Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Penny Candle

reel

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on February 27th 2008 by PaddyCmusic.

This tune has been added to 18 tunebooks.

Also known as The Penny Candle.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

Cavan's Lilter by Séamus Fay
New Day Dawning by Cherish The Ladies
One And All: The Best Of Cherish The Ladies by Cherish The Ladies
The Mouse Behind The Dresser by Shaskeen
Where I Am by Brendan Callahan

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Paddy O'Brien Composition

This is from the pen of Paddy O'Brien 'the elder.' I learned it from Kevin Rohan's fiddle solo on Shaskeen's album "The Mouse Behind the Dresser." It's a great tune which I also heard play by Finbarr Dwyer on Geantraí's Christmas special 2007. I believe Cherish the Ladies have recorded it as well.

# Posted on February 27th 2008 by PaddyCmusic

Nice tune--thanks, PaddyC.

# Posted on February 27th 2008 by Will CPT

Lovely tune, but I don't think it's really mixolydian. The key of D major is more predominant and there's only 2 places you need to alter the "c". I would do the ABCs thusly:

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by Phantom Button

Yes, but those two places are what makes it mixolydian.

Cheers,
Armand

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by fiddlinviolinin

The question of whether it's mixolydian or major has to do with predominance. One indication would be to count the c sharps in Paddy's ABCs. There are 8 total. Now count the c naturals in mine. There are 4 total. This would suggest that the tune is major with altered notes. Then ad to that the fact that the tune begins and ends in the major mode and uses a major cadence. The evidence strongly suggests the tune is in the major mode.

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by Phantom Button

Also, the tonal landscape uses A major as the dominant and it's used in the cadence. If it were mixolydian that chord would be C major instead of A major. The C major chord that happens isn't happening in a way that determines the tonality; it’s used as an altered chord.

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by Phantom Button

The tune obviously isn't in one mode or the other. Some parts of it are major, some are mixolydian. For transcription purposes you have to choose one or the other, and that boils down to personal preference. I personally would go for Dmaj with the 2 accidentals out of sheer laziness because it means writing fewer accidentals into the abc.

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by Dow

I'm just going by what I was taught in college.

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by Phantom Button

Ooooh, a man with an ology! ;-)

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by ceolachan

Hey wait a minute ~ was that 'college' in the more loosely construed American sense of the term, like 'community college'? That wouldn't be that far removed from the 6th form colleges over here. That ain't the same thing as a full blown 'university' education. There might be hope for you yet...

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by ceolachan

Hardy har har... actually the way I was taught music theory was almost like arguing law. We would analyze symphonies and there would be great debates about when exactly the music modulated to the new key or if it did at all... that sort of thing. In the case of this tune I’m arguing that the mode is based on the predominate key. The C chord and C naturals are an extra feature in the harmonic structure. I’ve seen plenty of tunes on this site that were mixolydian but were posted as major mode where I would make the same argument in reverse. Whenever I see a whole bunch of accidentals in the ABCs it’s a good indicator that the mode may be in error.

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by Phantom Button

Mode

I see where you are coming from Phantom Button. I had the thought of it being in major in my head while putting it into ABC but I just thought, on hearing the tune, it sounded like a mixolydian tune with major phrases thrown in, despite there being more C sharps than naturals. Technically, though, you are correct I think. Would you like me to change it to major?

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by PaddyCmusic

Unfortunately, the sheetmusic is set in stone now. But it's ok: the only person in the world who's really bothered by it is Phantom Button...

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by Dow

"...the way I was taught music theory was almost like arguing law."

That explains an awful lot.

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by Will CPT

"the mode is based on the predominate key" ~ ease up guys. I have to say I agree, the 'easier' way is generally the best way, in music too. Why write out a slew of accidentals when a simple change to recognise the 'usual' key means you only add an accidental or two... That just makes sense to me... Also, despite the wind-up, if you've 'experience' of some sort, why not wave your piece of paper and let it be known. However, what proof? You didn't need to do that button, your argument makes sense on its own... In a sense the addition devalued a good argument, while your later more considered response was more effectively stated, was clearer...IMHO ~ strike the H ;-)

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by ceolachan

"Whenever I see a whole bunch of accidentals in the ABCs it’s a good indicator that the mode 'may' be in error." ~ yes!

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by ceolachan

"The Compositions of Paddy O'Brien"

J.D.C. Publications, 1992

Page 38: "The Penny Candle" ~ K: D Major

B-part, bar 3 only ~

~ | ~=c2 ec Gced | ~ and that's all there is...

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by ceolachan

"You didn't need to do that button, your argument makes sense on its own."

I wasn't trying to prove anything by mentioning I was basing my claim on what I was taught, I was only pointing it out as an explanation for my thought process. I'm not criticizing Paddy for the way he posted the tune, and I'm not "bothered" as one person suggested; I'm just trying to contribute my understanding in the interest of helping the collective abilities in our ABC transcriptions.

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by Phantom Button

For what it's worthy, PB's analysis is along the same lines as my thoughts when I first played the tune as transcribed. In fact, when I copied and pasted the abcs into my own collection of tunes, I changed the key to D and naturaled the few Cs that needed it.

Mea culpa for not including a smiley face on my previous post--it was intended in humor.

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by Will CPT

Too bad there's not a Cheshire Cat's bodyless smile, eh?

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by ceolachan

There's something about this off shade of yellow that amplifies the rude seed in some of us... I was definitely winding you up, but I promise, I only do that with people I like. That might be unfortunate for them though. If I overstep the bounds I usually retract like a turtle into his shell... I was winding up Dow as much as you...

Button, I usually read your comments and take note, or chuckle, and no qualifications are required...

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by ceolachan

All said and done... it's a nice tune. :-)

# Posted on February 28th 2008 by Phantom Button

A Cheshire cat smile for 'c' and CPT.
‿ ⌠

# Posted on February 29th 2008 by joesmith

You mean that's it! This isn't going to turn into a 400 post argument??
I'd vote major on this too to avoid accidentals

# Posted on February 29th 2008 by Donough

A session Is a "public performance"?

;-)

# Posted on February 29th 2008 by Phantom Button

Look! ~ the button is spoiling for a fight again! You want a 400 post argument do you?

# Posted on February 29th 2008 by ceolachan

D major

I've changed the ABC to PB's version and the key is now D major. The sheet music is stuck as is of course.

# Posted on February 29th 2008 by PaddyCmusic

That's like p*ssin' on smoldering embers Paddy... ;-)

# Posted on February 29th 2008 by ceolachan

I think I might change my screen name to "one person". It has a nice ring about it. A nice, personal touch.

# Posted on February 29th 2008 by Dow

^ change it to woD Dow!

Oh wait...he/she already exists :-P

# Posted on February 29th 2008 by D.J.F.