BARREN ROCKS OF ADEN. AKA and see "Dan O'Leary's," "The Sailor's." Scottish (originally), American; March (2/4 time). USA, Pa. D Major (most versions): D Mixolydian (Bayard). Standard. AB (Bayard): AAB (Hunter, Martin): AABB (Miller & Perron, Sannella, Taylor): AABBCCDD (Sweet). Bayard (1981) says the tune is well known among bagpipers and fifers in modern times, but that the piece is not particularly old; he traces it to a possible source from a Highland regiment, which version was published in McDonald's Gesto Collection in 1895. Hunter (1988) attributes the tune to one A. MacKellar. Pipers sometimes play the air in four parts, adding an additional two to the sections given by Hunter, Martin, Miller & Perron and others. Sources for notated versions: fifer Hiram Horner (Western Pa. 1960) [Bayard]; set dance music recorded at Na Píobairí Uilleann, late 1980's [Taylor]. Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle), 1981; No. 374, pg. 363. Hunter (Fiddle Music of Scotland), 1988; No. 343. Martin (Ceol na Fidhle), Vol. 2, 1988; pg. 11. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 1977; Vol. 2, No. 64. Sannella, Balance and Swing (CDSS). Sweet (Fifer's Delight), 1964; pg. 56. Taylor (Music for the Sets: Blue Book), 1995; pg. 21. Old Hat Music OH!02, "The Old Hat Dance Band" (1992. Learned from melodeon player Cecil Pearl of Ipswich, Suffolk).
DAN O'LEARY'S [1]. AKA and see "The Barren Rocks of Aden." Irish, Polka. Ireland, Sliabh Luachra region of the Cork-Kerry border. D Major. Standard. AABBCC. This is the Scottish pipe tune "Barren Rocks of Aden." Source for notated version: fiddler Dan O'Leary via his nephew, accordion player Johnny O'Leary (b. 1920's, Sliabh Luachra region, Kerry), recorded in December, 1986 at Knocknagree, Kerry [Moylan]. Moylan (Johnny O'Leary), 1994; No. 44, pgs. 26-27.
SAILOR'S, THE. AKA and see "The Barren Rocks of Aden." Irish, Polka. Bulmer & Sharpley (Music from Ireland), Vol. 4.