Jenny Dang The Weaver reel

This tune is of Scottish origin. It is played by Donegal fiddlers, but probably seldom heard elswehere in Ireland. It is related to - probably an ancestor of - The Longford Tinker (which occasionally goes by the same name), posted earlier this week.

Sorry, Jeremy. The EFE at the end of the 2nd part should be an 8ve higher.

Niall and Cillican Vallely recorded this original Scottish setting.

Cape Breton singer Mary Jane Lamond sings this tune.

H

Last time thru the B part I always go |abag faef|| - rounds the tune off nicely.

Here is a composite of various versions, including my own.

K: Dmaj
dA~A2 AFAB|dA~A2 f2ef|dBBA B2dB|ABde f2ef:|
d2fd efge|defd fgfe|d2fd efge|aA~A2 f2ef|
d2fd efge|defd fgfe|d2fd efge|abag fgef||

Greatly sung (and played too) by Scottish singer Julie Fowlies. Called "Gobha Bh’ann A Hogha Gearraidh".
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/1502

Gobha bh’ ann a Hogha Gearraidh
B’ fhoghainteach an sealgair e
Gobha bh’ ann a Hogha Gearraidh
B’ fhoghainteach an sealgair e
Gobha bh’ ann a Hogha Gearraidh
B’ fhoghainteach an sealgair e
Gobha bh’ ann a Hogha Gearraidh
B’ fhoghainteach an sealgair e

Mharbhadh e na feadagan
Is leagadh e na calmain
Mharbhadh e na feadagan
Is leagadh e na calmain
Mharbhadh e na feadagan
Is leagadh e na calmain
Mharbhadh e na feadagan
Is leagadh e na calmain

And translation:


The smith from Hougharry
Was a brave hunter

He would kill the plover
And he would slay the doves

I love the version by Ossian, the rhythm there sounds just like the back and forth of the shuttle and the movement of a loom. And I should know, I worked in Cortaulds once! :-)

I don’t recall "Ossian" ever recording this. Sure you don’t mean "Jock Tamson’r Bairns" ?

"Tamson’s"

Composed by the Rev. Alexander Garden [ 1700 ? - 1777 ]. Minister at Birse [ 1726 - 1777 ]. Violinist, poet and composer.
"Mr. Garden had, it seems, a man-of-all work named Jock, who came about the manse to do odd jobs, and on one occasion when the minister was in his study solacing himself with his favourite Cremona, an altercation began between Jock and his mistress, who had ordered him to "wipe the minister’s shoon". This Jock considered beneath his dignity and sturdily refused to do, which so enraged Mrs. Garden
( who was busy "beetling" potatoes at the time ) that she rushed at him with the heavy beetle in her hand and fairly thrashed him into obedience to her order : and the minister was so diverted with the scene that he gave the air he had just composed the above title as being appropriate, Jock having been a weaver originally".
Source - "Musical Scotland - 1400 - 1894" by David Baptie

After writing out Black Donald’s Pipes (or whatever the Gaelic name is) in both Jig and Reel form I decided to turn a tune similar in form to Jenny Dang the Weaver, so I turned it into a jig, just for fun. Here’s the ABC for it.

X: 1
T: Jenny Dang The Weaver
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmaj
|:dAA FAB | dAA efe | dBB ABd | ABd efe:|
|:dfd efg | def afe | dfd efg | fae d2f:|