The Fiddler’s Companion

© 1996-2007 Andrew Kuntz

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THI - THO

 

 

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 concertina.net’s incredibly handy “ABC Convert-A-Matic” at

http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html

 

 

THIEF OF LOCHABER (Meurlach Lochaber). Scottish, Jig. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB' (Gatherer): AABBCCDD’ (Martin). The melody can be found in Donald MacLeod's 3rd collection of bagpipe music and owes its third and fourth parts to him. Martin (2002) maintains the melody is based on an old drove route march, suggesting the title refers to cattle raiding. Gatherer (1987) notes this tune was adapted from O'Neill's "Thief of Lough Erne." The tune was played as “Thief of Lochaber” by both Sandy Coghill and the Battlefield Band. Gatherer (Gatherer’s Musical Museum), 1987; pg. 18. Martin (Ceol na Fidhle, vol. 3), 1988; pg. 7. Martin (Traditional Scottish Fiddling), 2002; pg. 82. Flying Fish FF250, Battlefield Band ‑ "Home is Where the Van Is" (1981). Temple TP005, Battlefield Band ‑ "Home is Where the Van Is" (1980).

 

THIEF OF LOUGH ERNE, THE (An Gadaide Ua Loca-Ernai/Loc-Eirne). Irish, Double Jig. G Major. Standard. AABB'. See also related Scottish tune “Thief of Lochaber.” O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1979; No. 963, pg. 178. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1986; No. 186, pg. 45.

X:1

T:Thief of Lough Erne, The

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig

S:O’NeillDance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems (1907), No. 186

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

G/A/|GED DED|Adc B2A|GEE EGE|GEE E2A|

GED DED|Adc B2A|BGG G2A|BGG G2:|

|:A|BGG dGG|BGG dGG|AFF cFF|AFA c2A|1 BGG dGG|BGG dGG|

Bdc B2A|BGG G2:|2 BGG dGG|gfe dBG|B<dc B2A|BGG G2:|


                       

THIEF ON THE LUM [1]. Shetland, Shetland Reel. Shetland, Whalsay.

 

THIEF ON THE LUM [2]. Shetland, Shetland Reel. Shetland, Unst. May be a Scottish tune, says Peter Cooke.

                       

THIEGEEN A VARIGA. AKA and see "Tim the Market Man."

                       

THIEVING MAGPIE, THE. Irish, Hornpipe. D Major. Standard. AABB. Roche Collection, 1982, vol. 3; No. 172, pg. 60.

                       

THINK BEFORE YOU THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK! Irish, Reel. Composed by Danú fiddler Jesse Smith. Shanachie 78030, Danú – “Think Before You Think” (2000).

                       

THINK OF ME. AKA and see "Jongle a Moi."

                       

THIOS AG BEAL BEARNAIS. See "The Red Haired Man's Wife [2]."

                       

THIOS COIS MA FAIRRGE (Down by the Sea). Irish, Air. Green Linnet SIF‑1084, Eugene O'Donnell ‑ "The Foggy Dew" (1988).

                       

THIRD FIGURE, THE. Canadian, Reel. Canada, Cape Breton. A Minor. Standard. AB. Composed by Cape Breton fiddler Dan R. MacDonald (1911-1976). Cameron (Trip to Windsor), 1994; pg. 1.

 

THIRD OF AUGUST, THE. Irish, Air (4/4 time). G Major. Standard. AB. Source for notated version: Hugh O'Beirne, professional fiddler from Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim, c. 1846 (Joyce). Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Song), 1909; No. 557, pg. 295.

 

THIRD OF JULY. AKA and see “Cornshucker’s Frolic.” Old-Time, Breakdown. F Major. Standard. AA'BB'. No one has discovered the significance, if any, of the title. The source, the Red Brush Rowdies, were a West Virginia string band (featuring fiddler Miller Wikel) who recorded in the 1930’s. The tune orginally was in the key of G, according to Kerry Blech. Source for notated version: Red Brush Rowdies [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), Vol. 1, 1994; pg. 240. Volo Bogtrotters.

                                   

THIRTY-EIGHT FORD REEL. Canadian, Reel. Canada, Cape Breton. Composed by Mabou Coal Mines, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, fiddler Donald Angus Beaton (b. 1912). Rounder 7011, "The Beatons of Mabou: Scottish Violin Music from Cape Breton" (1978).

                                   

THIRTY YEAR JIG. Swedish, Jig. Composed by Roger Tallroth, guitar and bouzouki player of the Swedish group Väsen's in honor of the group’s nyckelharpa player Olov Johansson's 30th birthday.

