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The Zakynthos jig

By Roger Wilson

Also known as Zycanthos.

There are 6 recordings of this tune.

The Zakynthos has been added to 9 tune sets.

The Zakynthos has been added to 58 tunebooks.

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Seven settings

1
X: 1
T: The Zakynthos
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Amin
|:a2 a gag|e2 a a2 g|ecc BcB|AFF F3|
EAB cBA|FAB cBA|B2 B edc|Bcd cBA:|
|:EAB cBA|FAB cBA|B2 B edc|Bcd cBA|
EAB cBA|FAB cBA|B2 B edc|B2 AA F2:|
|:d2 dd2 c|d c2 B2 A|d2d2 c d|B3 A3|
d2 dd2 c|d c2 B2 A|d dd2 c d|e3 e3:|
2
X: 2
T: The Zakynthos
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Amin
[M:5/8]|:a2 gag|e2a- ag|ec BcB|AF F2F|
EAB cB|FAB cB|B2 edB|cd cBA:|
|:EA cBA|FA cBA|B2 edB|Bcd BA|
EA cBA|FA cBA|B2 edB|1 B2 A2 F:|2 B2 A2 B||
|:d2 d2 c|dcd BA|d3/2 d3/2 cd|BcB BA|
d2 d2 c|dcd B A|d3/2 d3/2 cd|e2 ecA:|
3
X: 3
T: The Zakynthos
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Amin
|:a3 gag|e2 a3 g|ecc BcB|AFF F3|
EAB cBA|FAB cBA|BGB dcB|Bcd cBA:|
|:EAB cBA|FAB cBA|BGB dcB|Bcd cBA|
EAB cBA|FAB cBA|BGB dcB|1 B2 A2 F2:|2 A3 ABc||
|:d2 d2 c2|dc2 B2A|d2 d2 cd|B3- B2A|
d2 d2 c2|dc2 B2A|d2 d2 cd|e3- e3:|
4
X: 4
T: The Zakynthos
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Amin
|:a2a gag|e2a a2g|ecc BcB|AFF F2F|
EAB cBA|FED cBA|BAB efe|B2d cBA:|
|:EAB cBA|FED cBA|BAB efe|B2d cBA|
EAB cBA|FED cBA|BAB efe|1 B2d cBA:|2 B2B ABc||
|:d2 d2 c2|dc2 B2A|d2 d2 Bc|B3 ABc|
d2 d2 c2|dc2 B2A|d2 d2 cd|e3 efe:|
5
X: 5
T: The Zakynthos
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Amin
|:aea gag|e2a a2g|ecc BcB|AFF FEF|
EAB cBA|FED cBA|BAB eBe|B2B cBA:|
|:EAB cBA|FED cBA|BAB eBe|B2B cBA|
EAB cBA|FED cBA|BAB eBe|1 B2B cBA:|2 B2B ABc||
|:d2 d2 c2|dc2 B2A|d2 d2 Bc|B3 ABc|
d2 d2 c2|fed cBA|d2 d2 cd|1 e3 efe:|2 e3 efg||
6
X: 6
T: The Zakynthos
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Amin
|:a2a gag|eaa a2g|ecc BcB|A2F F2F|
EAB cBA|FAB cBA|B3 edc|Bcd cBA:|
|:EAB cBA|FAB cBA|B3 edc|Bcd cBA|
EAB cBA|FAB cBA|B3 edc|1 ~B2 A2 F2:|2 Bcd cBA||
|:d2 d2 c2|dc2 B2A|d2 d2 cd|~B3 B2A|
d2 d2 c2|dc2 B2A|d2 d2 cd|1 e3 e3:|2 e3 e2 (3^f/=g/^g/||
7
X: 7
T: The Zakynthos
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Amin
{g}a2a gag|e2a a2g|ecc BcB|AFF "(~)"F3|EAB cBA|FAB cBA|
"@4,-24(~)"B2 e x3 & x2B edB|"(~)"B2d cBA:|:EAB cBA|FAB cBA|"@6,18(~)"B2B edB|"(~)"B2d cBA|
EAB cBA|FAB cBA|"@6,18(~)"B2B edB|1 B2A A3:|2 B2A ABc||
|:"@ -20,10 last time through x3, then to Coda" d2 d2 c2|dc2 B2A|d2 d2 cd|"(~)"B3 "(~)"B2A|
d2 d2 c2|dc2 B2A|d2 d2 cd|1 e3 -e2e:|2 e3 -e3||
O"@-41,20 Coda" {g}a2a gag|e2a a2g|.a2 .a2 .a2|a4 z2||

Seventeen comments

I understand that this was actually written by a chap called Roger Wilson. I was inspired to learn this after hearing it a couple of times in sessions round oxford (UK) way. I just love this tune - its an absolute foot thumper!

can’t help thinking the title must be an odd (wrong?) spelling of Zakynthos??

