The Fiddler’s
Companion
© 1996-2008 Andrew Kuntz
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SW - SY |
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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
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
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.
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.
|
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)
B^c^d e2f |
(ed)B d3 | B^c^d e2f | e2f edB | d^cd AGF | (GE)
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
~B AFE|~F FED|FAA A2d|Bcd AFD|FEE
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
SWALLOW’S
RETURN, THE. Irish, Jig. Composed by the late
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,
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.
SWAMP CAT RAG. Old‑Time, Breakdown.
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
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 (
SWAN ON THE
X:1
T:Swan on
the
M:4/4
L:1/8
R:Hornpipe
C:Paddy O’Brien (
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