                                   

THIRTY YEARS AGO (Triocad Bliadain O Ston/Soin). Irish, Hornpipe. G Major. Standard. AABB. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 181. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 1632, pg. 303. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 860, pg. 148.

X:1

T:Thirty Years Ago

M:C|

L:1/8
R:Hornpipe

S:O’NeillDance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems (1907), No. 860

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

Bc|dBeB dBAB|GFGA GDGA|BGBd cBAG|FGAF D2 Bc|

dBeB dBAB|GFGA GABc|defe dcAF|G2 {A}GF G2:|

|:(3DEF|GFGA B2AG|FGAF DEFD|GFGA B2 AG|Adde dcBA|

GFGA B2 AG|FGAB c2 Bc|defe dcAF|G2{A}GF G2:|

 

THIRTY-TWO (32) AOUT, LE. AKA and see "Louison Louisette [1]."

 

THIS FAIR MAID TO THE MEADOW'S GONE. Irish, Air (4/4 time). D Dorian. Standard. One part.

***

This fair maid to the meadow's gone,

To pull the flowers just as they spring,

And every perch she a flower does pull

Until she has her apron full.

***

Source for notated version: "Sent to me (in) 1884 by Mr. Francis Hogan of South Lodge, Brenormore, near Carrick‑on‑Suir, a good musician and a great enthusiast in Irish music and songs" (Joyce). Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Song), 1909; No. 283, pg. 134.

X:1

T:This fair maid to the meadow’s gone

M:C

L:1/8

R:Air

S:JoyceOld Irish Folk Music and Songs  (1909)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D Dorian

D/G/|A3G BAGE|D2D2 D3c|B2 AB d2cB|AGEG A3c|

Bdef g2fe|dBAG E2DG|A3G BAGE|D2D2D3||

 

THIS GLOOM ON MY SOUL (Tha m'aigne fo ghruaim). Scottish, Slow Air (3/4 time). A Major. Standard. AAB. "This air has a variety of Gaelic verses to it, but those most entitled to the denomination of a poem, are Dugald Buchanan's reflections on turning up and surveying a scull, which he handles with a versatility of talent worthy of a genuine poet" (Fraser). Fraser (The Airs and Melodies Peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland and the Isles), 1874; No. 98, pg. 38.

X:1

T:This gloom on my soul

T:Tha m’aigne fo ghruaim

M:3/4

L:1/8

R:Slow Air

S:Fraser Collection  (1874)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A

a>g|f2e2c2|B3z c>B|A2F2E2|F3z c>e|f2c2e2|B4A2|(A6|A2)z2:|

c>e|f2e2f2|e3z a>g|f2e2c2|e3z f>a|b2f2a2|e4c2|(B6|B2)z2 a>g|

f2 e2 c2|B3z c>B|A2F2E2|F3z c>e|f2c2e2|B4A2|(A6|A2)z2||

 

THIS IS MY LOVE, DO YOU LIKE HER?   AKA and see “Anton a’Bhearnais,” “Bundle and Go [4],” "I Lost My Love," “Kiss the Maid Behind the Bier,” “My Love in the Morning,” “Old Comrades.” Irish, Slide. A Dorian. Standard tuning. The tune can be found in Scottish sources (e.g. Kerr) as “I Lost My Love.” A variant of “Sweet Biddy Daly.” Green Linnet SIF 3013, Bothy Band – “Out of the Wind, Into the Sun.” Michael Tubridy – “The Eagle’s Whistle.”

X:1

T:This is My Love, Do You Like Her

M:6/8

L:1/8

S:learned from David Kidd

R:Jig

Z:Lorna LaVerne

K:Edor

~E3 EDB, | G3 G2A | ~B3 BAF| d3 d2A |

Bec d2B |  ABA FED | FAB AFD | E2F G2F |

~E3 EDB, | G3 G2A | ~B3 BAF| d3 d2A |

Bec d2B | ABA FED | FAB AFD | E3 E2A |

Bee edB | Add dBA | Bee edc | d2f e2d |

Bec d2B | ABA FED | FAB AFD | E2F G2A |

Bee edB | Add dBA | Bee edc | d2f e2d |

Bec d2B | ABA FED | FAB AFD | E3 E3 |

X:2

T:This is My Love, Do You Like Her
R:Jig
M:6/8

L:1/8
K:Ador
ABA AGA|cdc c2d|efe ede|g3 e2a|
gec cge|dBG GAB|c2A BGE|1 c3 A2E:|2 c3 A2g||
aba age|gag geg|aba age|g3 e2a|
gec cge|dBG GAB|c2A BGE|1 c3 A2g:|2 c3 A2E||

