Some transcriptions of Donegal fiddlers
November 20, 2000 version. Check back at
http://www.oocities.com/Athens/6464/hmpg.html
for more recent versions.
As with all ABCs you find online, BEWARE! These are my own transcriptions
(with two exceptions), and needless to say, they are not perfect, nor are
they notated consistently. While by habit I try to be careful and notate
most ornaments, in fact some tunes (particularly the Neilly Boyle tunes) are
VERY carefully notated, and some others are much less so. I hope few people
learn these tunes from these ABCs; I think you should usually learn by ear.
I do hope that you get an idea of what the Donegal style is like based on
these transcriptions -- some elements of style actually do come out,
particularly if you're familiar with "southern" versions of these tunes.
These transcriptions are all or almost all from Donegal fiddlers, but they
are not all necessarily Donegal tunes (you could say that they are Donegal
versions of the tunes, in most cases, though). James Byrne, John Doherty,
Mickey Doherty, Neilly Boyle, and others are represented.
I used a Marantz half-speed tape recorder to transcribe and learn these
(and many other) tunes.
While I have had help naming tunes and with a few of the transcriptions,
all errors are mine, and I hope you will report them to me at
lsanger@nupedia.com.
--Larry Sanger
================================================================
X:1
T:The Dawn
R:reel
S:James Byrne -- session tape from 1987
M:4/4
K:A
A,2CE D2FA|E2CE ABcA|BE(3EEE dEcE|BdcB AFEC|
A,2CE D2FD|E2CE ABce|fefg afed|1 (3cec Be cAA2:|2 (3cec Be cAAg||
abga fece|fbbg agfa|(3gfe be (3gfe be|ac'ec' aefg|
abga fece|dcBc defg|(3aba gb afec|1 dcBe cAAg:|2 dcBe cAA2||
X:2
T:The Green Mountain
R:reel
S:Neillidh Boyle 78 rpm recording
Z:Transcribed by Larry Sanger
M:2/4
K:D
dB|:AF~F2 AF[EA,2]F|[DG,2]F~F2 [AF]Bde|fd~d2 edBd|[eA]d[fd]d edBd|
AF[~F2G,2] EF~F2|EDFB [eA]Bde|f[fd]~d2 efdB|A[AF][AE]F {DF}D2cd|
AF~F2 [AE]DFE|[DA,2]F[AE]F [eA]Bde|f[fd]~d2 edBd|Adfd edBd|
AF~F2 [.EA]z~F2|[DA,2]F[AE]F [eA]Bde|fd~d2 efdB|A[AF][AE][AF] [D2G,4] .g/g/g||
fgab afdf|~g2gb afe[fd]|fB~B2 [AD2]Bde|~f2fe dB{d}BB|
Aa{b}aa ^gbaf|defd {f}e2de|fd~d2 efdB|AFEF [D2G,4]~g2
fa~a2 ba(3a^ga|^gaba fdde|fB~B2 {d}B2de|~f2fe dB{d}BB|
Aa{b}aa ^gbaf|defd {f}e2de|fd~d2 efdB|AFEF {DF}D2cd||
X:3
T:James Byrne's Reel
R:reel
S:James Byrne on a radio program
Z:Roughly transcribed by Larry Sanger
M:4/4
K:D
||FDFA BdAc|dAFA BGEG|FDFA BABc|dBAG FGEF|
[D2D2]FA BAFA|dAFA BGEG|FAAF GBec|dBAG FDDc||
defd adfd|defd BAFA|.d/.d/.c df Adfa|gfeg fddc|
decd Adfb|afdf e^def|gfgb fefa|.e/.f/.g fe dBAG||
X:4
T:Jenny Picking Cockles
R:reel
C:Traditional
S:Neillidh Boyle
A:Dungloe, Co. Donegal, Ireland
Z:Transcribed by Larry Sanger from a tape of the old 78 rpm record of N. Boyle.
M:C|
K:C
~g2||fagf dc~c2|Bcde {a}fe{a}+A2.f2+|~g2fg dc~c2|Acfc AG~G2|[G,G]B~g2
dc~c2|Bcde {a}fe{a}[A2.f2]|~g2fg dc~c2|Acfc AG~G2|[G,G]B~g2 dc~c2|Bcde
{a}fe{a}[A2.f2]|~g2fg dc~c2|Acfc AG~G2|[G,G]B~g2 dc~c2|Bcde
{a}fe{a}[A2.f2]|~g2fg dc~c2|Acfc AG~G2||:\
K:G
|:dg~g2 bgag|fd~d2 [df]d[dg][df]|[d2g2][dg][df] gbag|fdcd BG~G2|dg~g2
bgag|~f2ga fddg|bg~a2 gfga|fdcA [G,G]B~g2:|
X:5
T:The Man From Bundoran
R:reel
N:This is *close* to the version played by Pat Kelly (son of the eponymous
N:man from Bundoran)
Z:John M. O'Hara
M:C|
L:1/8
K:D
dc | BE (3EEE BEdE | BE (3EEE BcdB |cA (3AAA cAeA |(3Bcd ef e2dc |
BE (3EEE BEdE | BEdE BcdB |cA (3AAA cAeA | (3Bcd ef e2 |]
cA | f2fe dcBA | Affe d2de | f2fe fgaf | ecAc egfe |
f2fe dcBA | fgfe d2de | f2fe fgaf | ecAc e2 |]
X:6
T:Marry When You're Young
R:reel
S:John Doherty
N:The C in the 4th, 8th, 12th, and 16th appears to be in between C natural
N:and C sharp. Fiddlers should know what I'm talking about. The second four
N:asures of each part present variations on the first four that John
N:playe
N:but he didn't necessarily play them in this order.
