The Fiddler’s Companion

© 1996-2008 Andrew Kuntz

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TA

[COMMENT1] 

[COMMENT2] 

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, 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]

 

 

 

T. P. FEAHAN’S FAVORITE. Irish, Slide (12/8 time). E Dorian. Standard tuning. AAB. Treoir.

X: 1

T: T.P. Feahan's Favorite

S: "Treoir"

M: 12/8

L: 1/8

R: Slide

Z: Transcribed by Bill Black

K: Edor

B | efe B2 A GFE B2 A | FED A2 D d2 F A2 B |

efe B2 A GFE B2 A | FED AFA E3 E2 :|

A | B2 e ede f2 a afa | baf a2 f e2 d B2 A |

B2 e ede f2 a afa | baf a2 f e3 e2 B/A/ |

B2 e ede f2 a afa | baf a2 f e2 d B2 g |

faf f2 e efe B2 A | FED FAF E3 E2 ||[COMMENT3] [COMMENT4] 

 

T-AISEADH DO DH'EIREANN, AN. AKA and see "Crossing to Ireland." Cape Breton, Waltz or Air. G Aeolian/E Minor (Cape Breton versions) or F Minor (Fraser). Standard. AAB. Source for notated version: Winston Fitzgerald (Cape Breton) [Dunlay and Reich]. Dunlay and Reich (Traditional Celtic Fiddle Music of Cape Breton), 1986; pg. 57. Fraser (The Airs and Melodies Peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland and the Isles), 1874; No. 95, pg. 36 (appears in 12/8 time). Celtic 59 (SCX 57), Winston Fitzgerald‑ "A Selection of Winston Fitzgerald."

 

T-ATAIR SEAGAN BREATNEAC. AKA and see "Father Jack Walsh," "Tatter Jack Walsh."

 

T-ATAIR UA CEARBAILL, AN. AKA and see "Father O'Carroll."

 

T EN AS EN MAIS T EN AURAS PLUS. Cajun, Reel. G Major. Standard. AA. Greenblatt (The Cajun Fiddle Tune Book), 1985; pg. 21.

 

TÁ AN COILEACH AG FÓGAIRT AN LAE [1] (The Cock is Announcing the Day). Irish, Jig. G Major. Standard. AABB. Source for notated version: fiddler Jim Mulqueeny (Kilfenora, Co. Clare) [Breathnach]. Breathnach (CRE II), 1976; No. 68 [1], pg. 38.

 

TÁ AN COILEACH AG FÓGAIRT AN LAE [2] (The Cock is Announcing the Day). AKA and see "When the Cock Crows it is Day [3]," "The Big Bow Wow," "The Beardless Boy," "The Dissipated Youth [1]," "Kate Kearney," "Seanbhean Chrion an Drantain." Irish, Jig. G Major. Standard. AABB. Similar to version #1, especially in the 'A' part. Breathnach (1985) finds nearly the same tune in the Darley & McCall Collection of Irish Music (1914) under the title “When the Cock Crows it is Day.” Aird (Selections, iii, pg. 190) gives is as “The Big Bow Wow.” Breathnach also states the O’Farrell’s setting of “When the Cock…” in his National Music (pgs. 20-21) explains the relationship with Bunting’s “Dissapated Youth,” O’Farrell’s own “Kate Kearney” (Pocket Companion, ii, pg. 132), and “Seanbhean Chríon an Drantáin.”  See also the related “Be easy, you rogue,” and “The Priest with the Collar.” Source for notated version: piper Seamas Ennis (Dublin, Ireland) [Breathnach]. Breathnach (CRE II), 1976; No. 68 [2], pg. 38. Vallely (Play Tin Whistle with the Armagh Pipers Club), vol. 1, 21.

 

TÁ AN TEINE GAN COIGILT. Irish, Air (3/4 time). A Flat Major. Standard. AB. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 1521, pg. 381.

 

TÁ BEAN AGAM FEM. AKA and see "I Have a Wife of My Own."

 

TÁ BOINÉAD AGAM. AKA and see "I Have a Bonnet Trimmed with Blue [1]."

 

TÁ BOTAININ AGAM-RA (I Have a Cottage on the Verge of the Mountain). Irish, Air (6/8 time). E Flat Major/Mixolydian. Standard. One part. Source for notated version: T. Mc Mahon [Petrie]. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 1505, pg. 376.

