ATHOLL HIGHLANDERS, THE. AKA - "Athol Highlanders Jig." AKA and see "Lord Athlone's March," "The Three Sisters" (Shetland). Scottish (originally), Irish; Pipe March (6/8 time) or Jig. Scotland, Perthshire. Ireland, Donegal. A Major/Mixolydian (Brody, Hinds, Martin, Neil, Songer, Sweet): G Major (Kerr). Standard. AABB (Kerr): AABB' (Neil): AABBCC (Brody): ABCD (Sweet): AABBCCDD (Hinds, Martin, Songer). The name Athole (or Atholl) derives from the Gaelic ath Fodla, generally translated as New Ireland, and stems from the first invasion of the northern land by the Irish tribe the Scots in the 7th century (Matthews, 1972). The tune, described sometimes as a Scottish warpipes melody, is dedicated to the private army of the Duke of Atholl, the last private army still legally existing {albeit on a token level} in the British Isles (Boys of the Lough). Musically, the tune contains a characteristic melodic cliché in Scottish music in which a figure is followed by the same or a related figure on the triad one tone below or above (Emmerson, 1971). The original Athole Highlanders (and the ones associated with the tune) were the old 77th Highland Regiment, raised in 1778 and commanded by Colonel James Murray. The 77th served in Ireland and was not engaged in active service, though its garrison services were apparently useful in freeing other units for the conflicts with America and France. They were disbanded in 1783 after those conflicts ended (though the disbanding may have come about because of a mutiny). The tune was later taken up as a march past by the 2nd Battalion of the Cameronians, the 90th Light Infantry, who over the years had shed their Scottish origins. However, when pipers were introduced in 1881 they recollected their Perthshire origins and chose to play "The Atholl Highlanders" (also known in pipe literature as "The Gathering of the Grahams"). Susan Songer notes that when played for contra dances once through the tune is twice through a dance. Source for notated version: the tune was first brought to the Portland, Oregon, area by Seattle accordion player Laurie Andres and Olympia fiddler John Culhane in 1989 when playing at the first Spring Festival, and subsequently entered contra dance repertoire in that region [Songer]. Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; pg. 27. Hinds/Hebert (Grumbling Old Woman), 1981; pg. 20 (appears as "Athol Highlanders Jig"). Kerr (Merry Melodies), Vol. 3; No. 265, pg. 29. Martin (Ceol na Fidhle), Vol. 1, 1991; pg. 23. Neil (The Scots Fiddle), 1991; No. 117, pg. 155. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997, pg. 21. Sweet (Fifer's Delight), 1964; pg. 37. Banff SBS5406, "Graham Townsend, Champion Folk Fiddler." Green Linnett GLCD 3090, Mairead Ní Mhaonaigh & Frankie Kennedy - "Ceol Aduaidh" (1983/1994). Nimbus NI 5320, Ciaran Tourish et al. - "Fiddle Sticks: Irish Traditional Music from Donegal" (1991). Philo 1042, Boys of the Lough- "Piper's Broken Finger" (1976). Tradition 2118, "Scottish Dances: Jigs, Waltzes and Reels" (1979). Transatlantic 341, Dave Swarbrick- "Swarbrick 2." "Bob Smith's Ideal Band, Better Than an Orchesta" (1977).
BRIDGE OF ATHLONE, THE [3]. Irish, Set Dance (Consisting of March:Jig:March:Jig: March:Jig:March). G Major. Standard. Marches are AABB, Jigs are one part. Allan's Irish Fiddler, No. 121, pg. 32.