D:John Doherty, The Star of Donegal, Folktracks 75
Z:Transcribed by Larry Sanger
M:C
L:1/8
K:D
F2FE FGAG|Ad{e}dc d2ea|fded cABd|=cAGE D/D/D DE|
F/F/F {G}FE FGAG|Ad{e}dc d2eg|fded cABd|=cAGE FDDg||
{fg}f2ed cAAg|fdec dfag|{fg}f2ed cABd|=cAGE D/D/D Dg|
{fg}f2ed cAAg|fdec dfeg|{fg}f2ed cABd|=cAGE FDDE||
X:7
T:Miss Kelly's Fancy
R:reel
S:Mickey Doherty
Z:Larry Sanger
M:C|
K:D
GBBA BEEc|BEBd AGFD|GBBA BEEf|gafg edBA:|
Bee^d egfe|(3ddd fd adfd|g2{a}gf gbag|fagf edBA:|
G~B3 G~B3|G~B3 AGFD|G~B3 GBEf|gafg edBA:|
Bee^d egfe|(3ddd fd adfd|g2{a}gf gbag|fagf edBA|
Bbbb Baaa|Bgge dBAd:|
X:8
T:The Moving Clouds
R:reel
C:Neilly Boyle
S:as played by Neilly Boyle, except for the 3rd part, which is
S:a more simplified (!) and less chaotic version from Martin McGinley
N:This is the original title (not "The Moving Cloud")
D:A 1945 performance by Neilly Boyle
Z:Larry Sanger
M:C|
L:1/8
K:C
CFAF DFAF|CFAF EFAF|G2BG dGBG|~G2Ac BGFD|
CFAF DFAF|CFAF EFAF|Gc~c2 defd|1 gfdc AGFD:|2 gfdc Bcde||
~f2ga fc~c2|Bcfc AGFD|Gg~g2 fgag|~g2fa gfde|
~f2ga fc~c2|fcfc AGFD|Gc~c2 defd|1 gfdc Bcde:|2 gfdc A^GAB||
c2ac caBc|acca Bcac|d2_bd d_b^cd|_bdd_b ^cd_bd|
c2ac caBc|acca Bcac|Bcac a_bag|1 fdcA [F3A3]B:|2 fdcA [F3A3]D||
X:9
T:The Old Cameronian
R:reel
S:John Doherty
Z:First time through tune; second and third similar but
Z:have some variations; transcribed by Larry Sanger
M:C|
L:1/8
K:Flyd
cF F/F/F cFdF|cFEF CFAc|BG^FG DGBG|[1 DGBd c_BAB:|[2 DGBd c_BAG||
Fffg fdcA|FAfg fdce|dg^fg bgag|dg^fg bgag|
dcde fdcA|Ffeg fde^f|g/a/g dg g/a/g dg|bgag fafd||
X:10
T:The Three Merry Sisters
R:reel
S:This is *close* to Mickey Doherty's version
Z:John M. O'Hara and Larry Sanger
M:C|
L:1/8
K:EDor
dc |: BE~E2 BdcA | BE~E2 BEFA | BE~E2 BdcA | dD (3FED ADFA |
BE~E2 BEcE | BE~E2 BEFE | Dddc dfeg | fdec dBAd :|
B2ec d2cA | Beed BAFA | (3BBB ec d2cA |~B3c dAFA |
B2ec d2cA | Beec defg | afge fded |1 ~B3c dAFA :|2 ~B3c dF~F2 |]
Edcd BdAd |BE~E2 BEFD | Edcd BdAc | dD (3FED ADFA |
Bdcd B{d}BAd |BE~E2 BEFE | Dddc dfeg |1 fdec dBAF :|2 fdec dBAd |]
X:11
T:An Tseanbhean Bhocht
T:The "Shan Van Vocht" Reel
R:reel
S:John Doherty
D:The Star of Donegal (Folktracks 075)
Z:Close but not fastidiously exact transcription; Doherty plays the tune
Z:through twice. Transcribed by Larry Sanger.