 

TÁ CAILIN AR AN BFIAD. Irish, Air (2/4 time). E Flat Mixolydian. Standard. AB. Source for notated version: “From Mac Mahon” [Petrie]. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 1502, pg. 376.

                          

TÁ CORNAÍ AG TEACHT. AKA and see “Corney is Coming.”

 


CRANN AR AN gCOILL (There is a Tree in the Wood). Irish, Air (9/8 time). G Major/Mixolydian. Standard. One part. O'Sullivan (1983) says the tune is one of a number of airs in the 9/8 meter used as the vehicles for folk songs, "the most celebrated being "Bean an fhir ruaidh" (The Redhaired Man's Wife). Source for notated version: the Irish collector Edward Bunting noted both music and words from blind Redmond Stanton, Westport, Co. Mayo, in 1802, according to the index of his 1840 collection. O'Sullivan/Bunting, 1983; No. 52, pgs. 81-82.

                       

TÁ CROTUIR AG TEACT. AKA and see "Corney is Coming."

                       

TÁ DHA GABHAIRIN BUI AGAM. Irish.

X:1

T:Ta Dha Gabhairin Bui Agam

M:C

L:1/8

K:G

DE | G2 GA B2 d2 | cBAG BAGA | B2 A2 A2 GA | B2 A2 A2 BA |
G2 GA B2 d2 | cBAG Bc AB | G2 E2 E2 DE | G2 E2 E2 ||

                       

TÁ DHA UILLIAM DAIBHIS ANNSAN AITSE. AKA and see "There Are Two William Davis's in This Place."

                       

TÁ DO MHARGADH DEANTA (Your Match Has Been Made). AKA and see “The Bargain is Over,” “(The/Your) Match Has Been Made.” Irish, Jig. Ireland, County Donegal. In Donegal, the tune is a ‘hauling home’ tune, played after the ceremony to bring the newlywed couple to their home. See also note for “Wedding Jig.”

                       

TÁ FÁINNE AIR. AKA and see “The Gold Ring [1],” “The Pharroh or War March.”

 

TÁ FIOS AGAM GO DE IS MAIT LEAT. AKA and see "I Know What You Like."

 

TÁ GLEAN BEG DRAIDEACTA (There is a little enchanted glen that I know). Irish, Air (4/4 time). F Major. Standard. AB. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 1524, pg. 381.

 

TÁ MO GHRÁ I MEIRICEÁ. AKA and see “My Love is in America.”

 

TÁ NEAIC BEO. AKA and see “Jack’s Alive [1].”

 

TÁ ME I n-EAGMAIS ACH IOCF ADH ME FOS (I'm in debt but I'll pay them yet). AKA and see "Dissipated Youth" [2], "Moll Roe [3]," "Taim in Arrears," "The Monks of the Screw." Irish, Air (9/8 time). A Major. Standard. AB. No words have been found for this song-air. The alternate titles are variants of this melody, save for the "Dissipated Youth," which is the name Bunting affixed to the piece in his MS. He had previously printed a tune called "Dissipated Youth" in his 1796 collection but there is no connection between this melody and his earlier one. Source for notated version: the indes to the Irish collector Edward Bunting's 1840 collection gives the melody from "Mrs. B. at Oranmore, Co. Galway in 1839." O'Sullivan/Bunting, 1983; No. 141, pg. 197.

 

TÁ ME MA CHULLA’S NA DOUSHE ME. AKA and see “I am asleep and don't waken me [2].”

 

TÁ ME MO CHODLADH. AKA and see "I am asleep and don't waken me."

 

TÁ ME SASTA LE M' STAID. AKA and see "I'm Content With My Lot." See also "A Day after the Fair," "Contentment is Wealth."


 

TÁ MO CHLEAMHNAS DEANTA. Irish, Air. The air contains complete verses in English and Irish Gaelic, though according to Sean Ó Boyle (1976) the English ones are usually a translation or adaptation of the preceding Gaelic ones.  O Boyle contents the song reflects the bilingual period in the historical process of the supplanting of Gaelic by English in Ireland. The words (as recorded by the band Altan) begin:

***

Tá mo chleamhnas ‘a dhéanamh inniu agus inné

‘S ní mó ná go dtaitníonn an bhean udaí liom féin

Ach fuigfidh mé mo dhiaidh í, ‘s rachaidh mé leat féin

Síos fána coillte craobhaigh.