DEVER THE DANCER ("Cnuic Tiobraid-Arainn" or "Ua Duibir, an Rinnceoir"). AKA and see "The Humours of Whiskey," "The Peeler's/Policeman's Return," "Deel of the Dance," "The Bridge of Athlone," "Dillon's Fancy," "The Crossroads' Frolic," "Barranna mora Chlann Donncha," "Humours of Derry," "Plearaca an Fuisce." Irish, Slip Jig (9/8 time). E Dorian ('A' part) & D Major ('B' part). Standard. AAB (O'Neill/Krassen & 1001): AABB (O'Neill/1850, Tubridy). Flute player John McKenna and banjo player Michael Gaffney made a famous recording of the tune for Decca in 1934, in which they paired the tune with the jig "Connie the Soldier." O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 83. O'Neill (1850), 1903/1979; No. 1148, pg. 216. O'Neill (1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 431, pg. 85. Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, Book Two), 1999; pg. 41. DREY 36192, Alan Stivell - "Live in Dublin."
T:Dever the Dancer
S:78 RPM recording by flute player John McKenna
Z:Transcribed by Frank Claudy
M:9/8
L:1/8
K:D
BEE BEF G2 A|BGE BAG FED|BEE BEF G2 A|
1 dcB ABG FED:|2 dcB ABG FGA||ded cAF ~G3|
Adc def gfe|fed cAF G2 A|1 Bdc ABG FGA:|2 Bdc ABG FED||
HUMOURS OF WHISKEY [2] (Pléaraca an Fuisce). AKA and see "Barranna mora Chlann Donncha," "The Crossroads' Frolic," "Deel of the Dance," "Dever the Dancer," "Humours of Derry," "The Peeler's/Policeman's Return." Irish, Slip Jig. Ireland, County Donegal. E Minor {Sullivan}: E Minor ('A' part) & D Mixolydian ('B' part) {Breathnach}: B Minor ('A' part) & D Major ('B' part) {Feldman & O'Doherty, Taylor}. Standard. AB (Breathnach, Taylor): ABB (Feldman & O'Doherty): AABB (Sullivan). A popular slip jig in County Donegal. The first part of "The Bridge of Athlone" is the same, though the 'B' parts differ. Sources for notated versions: piper Dan Dowd, 1966 (Dublin, Ireland) [Breathnach]; Francie and Mickie Byrne (Co. Donegal) [Feldman & O'Doherty]; the Chieftains [Sullivan]. Breathnach (CRE II), 1976; No. 100, pg. 53. Feldman & O'Doherty (The Northern Fiddler), 1979; pg. 159. Sullivan (Session Tunes), Vol. 3; No. 11, pg. 5. Taylor (Crossroads Dance), 1992; No. 54, pg. 40. Shaskeen - "The Mouse Behind the Dresser."
T:Humours of Whiskey, The
L:1/8
M:9/8
R:Slip Jig
K:Bm
"Bm"gfe fBB fBB|gfe fBB "F#m"fga|\
"Bm"gfe fBB fBB|"D"agf efd "A"cBA::\
"D"d2e fdf "A7"ecA|"D"dde fed "A7"gfe|\
"D"d2e fdf efg|"A7"agf efd cBA:|
LAN(N)IGAN'S BALL (Feis-Rince Ui Lannagain). AKA and see "At the Side of the Road," "Flannigan" (Pa.), "When I Was a Young Man." Irish (originally), American; Double Jig. USA; New England, Maine, southwestern Pa. E Minor/Dorian (most versions): D Minor (Welling). Standard. AABB. The title comes from the comic song by one George or D.K. Gavan set to music by John Candy, according to a note in J. Diprose's songster of 1865 (Cazden, et al, 1982). The song appears in several publication of the 1860's and later decades and appears to be the most wide-spread of this tune genre. Bayard (1981) gives extensive notes on this tune, which he asserts is part of "a British traditional tune-family of widely varying developments and of probable considerable antiquity." He likens this tune family to a family of languages and their cross-currents of relationships of elements, forms, and structures. This family may or may not have developed from a single air. He divides many of the variant airs in this family into groups of related versions, of which the "Lannigan's Ball" tunes resemble all the others in one or more ways. The tune groups are 1) "Lannigan's Ball" (including "Dribbles of Brandy," "Young Francis Mooney," and two untitled jigs in Joyce's 1909 collection {Nos. 824 & 837}). 