The Grumbling Old Man And Woman (reel) on The Session

Also known as Chicaneuse, The Disputant, Disputeuse, Growling And Grumbling, Growling Old Man And Cackling Old Woman, Growling Old Man And Grumbling Old Woman, The Growling Old Man And The Cackling Old Lady, The Growling Old Man And The Grumbling Old Woman, Growling Old Man And Woman, The Growling Old Man And Woman, Growling Old Man, Grumbling Old Woman, The Growling Old Man, Growly Old Man And Grumbly Old Woman, Grumblin’ Old Man & Growlin’ Old Woman, Grumbling And Growling Old Man And Woman, LA Disputeuse, La Grondeuse, La Marmotteuse, Le Bonhomme Et La Bonne Femme Chicaneux, The Old Man And The Old Woman.

Seven comments

This French-Canadian tune is a staple in the New England repertoire. It is most commonly played for contra dancing.

Grumbling old man & …

This tune does turn up every month or so at sessions around me. Can be nice if played with a good swingy rhythm, it can also be a great time to go to the bathroom if it’s played without swing. I guess that’s true of any tune. Beware - this tune is fun & the audience loves it, but it can be a yawn for other musicians if you play it too much. Again - I guess that goes for every other tune, it just seems more-so with this one.

Another version in Amix

Here’s a nice version in Amix, which adds another colour to it altogether.

X: 1
T: The Grumbling Old Man And Woman
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Amix
A,2 CA, EA,CA,|G,2, B,G, DG, B,G,|A,2 CA, EA, CA,|1 B,A,G,B, A,2A,B,:|2 B,A,G,B, A,2z2||
efed cdef|gedc BG Gz |efed cdef|ea{b}a^g a2ef|
=gfed cdef|gedc BGAB|(3=cBA BG AGEF|GFED B,A, A,2||

Another version from PEI

After looking at your first turn, I can see why you might find it a little dull. Try this version, it’s a lot more fun.

X:1 %Music
T:Growling Old Man and Old Woman PEI Version %Tune name
C: %Tune composer
N:Transcribed:K. Dau-Schmidt %Tune infos
Q:1/4=120 %Tempo
V:1 %
%!STAVE 0 ” @
%!INSTR ‘…’ 0 0 @
M:4/4 %Meter
L:1/8 %
K:D
(A,B,) |:A,2 (A,C)EA, CE|DG,B,D GDB,G, |A,2 (A,C) EA, CE |[1
DG, B,D A,2 (A,B,) :|[2DG, B,D A,2 (cd) ::efed cdef |ged=c (BG) G2 |
ef ed cd ec |(ea) (a^g) a2 (ef) |gfed cdef |ged=c (BG) G2 |
=cABG AG ED |[1GE DB, A,2 (cd) :|[2GE DB, A,2 z2 :|
%End of file

I hope this works for you. This is the first time I have tried to export one of my note tunes as an abc file. If it doesn’t work, leave a message and I’ll try again.

Grumbling

Here’s an example of a tune whose name matters: It forces you to hear -and play, of course- in a certain way. Program music has always helped keeping or building the rapport with the audience.

Most of the English titles are bowdlerized / made politically correct and are far too long as a result.

The usual name of the tune in Québec is "La grondeuse" - no men involved. There is a roughly equivalent English tune name, and who knows, "La grondeuse" might be a translation of it: The Scolding Wife.

The Grumbling Old Man And Woman, X:4

Pipe friendly version

The Grumbling Old Man And Woman reel

Four settings