print in David Rutherford’s Choice Collection of Sixty of the Most Celebrated Country Dances (London, 1750), reprinted in his Compleat Collection of 200 Country Dances, vol. 2 (1760). Source for notated version: the 1779 music manuscript of James Biggins (Leeds, west Yorkshire) [Callaghan]. Callaghan (Hardcore English), 2007; pgs. 50 & 69.

                       

SWAN ON THE LAKE, THE. Irish, Hornpipe. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Composed by County Offaly musician Paddy O’Brien.

X:1

T:Swan on the Lake, The

M:4/4

L:1/8

R:Hornpipe

C:Paddy O’Brien (Co. Offaly)

K:G

(3DEF | GFGA B(GE)G | DGBd g2 (3def | gfge d(^ce)d | cEAG (FD)E(F |

{A}G)FGA B(GE)G | DGBd g2 (3def | (gf)ge d^ced | cDEF G2 :|

|: Bc | dg3~ DGB(g | e)d^ce d2 Bd | cEAc BDGB | A^GAB cABc |

d^c (3def gdba | gdBG (EG)ce | d2 Gd cBed | cDEF G2 :|

                       

SWAN SONG, THE (Tôn Alarch). Welsh. The tune is said to be an imitation of a swan’s song, sung only just before it dies. Flying Fish FF70610, Robin Huw Bowen – “Telyn Berseiniol Fy Ngwlad/The Sweet Harp of My Land” (1996. From Edward Jones’ second book The Bardic Museum {1802}).

                       

SWANS AMONG THE RUSHES. Irish, Double Jig. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. A modern composition by County Cavan/Philadelphia fiddler and composer Ed Reavy (1898-1988). The jig was called for some reason the “Flock of Wild Geese” on the Rounder “Reavy” album with Brendan Mulvihill and Billy McComiskey, whose band The Irish Tradition also recorded it on their l