2) "Lumps of Pudding," which dates from the 17th century (including "Contentment is Wealth," "I'm Content With My Lot" {Ta Me Sasta lem' Staid}, and "The Day After the Fair"). 3) "Bung Your Eye" (including "Off to the Hunt," "The Antrim Lasses," "Tatter Jack," "The Boys of Carrigallen," "Mount Your Baggage," and "Bonnie Strathmore"). 4) "Kitty Alone". 5) "O As I Was Kist Yestreen" (including "House o' Duncan," "My Love is Lost to Me"). 6) Muirland Willie (including "The Northern Lass," "The Auld Maid of Fife," "The Shepherd's Wife," "My Boy Tammy" and "Forty Miles" {In Bayard's 1944 collection he thought "Forty Miles" was similar to "Lannigan's Ball," but in his 1981 collection he reconsidered it as a version of "Muirland Willie"}). The title appears in a list of Maine fiddler Mellie Dunham. The elderly Dunham was Henry Ford's champion fiddler in the mid-1920's. "At the Side of the Road" is given as an alternate title in O'Neill's 1001 Gems, while a set dance, "Hurry the Jug," appears to be an earlier form. Mulvihill (1986) gives the tune as an alternate for the dance The Bridge of Athlone. There was a céilí dance called Lannigan's Ball which was once quite popular. Sources for notated versions: Eben Patterson (elderly fiddler from Allegheny County, Pa., 1930's); Walter Neal (Armstrong County, Pa., 1952); Fred Miller & Glenn Gelnette (Jefferson County, Pa., 1949); Hoge MS (Pa., 1944) [Bayard]; Winston Fitzgerald (1914-1987, Cape Breton) [Cranford]. Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle), 1981; No. 541A-D, pgs. 481-484. Cole (1001 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 68. Cranford (Winston Fitzgerald), 1997; No. 194, pg. 76. Jarman (Old Time Fiddlin' Tunes); No. or pg. 17. Kennedy (Fiddlers Tune Book), Vol. 2, 1954; pg. 43. Kerr (Merry Melodies), Vol. 1; No. 9, pg. 36. Mallinson (Essential), 1995; No. 88, pg. 38. Miller & Perron (New England Fiddler's Repertoire), 1983; No. 45. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 20, pg. 123. O'Lochlainn, 1939; No. 52. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 34. O'Neill (1850), 1979; No. 858, pg. 159. O'Neill (1001 Gems), 1986; No. 118, pg. 35. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 104. Roche Collection, 1983, Vol. 1; No. 105, pg. 45. Ryan's Mammoth Collection. Spaeth (Weep Some More, My Lady), 1927; pg. 222. Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, Book Two), 1999; pg. 29. Welling (Welling's Hartford Tunebook), 1976; pg. 22. White's Excesior Collection, 1907; pg. 10. White's Unique Collection, 1896; No. 16. Folkways 8826, Per's Four--"Jigs and Reels." Victor 20537 (78 RPM), Mellie Dunham (appears as one of tunes in "Medley of Reels"), 1926.
T:Lanigan's Ball
L:1/8
M:6/8
K:E Minor
E2F G2A|B2A B^cd|DED F2G|AdB AFD|E2F G2A|B2A B^cd|edB cBA|BGE E3:|
|:e2f g2e|fag fed|e2f g2e|fdB B2B|e2f g2e|fag fed|edB cBA|BGE E3:|
NEWPORT LASS, THE (Gearrchaile Bhaile Uí bhFiacháin). AKA - "Newport Lasses." AKA and see "A/The Trip to Athlone." Irish, Double Jig. D Major/Mixolydian. Standard. AABB (Breathnach): AA'BB' (Taylor). Newport is in County Mayo. The Irish group De Danann recorded the tune under the title "The Trip to Athlone." Source for notated version: piper Matthew Tiernan/Maitiu Mac Tighearnain (Ireland) [Breathnach]. Breathnach (CRE I), 1963; No. 42, pg. 17. Taylor (Where's the Crack), 1989; pg. 18. Lochshore CDLDL 1215, Craob Rua - "The More that's Said the Less the Better" (1992).