M:4/4
K:G
|:BG G/G/G AEGE|DEGA BAAc|BG G/G/G AEGE|DEGA BGGA:|
Bddg edgd|Bdgd eAAc|Bddg edgd|B/c/B Ac BGGc|
Bddg edgd|Bdgd eAAc|Bdef g/a/b ge|dBge dADc||
X:12
T:The Wexford Lasses
R:reel
S:James Byrne
N:From a tape of James Byrne
Z:Transcribed by Larry Sanger
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:D
dcdA BFAF|EBeg fdec|dzcA BdAF|GBAG FDDA|
dcdA BFAF|EBeg fdec|defd cdec|dBAG FDDg||
fedc dfaf|gfga bgeg|fd{e}dc dfaf|g/a/b eg fddg|
fedc dfaf|gfgb agef|g/g/g fa gbag|fgef dgfe||
X:13
T:The Wheels of the World
R:reel
C:trad
S:Danny O'Donnell, "The Donegal Fiddler"
Z:Larry Sanger; first time through tune
M:C|
K:C
dc|:AD F/E/D GcAG|EC ~C2 EFGc|AD F/E/D EGAd|fedc Acdc|AD F/E/D GcAG|
EC C/C/C EFGc|AddB cBAG|1 E[EC][EC]E [A,2D2] cB:|2 E[EC][EC]E D2A2||
K:D
dcdf afdf|e=cgc acgc|d^cdf afdf|e=cce d2A2|
d^cdf adfd|=cBce gceg|abag eg~g2|fage dAB^c|
d/d/d fd adfd|=c/c/c ec gcec|d^cdf afdf|e=cce d2A2|
d^cdf adfd|=cBce gcec|abag efge|fage d2|
X:14
T:Hopping Biddy
R:highland
C:Traditional
S:Mickey Doherty
M:C
K:D
d2||B>d {Bc}B>A Bg|ed ed {Bc}B>A Bf|{a}g>e dA|
B>d {Bc}B>A Bg|ed e>d ed {Bc}B>A Bf|{a}g>e dE||
A2 a2 {b}a>f e>d|e>d Bd (3Bcd e>a|{ga}g>e df e>d|{ef}e>d Bd (3Bcd f>a|{ga}g>e dA||
{Bc}"2nd time around"
B>A {c}B>G Bg|ed eA {c}B>G Bf|{a}g>e dA|
{Bc}B>A {c}B>G Bg|ed e>d eA {c}B>G Bf|{a}g>e df e>d|eA {Bc}B2 d>B|A2 a2 {b}a>f e>d|{ga}g>e df e>d|ee {Bc}B2 d2|e>g d>A Ba|{ga}g>e dA||
"3rd time around"
B>A {c}B>G Bg|ed e>d eA {c}B>G Bf|{a}g>e dA|
{Bc}BA {c}B>G Bg|ed e>d eA {c}B>G Bf|{a}g>e df e>d|eA {Bc}B2 d>B|A2 a2 {b}a>f e>d|{ga}g>e df e>d|eA {Bc}B2 d2|{ef}e2 e>d ca|{ga}g>e dA||
{Bc}"4th and last time around"
B>A {c}B>G Bg|ed e>d eA {c}Bf|{a}g>e dA|
{Bc}BA {c}B>G Bg|ed e>d eG Bf|{a}g>e df e>d|eA {Bc}B2 d>B|A2 a2 {b}a>f e>d|{ga}g>e df e>d|eA {Bc}B2 d2|{ef}e2 e>d ca|{ga}g>e dg|b>g B2 g2|f>e Ac e>g|fd F2 {Ac}A2|
d2 f2 a>g|b>g B2 g2|f>e A>c e>c|1 d4 {Ac}A2:|2 d4 AF||
{DF}D2 F>A d>f|a2 g>d B/c/d|g2 f>d A/B/d|f2 dA F>E|
{DF}D2 F>A d>f|a2 gd B/c/d|g2 f>d A>d|1 F>A d2 F>E:|2 F>A d2||
X:24
T:The Marino Waltz
R:waltz
C:John Sheahan of The Dubliners
S:John Gallagher
N:John Gallagher slides up to the first g's and from the f to the e in
N:the first part of the tune, and from F sharp to F nat. in the second part
N:of the tune. John Gallagher is a great fiddler from Adara, Co. Donegal.
N:He said that this waltz was the most popular waltz in Ireland at that time
N:(when he played it on the tape).