***

A match was a-making here last night

And it isn’t with the girl that I love the best

I’ll leave her behind and I’ll go along with you

Down by the banks of the ocean.

 

TÁ MO CHROIDHE CHOMH CHIAR DUBH LE H-AIRNE. AKA and see "My Heart is as Black as a Sloe."

 

TÁ MO GRAD GEAL IMTIGTE. AKA and see "The Gallant White Horseman."

 

TÁ MO MADRA. AKA and see “Beid Ril Againn De Domnaig,” Billy O’Rourke’s the Buachaill [1].”  AKA – “Ta mo Mhadra.” Irish, Slide (12/8 time). D Major. Standard. AABB. The song “Poor Nancy Died” goes to this tune. Source for notated version: New Jersey flute player Mike Rafferty, born in Ballinakill, Co. Galway, in 1926 [Harker]. Harker (300 Tunes from Mike Rafferty), 2005; No. 290, pg. 93.

 

TÁ MO MUIRNIN IN AMERICA. AKA and see "My Love is in America."

 

TÁ NA CAIMBÉALAIGH AG TEACHT. AKA and see "The Campbells are Coming [2]."

                       

TÁ NA LA. AKA and see “It is Day,” “Paddy, Will You Now?”

                       

TÁ NA LONGA AG SEOLAD. AKA and see "The Ships are Sailing."

 

TÁ RMOILIN I TEIUMAIR & etc., A. Irish, Air (3/4 time). F Mixolydian. Standard. One part. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 1515, pg. 379.

 

TÁ SEÁINÍN BAILITHE LEIS CHUN NA FRAINCE. AKA and see “Johnny’s Gone to France [3].”

 

TÁ SEÁINÍN I NGRÁ LE MAILÍ. AKA and see “Johnny Loves Molly.”

 

TÁ SI AG IMTEACD. AKA and see "Off She Goes [1]."

 

TAAN SIOC IMTIGTE. AKA and see "The Frost is All Over [1]."

 

TABAIR DAM POG A CAIT. AKA and see "Kiss Me Kate."

 

TABAIR DO'M POG A TEAGAIR. AKA and see "Kiss Me Sweetheart."

 

TABAIR DUINN CEANN EILE. AKA and see "Give Us Another."

 

TABAIR DUINN DEOC UISGE. AKA and see "Give Us a Drink of Water [1]."

 

TABHAIR AMACH AGUS TAISPEÁIN DON SAOL Í. AKA and see “Take Her Out and Air Her [2].”

                       

TABHAIR CASADH DI SA CHOCA FÉIR.  AKA and see “Roll Her in the Haystack.”

 

TABHAIR CASADH SA LUACHAIR DI. AKA and see “Roll Her in the Rushes [2].”

                       


TABHAIR DOM DO LÁMH. See "Give Me Your Hand."

                       

TABHAIR PÓG DON BHRÍDEOIG SA LEABA (Kiss the Maid in Bed). AKA and see “Kiss the Bride in the Bed,” “Kiss the Maid in Bed.”

                       

TABLE MOUNTAIN ROAD. Old-Time, Breakdown. One of a family of tunes that includes "Brown's Dream,” “Brownstream,” Herv Brown’s Dream,” Jimmy Johnson Pass That Jug Around the Hill,” John Brown's Dream,” “Little Rabbit Pretty Little Gal [1],” “Stillhouse Branch” and others. The tune family is a common a popular one in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where it probably originated but has since been disseminated.

                       

TABLEAU, THE. Canadian, English?; Clog. G Major ('A' part) & D Major ('B' part). Standard. AABB. Hardings All-Round, 1905; No. 163, pg. 52. Messer (Way Down East), 1948; No. 87. Messer (Anthology of Favorite Fiddle Tunes), 1980; No. 163, pg. 110.