ROAD TO ATHLONE, THE (An Botar Go At-Luain). Irish, Slip Jig. F Major/D Minor. Standard. AABB. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 87. O'Neill (1850), 1979; No. 1170, pg. 220.
STROP THE RAZOR [2] (Cuir Faobar Air An Sgian-Bearrta). AKA - "Strap the Razor." Irish, Double Jig. Ireland, Munster. G Major. Standard. AABBCC (O'Neill/Krassen): AA'BBCC' (Mitchell): ABCD (O'Neill/1850): AABBCCDD (O'Neill/1001). The similar words 'strap' and 'strop,' which mean the same thing and both appear in American English, stem from regional dialect retained in the language; the New Englander says 'strap' when pronouncing strop, just as he or she does when saying 'drap' for 'drop.' Petrie (1855) identifies the tune as "a Munster jig." Philippe Varlet notes its age, remarking that the tune appears in 18th century collections and ballad operas. Sources for notated versions: piper Willie Clancy (1918-1973, Miltown Malbay, west Clare) [Mitchell]; Mr. Michael Kilkelly of Athlone, 1889 [Joyce]. Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Songs), 1909; No. 202, pg. 100 (appears as untitled jig). Mitchell (Willie Clancy), 1993; No. 29, pgs. 44-45. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 76. O'Neill (1850), 1979; No. 1093, pg. 206. O'Neill (1001 Gems), 1986; No. 286, pg. 62. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 925, pg. 235. CC17, Seane Keane - "Gusty's Frolics."
T:Strop the Razor
L:1/8
M:6/8
N:The parts are reversed from the usual
S:Joyce - Old Irish Folk Music (No. 202)
K:C
{G/A/B/} c3 cec|dBG G2A|_BGA B2 c|dgg fdB|c3 cec|dBG G2A|_BGA B2c|
dgg fdc||cBc edc|dcd fdB|cBc edc|dgg fdB|cBc edc|dcd fdc|_BGA B2c|
dgg fdc||
T:Strop the Razor
L:1/8
M:6/8
S:O'Neill - 1001 Gems
K:G
G>AG GBG|AFD DFD|G>AG G2B|Add cAF|G>AG GBG|AFD DFD|FDE F2G|Add cAF:|
|:GDG G2A|FDF F2A|GDG G2B|Add cAF|GDG G2A|FDF FGA|cAG FGA|Add cAF:|
|:G/A/B/^c/d/e/ f2d|aba/g/ f2d|cAG FGA|Add cAF|G/A/B/^c/d/e/ f2d|aba/g/ f2d|
cAG FGA|Add cAF:|
|:G3 BGG|AGG BGG|G>AG BGG|Add cAF|G>AG BGG|FDE F2G|FDE F2G|Add cAF:|
T:Strop the Razor
M:6/8
L:1/8
S:David Kidd
Z:Lorna LaVerne
K:G
|:BGG AGG | BGG A2G | DGG G2F | DGG G2A |
BGG AGG | BGG A2G | D2E F2G | ADE FGA:|
|:dBB cAA | dBB cAA | DGG G2F | DGG G2B |
dBB cAA | dBB cAA | D2E F2G | ADE FGA:|
|:B3 cBc | d3 dBd | ~g3 gaf | gaf gdc |
~B3 cBc | d3 d2e | ~f3 fde | fag fdc:|
B2G A2F | G3 G3 |
TRIP TO ATHLONE(, A). Irish, Jig. D Major. Standard. AABB. Source for notated version: Rod Miller (Antrim, N.H.) [Miller & Perron]. Carlin (Master Collection), 1984; No. 253, pg. 145. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 1977; Vol. 2, No. 16. Columbia CAL505-1 (78 RPM), Paddy O'Brien (195?). Harp 10, "All Ireland Champions - Violin." Voyager VRCD 342, Rodney Miller - "Rodney Miller's All-Round Collection of Jigs, Reels and Country Airs."