The Fiddler’s Companion

© 1996-2008 Andrew Kuntz

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WHI - WHZ

 

 

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]

 

 

 

WHICH WAY DID SHE GO?  Irish, Slow Air (3/4 time). E Flat Major. Standard tuning. AB. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’ parts are nine measures long. O'Neill (O’Neill’s Irish Music), 1915; No. 84, pg. 49.

X:1

T:Which Way Did She Go?

M:3/4

L:1/8

R:Air

S:O’Neill – O’Neill’s Irish Music (1915)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:E_

E>G B2 c>B | Ge G2 F>G | EG B2 ce | f4 g>e | G2e2 e>d | c3d c>B | B>G Bc e>c |

B>G F>E FG | {E/F/G/}EE E4 || G>E GB c2 | B>G e2 B>G | F>E GB c>e | f4 g>e |

f4 g>e | f2d2 e>c | B>G Bc e>e | c>B GE F>G | EE E4 ||

 

WHICH WAY SHALL I TURN ME. AKA and see "Tom Tinker's my true love." English, Air. The tune appears under this title in John Gay's Beggar's Opera of 1728.

 

WHIDDON'S FAVORITE. American, Reel. A Major. Standard. AABB. Probably the W.H. Whiddon whose name is listed as composer for several Ryan’s Mammoth Collection tunes. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 3. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 25.

X:1

T:Whiddon’s Favorite

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (1883)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A

E/D/ | (C/D/^D/E/ F/E/C/A,/) | .A/.E/.B/.E/ .c/.E/.A/.E/ | (C/D/^D/E/ F/E/C/A,/) | {c}B/A/B/c/ B/A/F/E/ |

(C/D/^D/E/ F/E/C/A,/) | .A/.E/.B/.E/ .c/.E/.A/.E/ | (C/D/^D/E/ F/E/C/A,/) | {c}B/A/B/c/ A :|

|: e | {b}a/g/a/b/ a/g/f/e/ | f/e/d/c/ B/A/G/B/ | {b}a/g/a/b/ c’/a/f/e/ | d/c/B/A/ G/B/E |

{b}a/g/a/b/ a/g/f/e/ | f/e/d/c/ B/A/G/B/ | A/^A/B/^B/ c/d/^d/e/ | ^e/f/g/^g/ a :|

 

WHIDDON'S HORNPIPE. English, Scottish, American; Hornpipe. B Flat Major (most versions): G Major (Miller). Standard. AABB. Lisa Ornstein points out the second strain is something of a ‘floater’, similar to the first strain of  Norfolk Hornpipe [1]” printed in Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (c. 1883) and credited to W.H. Whiddon, and to that of “The Wily Old Bachelor.” Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 85. Craig (The Empire Collection of Hornpipes), c. late 19th cent.). Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 2; No. 386, pg. 43. Miller (Fiddler’s Throne), 2004; No. 322, pg. 189. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 119.

X:1

T:Whiddon’s Hornpipe

M:C

L:1/8

R:Hornpipe

S:Adam Craig – The Empire Collection of Hornpipes (c. late 19th cent.)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:B_

F2 | B2 (BA) BFDF | Bcde fgab | BFcF dFeF | dcBd cBAc | B2 BA BFDF | Bcde fgab |

{g}f=efg f_ecA | Bbfd B2 :: (FD) | B,DFB dBFD | EGcd ecAc | Bbab fdBd |

(3cdc (3BAG (3FGF (3EDC | B,DFB dBFD | EGcd ecAc | Bbab gecA | (3Bdf (3bfd B2 :|

 

WHIFFLE TREE. American, Quadrille. Edison 51236 (78 RPM), 1923, John Baltzell (appears as last tune of "Old Red Barn Medley Quadrille") {Baltzell was a native of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, as was minstrel Dan Emmett (d. 1904). Emmett returned to the town in 1888, poor, and later taught Baltzell to play the fiddle}.