X: 1

T:Tableau Clog

R:Hornpipe

M:4/4

L:1/8

Z:Transcribed by Bruce Osborne

K:G

(3def|a>gd>B A>GB>d|f>ec>A E2_E2|D>FA>g f>ed>e|B>c^c>d e>de>f|

a>gd>B A>GB>d|f>ec>A E2_E2|D>FA>g f>dA>d|G2B2 G2:|

K:D

B>_B|A>gB>^B c>ba>g|f>ad>f B>Af>d|c>eA>c G>Ac>B|A>B (3cde f>dA>F|

A>gB>^B c>ba>g|f>ad>f B>Af>d|c>Bg>e (3dcB (3ABc|d2f2 d2:|

           

TABLIER DU MACON, LE (The Mason's Apron). AKA and see "The Mason's Apron." French-Canadian, Reel. The melody is widely played in the Province of Québec. Green Linnett GLCD 3042, La Bottine Souriante - "Chic & Swell" (1988).

           

TABOUR. Old‑Time, Breakdown. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Ford (Traditional Music in America), 1940; pg. 91.

X:1

T:Tabour

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:Ford – Traditional Music in America (1940)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

DEGA|BA/G/ EG|AA A2|A/B/A/G/ EG|DEGA|BB/A/ Bd|

ee d2|A/B/A/D/ G2::efgf|e/f/e/d/ Bd|ee d2|A/B/A/G/ EG|

efgf|e/f/e/d/ Bd|ee d>B|AG G2:|

                       

TADEEN THE DONKEY. AKA and see “Taidhgín an Asail.”

           

TADEEN THE FIDDLER’S JIG. AKA and see “Taidhgín an Asail.”

           

TADHG A RUN. AKA and see “Irish Hautboy,” “Lisdoonvarna Reel,” Primrose Girl [1],” “Rose in the Garden [1],” “Smuggler’s Reel.” AKA – “Tadhg a Rúin.” Irish, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Miller (Fiddler’s Throne), 2004; No. 252, pg. 152 (appears as “Tadhg a Rúin”).

See also listing at: 

Alan Ng’s Irishtune.info

           

TADG AN TONCASTAC. AKA and see "Tim the Turncoat."

           

TADG AN TUIGEADOIR. AKA and see "Tim the Thatcher."

           

TADG OG UA MURCADA. AKA and see "Young Tim Murphy."

 

TADOUSSAC.  See “Reel de Tadoussac.”

           

TADY YOU GANDER. AKA and see "Daniel of the Sun."

           

TADY'S WATTLE (Maide Taidgin). AKA – “Tadie’s Wattle.” AKA and see “Comely Jane Downing,” "Maide Taidgin," “Tor(r)y Burn Lasses,” "Torryburn." Irish, Scottish; Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AAB. 'Tady' i.e. Teddy, from Theodore. ‘Wattle’ refers to a stick. John Glen (1891) finds the earliest appearance of the tune in print in James Aird's 1782 collection. Aird (Selections), vol. 2, c. 1786; Pg. 5, No. 14 (appears as “Tadie’s Wattle”). O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 134. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 1416, pg. 263. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems) 1907/1986; No. 653, pg. 117.

X:1

T:Tady’s Wattle

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:O’Neill – Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems (1907), No. 653

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

G2 BG BddB|{d}cBcd efge|GBdG Bdgd|ecBc A2G2:|

||g2 (3aga bggd|{f}edef gdBG|g2 (3aga bggd|edcB A2G2|

bgaf gfed|egfa gedB|GBAc Bdgd|ecBc A2G2||

           

TAE AB'EA A THEASTAIONN IS TÚ TINN?  AKA and see "When sick is it tea you want? [1]"

           

TAE AR MAIDIN. AKA and see "Tea in the Morning."

           

TAE GLAS. AKA and see “Green Tea.”

           

TAFARN YR YSGUB. See “The Wheatsheaf.”

           

TAGGART’S HORNPIPE.  American, Hornpipe. B Flat Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Composed by New Hampshire fiddler John Taggart (1854-1943). Source for notated version: the 1938 typewritten manuscript of New Hampshire fiddler John Taggart, entitled “Recollections of a Busy Life” (New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord, N.H.) [Miller]. Miller (Fiddler’s Throne), 2004; No. 316, pg. 186. New Hampshire Fiddler’s Union, Miller & Peery – “The Music of John Taggart” (1989).