A:Not a Donegal tune
D:The Dubliners, "Celebration"
Z:Transcribed by Larry Sanger
M:3/4
K:G
|:Jg2 d2 B2|F4 B2|E4 c2|D6|C2 D2 E>G-|F2 D2 A2|G2 D2 B2|A6|
Jg2 d2 B2|F4 f2-|Je2 d2 c2|E4 e2|d2 c3 A|F4 B2|G6|1 Gd ^cd ef:|2 G6||
|:D2 E2 F2|G2 A2 _B2|=B6|F4- J=F2|E6|c4 E2|G4 F>E|F6|
C2 D2 E>G-|F2 D2 A2|G2 D2 d2|e4 d2|^c2 A2 F2|D4 B2|G6|1 G6:|2 Gd ^cd ef||
X:25
T:My Love Is Like a Red Red Rose
R:march
S:From a tape of Con Cassidy of unknown provenance
N:Sounds as much like a polka as a march
Z:Rough transcription by Larry Sanger
M:2/4
L:1/8
Q:120
K:G
|:G2 Bd|g>a gd|e>d eg|a>g ab|G2 Bd|g>a gd|ee/e/ fd|1 gd BA:|2 g2 gd||
|:gb ag|eg de/f/|gb db|a2 ad|gb ag|eg dg|ee/e/ fd|1 g2 gd:|2 g2 dB||
X:26
T:The Ballykett
R:reel
S:Dermot McLaughlin
Z:Transcription by Larry Sanger
M:4/4
Q:124
K:D
"first time"
d/d/d AG FDDF|GG=cG EFGB|d/d/d AG FD .E/.F/.G|Adce dgfe|
dcAG FDDF|GG=cG EFGB|dcAG FD E/F/G|Adce dfed||
cdef gfge|a{b}afa gfed|cdeg .f/.a/.f ec|[Ae]d{e}dc dfed|
cdef {a}g{f}gfg|abaf {a}gefg|.a/.a/.A gA fAec|Ad d/d/d dgfe||
"second time"
dcAG FDDF|GG=cG EFGB|ddAG FD E/F/G|Ad{e}dc defe|
dcAG FDDF|G/G/G BG EFGB|d/d/d AG FD E/F/G|Ad{e}dc dfed||
cdef g2fg|abaf {a}gfed|cdeg .f/.a/.f eg|fdec dfed|
cdef {a}g2fg|abaf gefg|a/a/a ga faec|Ad d/d/d defe||
"third time"
dcAG FDDF|G/G/G BG EFGB|ddAG FD .E/.F/.G|Ad{e}dc de{g}fe|
dcAG FDDF|E=ccE [dE]EcE|dBAG FD E/F/G|Ad{e}dc dfed||
cA A/A/A g{a}gfg|abaf {a}gfed|[ce]e[Ae]g faec|[Ae]d{e}dc dfed|
[ce]e[Ae]f {a}g2fg|abaf gefg|.a/.b/a g/a/g f2ec|Ad{e}dc dgfe||
"fourth time"
dcAG FDDF|G/G/G =cG EFGB|ddAG FD E/F/G|Ad{e}dc defe|
dcAG FDDF|G/G/G BG EFGB|dcAG FD E/F/G|Ad{e}dc dfed||
cdef ggfg|abaf gfed|cdeg f/f/f ec|Ad{e}dc dfed|
cA A/A/A gA A/A/g|abaf gefg|a/a/a ga faec|Ad d/d/d [dD]gfe||
"fifth time"
dcAG FDDF|GABG EFGB|dcAG FD .E/.F/.G|Ad{e}dc defe|
dcAG FDDF|G2=cG EFGB|d{e}dAG FD .E/.F/.G|Ad{e}dc dfed||
cA A/A/A g{a}gfg|abaf gfed|cdeg fdec|Ad{e}dc dfed|
cdef g{a}gfg|abaf gefg|a/a/a ga faec|Ad d/d/d [dD]gfe||
"sixth time"
dcAG FDDF|GG=cG EF[GG,]B|d{e}dAG FD .E/.F/.G|Adce dgfe|
dcAG FDDF|GE=cE [dE]EcE|dcAG [FA]ADF|Adce dgfe||
[ce]e[Ae]f g2fg|aaaf gfed|[ce]e[Ae]g faec|Ad d/d/d dgfe|
cdef gg f/f/g|abaf {a}g2fg|a/a/a gg f2ec|Ad{e}[dD][cD] [d4D4]||
X:27
T:Gan Ainm
R:double jig
S:Dermot McLaughlin
Z:Transcribed by Larry Sanger. Not exact, but close to the first time through.
M:6/8
K:G
dBG GBd|ece gfe|dBG DGB|c/c/c B ABc|
dBG GBd|ece gfe|dBG DGB|(3ABA F GBc:|
dBd g2b|agf efg|dBG DGB|c/c/c B ABc|
dBd gbg|agf efg|dBG DGB|(3ABA F GBc:|
dBd gfg|ece gfg|dBG DGB|c/c/c B ABc|
dBd gfg|ece gfe|dBG DGB|(3ABA F GBc:|
(
geocities.com/athens)