 

THIS IS NO MY AIN HOUSE. AKA and see "Colonel David Stewart of Garth's Reel." Scottish, Shetland; Reel or ("Very Slow" {Gow}) Strathspey. Shetland, Whalsay. D Major (Aird, Athole, Emmerson, Kerr): C Major (Dick, Emmerson, Thomson). Standard tuning. AAB (most versions): AABB’ (Aird). Bonnie Prince Charlie danced to this tune at the house of Lude, near Blair, before the battle of Prestonpans, 1745 {he won that one} (Marshall monogram, 1845 Collection, and Winstock 1970). Country dance directions were recovered to the tune from the Holmain Manuscript from Dumfries‑shire (c. 1710‑1750). The earliest record of the tune, which appears to be a set of "De'il Stick the/da Minister," is from David Young's Duke of Perth Manuscript (AKA the Drummond Castle Manuscript) of 1734 (where it is listed as a country dance), and Thomson's Orpheus Caledonius, 1733. Gow published it twice, the second time in Sixth Collection, 1822, under the title "Colonel David Stewart of Garth's Reel," and it appears in James Aird's 1782 collection. It is now played as a strathspey in Scotland, as Gow set it in his First Collection (1784—he also noted along with the music “This Tune may be played very Slow”).  Related melodies include "This is not my ain Lassie" and "Sean Trews/Triubhas [1]." Cooke (1986) prints the following text to this dance tune, collected in the Shetland Islands:

***

This is no me ain hoose

I ken by the tickin o it

Bread and butter were my door's cheeks

And pancakes were the tickin o it.

***

The couplet is very similar one in “This is no my ain house” printed in G.S. MacQuoid’s Jacobite Songs and Ballads, an allegory for feelings of displacement after the failure of the Jacobite rebellion. Poet Allan Ramsay (1686-1758) recast “This is no my ain house” as a love song, which goes:

***

This is no my ain house,

I ken by the rigging o’t;

Since with my love I’ve changed my vows,

I dinna like the bigging o’t:

For now that I’m young Robie’s bride,

And mistress of his fire-side,

Mine ain house I’ll like to guide,

And please me with the trigging o’t.

***

Then farewell to my father’s house,

I gang where love invites me;

The strictest duty this allows,

When love with honour meets me.

When Hymen moulds us into ane,

My Robie’s nearer than my kin,

And to refuse him were a sin,

Sae lang’s he kindly treats me.

***

When I’m in mine ain house,

True love shall be a hand ay,

To make me still a prudent spouse,

And let my man command ay;

Avoiding ilka cause of strife,

The common pest of married life,

That makes ane wearied of his wife,

And breaks the kindly band ay.

***

All these versions were probably predated by a children’s song with the title “This is no my ain house.” William Stenhouse, writing in Illustrations to the Scots Musical Museum (No. 237), indicates its an “old nursery ditty” from which Ramsay borrowed a line or two for the inspiration for his poem.

***

Aird (Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs), vol. 2, 1782; No. 176 pg. 65. Alburger (Scottish Fiddlers and Their Music), 1983; Ex. 28, pgs. 49‑50. Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 225. Dick, No. 96. Emmerson (Rantin’ Pipe and Tremblin’ String), 1971; Nos. 12‑13, pg. 131. Gow (First Collection of Niel Gow’s Reels), 1784 (revised 1801); pg. 28. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 1; Set 13, No. 2, pg. 9. MacDonald (The Skye Collection), 1887; pg. 63. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 105. Thomson, Orpheus Caledonius, 1733; No. 32.

X:1

T:This is No’ My Ain House

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

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

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

A|FAAa f2 ed|B/c/d AF BEEG|FA Da f2 ed|B/c/d AG FDD:|

A|FAAd B/c/d AF|GBAF BEEG|F(AA)d B/c/d AF|GBAG FDDG|

FAAd B/c/d AF|GBAF BEEG|FADa gfed|B/c/d AG FDD||

 


THIS IS NO MY AIN LASSIE [1]. English, Scottish; Hornpipe. England, Northumberland. G Major. D Major. Standard tuning. AABCC'DEF. The tune was composed by Robert Whinham (1814-1893), a musician, teacher, dancing master, composer and fiddler, originally from Morpeth. Source for notated version: T. Armstrong’s c. 1850 manuscript, in the John Armstrong of Crarrick’s collection [Dixon]. Dixon (Remember Me), 1995; pg. 27 (includes variations). Hall & Stafford (Charlton Memorial Tune Book), 1974; pgs. 28‑29 (includes variations).