 

WHIGS OF FIFE. Scottish, Reel. F Major (most versions): G Major (Aird). Standard. AB (Surenne): AAB (Gow): AABB (Aird, Kerr, Martin): AABB' (Athole): AABBCCDD (Marshall). John Glen finds the tune earliest published in Neil Stewart's 1761 collection (pg. 24). The tune was published in a sheet by William Marshall, and is sometimes therefore attributed to him. Yet, as Kate Dunlay points out, it is unlikely he composed it for he would only have been aged 13 when the tune appeared in Stewart’s 1761 collection. It is more reasonable, suggests Dunlay, that Marshall composed the last two parts as variations.  Marshall was a staunch Tory all his life and so perhaps had no love for the Whigs of the County of Fife, Scotland. John Glen finds the tune earliest published in Neil Stewart's 1761 collection (pg. 24). Aird (Selections), Vol. II, 1782; No. 43, pg. 16. Gow (Complete Repository), Part 1, 1799; pg. 29. Kerr (Merry Melodies), Vol. 2; No. 182, pg. 21. Marshall, Fiddlecase Edition, 1978; Kinrara Collection (1800), pg. 26. Martin (Ceol na Fidhle), Vol. 2, 1988; pg. 28. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; pg. 205. Surenne (Dance Music of Scotland), 1852; pg. 126. Rounder 7059, Alex Francis MacKay with Gordon MacLean – “Gaelic in the Bow” (2005).

See also listings at:

Alan Snyder’s Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index

X:1

T:Whigs of Fife, The

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Reel

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

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:F Major

f|cF F/F/F AGGA|cF F/F/F fgag|~fF F/F/F AGGA|FDE^C D2D:|

|:e|fccf gdde|fccd fgag|fccf gdde|1 fagf d2d:|2 fagf defd||

X:2

T:Whigs of Fife, The

M:C|

L:1/8

S:Aird, Vol. II (1782)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

(g | g)G G/G/G BAAB | gG G/G/G gaba | gG G/G/G B(AA)B | GEFD (E2E) :|

|: f | gddg aeef | gdde g/f/g/a/ ba | gddg aeef | (g/a/b) a>g e2e :| 

 

WHIGSBOROUGH HUNT. AKA and see “Hunting the Hare [2].” Irish, Hop Jig (9/8 time). From the Levey collection. See also note for “Do it Fair.”

 

WHILE FOR SOME PAWN THEIR... AKA and see “My Nanny-O.

 

WHILE GAZING ON THE MOONLIGHT (Ag Amairc Air Solas Na Re). AKA and see "Oonagh." Irish, Air (6/8 time, "animated"). F Major/D Minor. Standard tuning. One part. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 283, pg. 49.

 

WHILE MAUREEN IS FAR AWAY. Irish, Air (4/4 time). D Minor. Standard tuning. One part. Source for notated version: "Received in 1884...from Mr. John Healy, Teacher of Smithstown National School near Castlecomer Co. Kilkenny. He was then over 70 years of age, and had learned these tunes in early life" (Joyce). Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Songs), 1909; No. 340, pg. 156.

X:1

T:While Maureen is far away

L:1/8

M:C

S:Joyce – Old Irish Folk Music

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D Minor

(3A=Bc|d>efe dcAG|F2 F>G A2 d/c/A/F/|G>BAF D2D2|D6 FG|A3G Adde|

f2gf e2f2|edcA c>def|d6 FG|A3G Adde|fefg e3f|d>cAG F2G2|A4 fe|

d2 ed cAAG|F3G Addc|A2 GF D2D2|D6||

 

WHILE THE STARS WERE BRIGHT. Irish, Slow Air (3/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Source for notated version: "(Taken) down from Ned Goggin the professional fiddler of Glenosheen Co. Limerick (1844 to 1850)" {Joyce}. Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Songs), 1909; No. 166, pg. 84.

X:1

T:While the stars were bright

L:1/8

M:3/4

S:Joyce – Old Irish Folk Music

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

N:”Slow and tender”
K:G

E/F/|G/A/B/c/ d>f ed|B/c/B/A/ B>G EE/F/|G/A/B/c/ d>e B/A/G/F/|GG G3:|

G/A/|B/d/e/f/ g2 f/a/g/f/|ee e>d BB/A/|B/d/e/f/ g>f a/g/f/g/|ee e3g|f/a/g/f/ e>d BA|

B/c/B/A/ B>G EE/F/|G/A/B/c/ d>e B/A/G/F/|GG G2||

 


WHIM [1], THE. AKA – “Bartholomew Fair.” English, Country Dance Tune (6/8 time). G Major. Standard tuning. AB (Sharp): AABB (Barnes). The tune dates to 1695 where it appears in the 9th edition of John Playford’s English Dancing Master. It was reprinted in 1721 in the 17th edition of the work, with the title “The Whim, or Bartholomew Fair.” Regarding the alternate title, Bartholomew Fair is the name of Ben Jonson’s play, written in 1614, and refer to an annual fair held in West Smithfield held between the years 1133–1855 on St. Bartholomew’s Day. So famous was the fair that aspects of it entered popular vernacular, at leas for a time. For example, a ‘Bartholomew doll’ was a tawdry, overdressed woman, in association with a flashy, bespangled doll that could be found for sale at the fair. A ‘Bartholomew pig’ was a very fat person, derived from the fact that one of the chief attractions of the fair were pigs, roasted whole, and sold piping hot to the crowd. Shakespeare makes reference to this in Henry IV (ii 4) when Falstaff calls himself:

***

A tidy little Bartholomew boar-pig.