(yes, I know it’s spelt ‘Zycanthos’ on Eliza Carthy’s CD)

5/8

In 5/8 🙂

X:1
T:Zycanthos Jig in 5/8
A:Eliza Carthy
M:5/8
L:1/8
K:Am
|: "Am"a2 gag| "Am"e2a- ag| "Am"ec BcB| "F"AF F2F|
"Am"EAB cB| "F"FAB cB|"G"B2 edB| "Em"cd "Am"cBA :|
|:"Am/E"EA cBA| "F"FA cBA| "G"B2 edB|"Em"Bcd BA|
"Am"EA cBA| "F"FA cBA| "G"B2 edB|1 "Am"B2 A2 "F"F :|2 "Am"B2 A2 B |
|: "Dm"[.f2d2A2] [Lf2d2A2] [ecG] | "Dm"[fdA][ecG][fdA] [dBG][cAF] | "Dm"[f3/2d3/2A3/2][f3/2d3/2A3/2] [ecG][fdA] | "Em"[dBG][ecG][dBG] [dBG][cAF] | "Dm"[.f2d2A2] [Lf2d2A2] [ecG] | "Dm"[fdA]"^Last time go to coda" [ecG][fdA] [dBG][cAF] O|
[1-5 "Dm"[f3/2d3/2A3/2][f3/2d3/2A3/2] [ecG][fdA] | "Em"[Lg2e2B2] [geB][ecG][cAF] :| [6 O"^Coda""Dm"dd dcd| "Em"ee e^fg| "Am".La2z z3 |]

YES!!!!
I’ve been looking for this one for ages. I knew it had some kinda Greek name, but couldn’t remember what, so I couldn’t search.

Thank you!!

Zycanthos

Love it…. what a cracking tune….

Zycanthos vs Zakynthos

On the House Band’s album "October Song", Roger Wilson’s composition is called "The Zakynthos Jig", using the correct name of that Greek island. Since he wrote it, not Eliza Carthy, could we all strive to show respect for the tune, its composer and Greece by using Roger’s title? (The House Band performance is at least as good as Carthy’s.)

5/8 version

Now updated and cleaner.

Re: Zycanthos

Don’t know about the original recording, as I can’t access it, but Eliza Carthy, and also the 422 dance band, are definitely playing this in 6/8, not 5/8. There is a lot of syncopation and tied notes that makes it feel off-beat, but it would sound much odder in 5/8. Reminds me a lot of Horizonto by Blowzabella. Similar feel in places.

Re: Zycanthos

422 play Horizonto in that set. Will give it a go transcribing their version of Zycanthos later.

Zycanthos, X:3

From the playing of 422.

Timing was a bit tricky for a few bars. Think it’s pretty close.

The Zakynthos Jig, X:7

Here’s a notation transcribed directly from the original recording by The House Band, including the composer, Roger Wilson, from the The House Band album "October Song" (Green Linnet GLCD 1190 - 1998)
- YT video linked below. The tune is actually a bit more straightforward than the existing notations here or other performances may seem to suggest. There’s a downloadable notation document here - help yourselves 🙂 : https://app.box.com/s/b20lbpw52eq5dd9q4x7zfkzbjeeo2sy9

X:7
T:The Zakynthos Jig
C:Roger Wilson
O:England
D:October Song (The House Band), Green Linnet GLCD 1190 (1998)
S:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JmqO4131Oc&t=117s & cf https://thesession.org/tunes/10446

Z:Jem Hammond 15:7:2021
R:Jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
Q:3/8=132
K: Am
[P:A]{g}a2a gag|e2a a2g|ecc BcB|AFF "(~)"F3|EAB cBA|FAB cBA|
"@5,-24(~)"B2 "@-9,-4 ( )"e x3 & x2B edB|"(~)"B2d cBA:|]|:[P:B]EAB cBA|FAB cBA|"@6,18(~)"B2B edB|"(~)"B2d cBA|
EAB cBA|FAB cBA|"@6,18(~)"B2B edB|1 B2A A3:|]2B2A ABc |:[P:C (last time x3, then Coda)]d2 d2 c2|dc2 B2A|
d2 d2 cd|"(~)"B3 "(~)"B2A|d2 d2 c2|dc2 B2A|d2 d2 cd|1 e3 -e2e:|]2 e3 -e3|]
O"@-41,20 Coda" {g}a2a gag|e2a a2g|.a2 .a2 .a2|a4 z2|]