 

THIS IS NO MY AIN LASSIE [2]. Scottish, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning. AB (Howe): AABB (Sweet). A relative of "This is no my ain Hoose." Howe (1000 Jigs and Reels), c. 1867; pg. 122. Sweet (Fifer’s Delight), 1965/1981; pg. 56.

X:1

T:This is No My Ain Lassie [2]

M:4/4

L:1/8

R:Air

S:Howe1000 Jigs and Reels (c. 1867)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

A | FA D a {g}f2 ed | (B/c/d) (AF) BEEG | FA D a {g}f2 (ed) | (B/c/d) {B}AF AD D ||

G | (F/G/A) DA (F/G/A) B>A | (F/G/A) D>f eE E>G | (F.G.A) DA (F/G/A) B>A |(B/c/d) (c/d/e) dD D>G |

(F/G/A) DA (F/G/A) BA | (F/G/A) D f eE E<g |a>fg>e f>de>c | d>BA>F AD D2 ||

 

THIS IS NOT MY SWEETHEART (Ni Sise Mo Muirnin). Irish, Air (4/4 time). C 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), 1979; No. 566, pg. 99.

X:1

T:This is Not My Sweetheart

M:C

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Moderate”

S:O’NeillMusic of Ireland (1903), No. 566

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:C

G|EGGA c2 cG|A/B/c GE {G}FDDG|EGGA c2 g>e|c>AG>F EC C:|

||G|EGGc AcGE|FAGC B,DDG|EGGc AcGE|FAG>F ECCG|

EGGc AcGE|FAGC B,DDG|EGGA c2 g>e|c>AG>F EC C||

 

THIS LIFE IS ALL CHEQUERED. AKA and see "Life is All Chequered," "The Black Rogue [1]."

 

THISTLE [1], THE. Scottish, Strathspey. B Flat Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Hardings All‑Round Collection, 1905; No. 100, pg. 32.

X:1

T:Thistle, The [1]

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Strathspey

S:Harding’s All Round Collection, No. 100 (1905)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:B Flat

d/c/|.B.F.D.F|B>cdg|fdcB|Ac cd/c/|BFDF|B>cdg|fdcd|Bz B:|

|:f|bagf|b2 Bg|fdcB|Accf|bagf|b2 Bg|fdcd|Bz B:|

 

THISTLE [2], THE. Scottish, Highland Schottische. A Major. Standard tuning. AB. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 1; No. 9, pg. 19.

X:1

T:Thistle, The [2]

M:C

L:1/8

R:Highland Schottische

S:KerrMerry Melodies, vol. 1, No. 9 (c. 1880’s)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A

(C<E) E>C E2 E>F|A>Bc>B B<A A>G|(D<F) F>E F2 F>c|d>cB>A (G<B) B>c|

(C<E) E<C E2 E>F|A>Bc>B B<A A>E|(3FGA (3GAB (3ABc (3Bcd|(3cBA (3BAG A2A2||

c<e e>c e2 e>c|e>f (e<c) A2A2|d<f f>g a>gf>e|e>f (e<c) B2 B>c|

e>f e<c e>f e<c|e>f e<c A2 (AE)|(3FGA (3GAB (3ABc (3Bcd|(3cBA (3BAG A2 A2||

 

THISTLE HORNPIPE, THE. Scottish, Hornpipe. B Flat Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Honeyman (Strathspey, Reel and Hornpipe Tutor), 1898; pg. 53.

X:1

T:Thistle Hornpipe

M:C

L:1/8

R:Hornpipe

S:HoneymanStrathspey, Reel and Hornpipe Tutor  (1898)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:B_

F2|B>AB>d c>ec>A|(3BAB d>B G2 F2|B>AB>d g>fd>B|c>=Bc>d c2 F2|

B>AB>d c>ec>A|(3BAB d>B G2 F>E|(3DFB (3dcB (3Agf (3edc|B2 b2 B2:|

|:f2|g>fg>a b2 b2|(3BAB d>B G2 F2|B>AB>d G>fd>B|c>=Bc>d c2 f2|

g>fg>a b2 b2|(3BAB d>B G2 F>E|(3DFB (3dcB (3Agf (3edc|B2 b2 B2:|