***

Bruce Olson finds the melody also published in Walsh’s Compleat Country Dancing Master of 1718, and reprinted by the same publisher in 1735 in his Third Book of the same work. John Glen (1891) finds the earliest appearance of a Scottish tune by this name in print in Robert Ross's 1780 collection (pg. 12).  Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes), 1986. Sharp (Country Dance Tunes), 1909/1994; pg. 53. Harvest 0777 7 81428 2  9, Albion Dance Band – “The Prospect Before Us” (1993. Orig. rec. in 1976).

X:1

T:Whim, The

M:6/8

L:1/8

S:Sharp – Country Dance Tunes (1909)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

d|BGG G>AB|c2B A2G|FAA A2B|c>de dBG|c>dB ABc|BGG G2d|

BGG G>AB|c2B A2G|FAA A2B|c>de dBG|c>dB ABc|BGG G2||

B|c>de/f/ g>fe|dBc A2G|cAA A>Bc|d3 c3|B>cB A2d|BGG G2B|

c>de/f/ g>fe|dBc A2G|cAA A>Bc|d3 c3|B>cB A2d|BGG G2||

 

WHIM [2], THE. American, Dance Tune (2/4 time). D Major. Standard tuning. AABBCCDD. Published in John Clarkson Junior’s American Tunes No. 1, Arranged for the Piano Forte, a single-sheet dating from around 1805.

 

WHIM OF A MOMENT, THE. American, Jig. C major. Standard tuning. AABB. Composed by R. Nagle. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 64. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 93.

 

WHIN BLOSSOM, THE (Blat Na Aitin). Irish, Air (6/8 time, "graceful"). D Major. Standard tuning. AB. Source for notated version: O’Reilly [O’Neill]. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 515, pg. 90.

X:1

T:Whin Blossom, The

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Graceful”

S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 515

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

D/E/ | FGA GAE | DEG A2 B/c/ | dcA GAE | D3 C2 D/E/ | FGA GAE |

DEG A2 B/c/ | dcA GAE | D3 D2 || G | ABc d2 e/d/ | cdc A2 G/A/ |

dcA GAE | D3 C2 D/E/ | FGA GAE | DEG A2 B/c/ | dcA GAE | D3 D2 ||

                       

WHINHAM’S HORNPIPE. English, Hornpipe. England, Northumbria. F Major. Standard tuning. AA’BB. Composed by Robert Whinham (1814-1893). Dixon (Remember Me), 1995; pg. 17.

 

WHINHAM’S JIG. AKA and see “Me Mother’s Jig.” English, Jig. England, Northumberland. Composed by Robert Whinham (1814-1893). The tune appears under this title in the T. Armstrong manuscript (c. 1850, in John Armstrong of Carrick’s collection), and in L. Baty’s manuscript (1883, Beamish Museum), as researched by Graham Dixon. Topic 12TS388, High Level Ranters – “Four in a Bar.”

 

WHINHAM’S REEL. AKA and see “Mrs. Thompson of Gofton’s Strathspey,” “The Pibroch!” English, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB: AABBCCDD’EE’ (Callaghan): AABBCCDDEAABB (Dixon). Composed by Robert Whinham, an itinerant Northumbrian musician, fiddle and dancing master, teacher and composer, who lived between 1814 and 1893. Whinham ended his days in a workhouse in Morpeth where he was registered as a “teacher of music in Morpeth (Northumberland).” The only known photograph of him was taken there. Callaghan (2007) notes the tune is popular throughout England, although usually only the first two parts are played. Source for notated version: Colin Ross [Dixon]. Callaghan (Hardcore English), 2007; pg. 94. Dixon (Remember Me), 1995; pg. 17. Folktracks 30-119, Billy Ballantine – “Whistle in the Wind.” Topic Records, Willie Taylor & Joe Hutton  – “Bonnie North Tyne.” REDE 002, Dishalagie – “Berwick Pipes.” Topic 12TS184, High Level Ranters – “Northumberland for Ever.” Topic 12TS239, George Hepple & Donald Ridley (et al) – “Wild Hills o’ Wannies.”  

X:1

T:Whinham's Reel

B:Northumbrian Pipers' Tune Book volume 1

M:2/4

L:1/16

K:G