 

TAGGART’S REEL [1].  American, Reel. A Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: the 1938 typewritten manuscript of New Hampshire fiddler John Taggart (1854-1943), entitled “Recollections of a Busy Life” (New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord, N.H.) [Miller]. Miller (Fiddler’s Throne), 2004; No. 253, pg. 153. New Hampshire Fiddler’s Union, Miller & Peery – “The Music of John Taggart” (1989).

 

TAGGART’S REEL [2].  American, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: the 1938 typewritten manuscript of New Hampshire fiddler John Taggart (1854-1943), entitled “Recollections of a Busy Life” (New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord, N.H.) [Miller]. Miller (Fiddler’s Throne), 2004; No. 254, pg. 153. New Hampshire Fiddler’s Union, Miller & Peery – “The Music of John Taggart” (1989).

 

TAGGART’S REEL [3].  American, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: the 1938 typewritten manuscript of New Hampshire fiddler John Taggart (1854-1943), entitled “Recollections of a Busy Life” (New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord, N.H.) [Miller]. Miller (Fiddler’s Throne), 2004; No. 255, pg. 155. New Hampshire Fiddler’s Union, Miller & Peery – “The Music of John Taggart” (1989).

 


TAIBHSE CHONAILL (Conall’s Ghost). Irish. Ireland, Teelin area, County Donegal. Fiddler Con Cassidy told the story of three men who were making poitin from a still they had situated by a stream. The first batch of the brew had just been deemed satisfactory by a taste test when a thick fog came down from Sliabh Liag and obscured the area. Not wanting to become disoriented, they set out for home, but one man, Conall, became separated from the other two and did become lost. While he was wandering he heard all the while a piper playing a tune, and being musical he picked it up, and when he finally did make it home he found he could still play the tune. The folk about thought the piper to have been a fairy piper and from that time on called the tune “Taibhse Chonaill” (Caoimhin Mac Aoidh, 1994). A version of this tune was also in the repertoire of Donegal fiddler John Doherty as “The Ghost of Bunglass.”

           

TAIDHGÍN AN ASAIL’S JIG (Port Thaidhgín an Asail). AKA and see “The Child’s Ramble to the Cat’s Saucer,” “The Kitchen with No Food,” ”Tadeen the Donkey,” “Tadeen the Fiddler’s Jig,” “Where is the Cat?” Irish, Slide (12/8 time). G Major. Standard. AABB. Taidhgín an Asail (Tadeen the Fiddler), or Tadhg Ó Buachalla, was a blind Sliabh Luachra fiddle player from whom Tom Billy Murphy (1879-1944), the influential west Kerry fiddler (father of Dennis Murphy and Julia Clifford), learned his music. Tom Billy called the tune “The Kitchen with No Food” and usually followed it with “The Lonesome Road” (Moylan). Source for notated version: Tom Billy Murphy via accordion player Johnny O’Leary (Sliabh Luachra region of the Cork-Kerry border) [Moylan]; fiddler Denis Murphy, 1967 (Gneeveguilla, County Kerry, Ireland) [Breathnach]. Breathnach (CRÉ II), 1976; No. 38, pg. 22. Moylan (Johnny O’Leary), 1994; No. 251, pgs. 144-145. Mulvihill (First Collection), 1986; No. 10 in slide section (untitled). Globestyle Irish CDORBD 085, Jackie Daly - “The Rushy Mountain” (1994. Reissue of Topic recordings). Ossian OSS CD 130, Sliabh Notes – “Along Blackwater’s Banks” (2002). Topic 12T357, “Jackie Daly” (appears as “Where is the Cat?”).

           

TAIGEIS AGUS DEALG INNT/INNTE. AKA and see "The Haggis."

           

TAIGH AN DROMA. AKA and see "Tyndrum."

           

TAIGH BHEALLADRUM. AKA and see "Belladrum House."

           

TAIGH IAIN GROT. AKA and see "John o'Groat's House."

           

TAIGHEAN GEALA SHEILDAIG. See "The White Houses of Sheildaig."

           

TAIGHNEAS AG AN GCROSBHOTHAR, AN. AKA and see "The Dispute at the Crossroads."

           

TAIL OF HALLEY'S COMET. Old‑Time, Breakdown. Halley’s comet travels on a 76 year elipse, and last visited Earth in 1986—although it was disappointingly dim. Some years however, the comet is quite spectacular, as it was in the year 1066 when the comet was so bright that it terrified millions of Europeans and was widely credited with the Norman victory at the Battle of Hastings. The tune by the Hayseeds was probably inspired by the appearance of 1910. Marimac 9110, The Happy Hayseeds ‑ "It'll Never Happen Again: Old Time String Bands, vol. 1" (orig. rec. 1930).

           

TAIL OF MY COAT, THE. Irish, Double Jig. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 4; No. 220, pg. 24.

X:1

T:Tail of My Coat, The

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:Kerr – Merry Melodies, vol. 4, No. 220  (c. 1880’s)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

B3d3 | ece d3 | B3d3 | cBc ABc | B3d3 | ece d3 | gfe dcB | ABG FED :|

|: GBd dBd | ece dBG | GBd dBG | EAG FED | GBd dBd | ece def |

gfe dcB | ABG FED :|

           


TAIL TOD(D)LE. AKA and see "Lasses Gar Your Tails Toddle," “Little Wot Ye Wha’s Coming.” Scottish; Air, Reel or Strathspey; Welsh?, Reel. D Major {Kerr, Martin, Williamson}: G Major {Aird}: C Major {Jones}: A Mixolydian ('A', 'B', 'E' and 'F' parts) & A Minor ('C' and 'D' parts) {Gow}. Standard tuning. AAB (Gow/Repository): AABB (Jones, Martin): AABBCCDD (Aird): AABBCCDDEEFF (Gow/First Collection). The earliest printings of the melody are in the Sinkler Manuscript of 1710 (where it is an untitled tune) and the Drummond Castle Manuscript (in the possession of the Earl of Ancaster at Drummond Castle), of 1734, inscribed "A Collection of the best Highland Reels written by David Young, W.M. & Accomptant." It was printed by Young with variation sets, as it was in  James Aird's Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs (vol. 2, 1782—sometimes dated 1785—, No. 97), as well as in Gow’s First Collection of 1784. Gow attributed the melody to “the late Mr. Nisbet of Dirleton” in his 1784 publication, but in a later publication said it was “supposedly Welsh.” Robin Williamson included it in 1976 book in a section on Welsh tunes, apparently on the strength of the Gow remark, albeit in a Scots setting, and suggested that the title might have been a garbled version of an original Welsh title. William Nisbet died in January of 1783 (thus Gow’s “late Mr. Nisbet”), and clearly, versions of the tune predate him, making the attribution erroneous. He was the husband of Mary Hamilton of Pencaitland, whom he married in 1747 in a union of two powerful East Lothian families, and was a Freemason and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland in 1746-1747. Johnson (1984) says that William was also an amateur musician who was a member of the Edinburgh Musical Society for much of his life. It may be that he enjoyed playing the tune, and it became associated with him, at least in the Gows’ minds. Period tunes were also composed for Nisbet’s daughter—see “Miss Nisbet of Dirleton” and “Miss Nisbet of Dirleton’s Minuet.”

***

English printings followed the earliest Scottish ones fairly quickly. It appears, for example, in Walsh’s Third Book of the Compleat Country Dancing Master (London, 1735). Walsh printed it again in his Caledonian Country Dances, book 1, under the title “Fiddle Faddle,” and, again as “Tail Todle” in his 1749 Compleat Country Dancing Master, Volume the Third. The latter publication was part of a series of reissues of his older publications, with tunes arranged in new sequences. A Northumbrian version, “Little Wot Ye Wha’s Coming” appears in Northumbrian Minstrelsy (1882).

***

Whatever its original provenance, “Tail Todle” became very popular in Scotland and was played there as a reel or a song. The song was a bawdy one, to be sung by a girl about how Tammy made her tail todle. The reel-setting of the tune is particularly associated with Scottish sword dancing (as is "G(h)illie Callum"). Words, which appear in Merry Muses of Caledonia (1799) and the Scots Musical Museum (No. 572), to the song go:

***

O tail toddle, tail toddle,                       

Tammy gars my tail toddle,                        (gar = make)

But and ben wi' diddle doddle

Tammy gars my tail toddle.

***

Our Gudewife held o’er to Fife,

For tae buy a coal-riddle;

Land or she came back again,

Tammie gart my tail toddle.