Da Farder Ben Da Welcomer (polka) on The Session

One setting

X: 1
T: Da Farder Ben Da Welcomer
R: polka

M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
E|A/B/d A/B/A/F/|AA2 A/F/|Dd A/B/A/F/|E =C2 E|
A/B/d A/B/A/F/|DA/c/ d>A|BA/B/ d/B/A/F/|E =C2:|
A|dd e/f/g/e/|a/f/e/d/ cA|dd e/f/g/e/|a/f/e/f/ dA|dd e/f/g/e/|
a/f/e/d/ cA|dd e/f/g/e/|a/f/e/d/ e/f/g/e/|a/f/e/d/ e/f/g/e/|a/f/e/f/ d:|
A|B/A/B/c/ d/B/A/F/|E =C2E|A/B/A/F/ A/B/A/F/|A A2 A/F/|A/B/A/F/ A/B/A/F/|
E =C2E|A/B/A/F/ A/B/A/F/|DA/c/ d>A|BA/B/ d/B/A/F/|E =C2||

Three comments

Great Shetland tune I learnt from a Fiddlers Bid CD. Not a polka - sometimes the abc needs shoehorning into a category.

abc adapted from JC’s tunefinder

take a listen to a snippet here
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003B78Q8C/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00005UKQJ&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=0CAVZF8FCVJRH27E1T0M

some info from ibiblio Fiddler’s Companion

FA(R)DER BEN DA WELCOMER, DA. Shetland, Listening Tune (2/4 time). Shetland, Walls. D Major. Standard. AABB (Cooke {version B}): AABBC (Anderson & Georgeson, Cooke {version A}): AA‘BBC (Carlin). The tune was played in Walls as a welcome on the return from the kirk of the bridal party to the Bride’s home (in Unst “Da Bride is a Boannie Ting” was played instead). It was also occasionally played as a listening tune at the wedding dance, state Anderson & Georgeson (1970). The tune was listed in Hoseason’s 1863 MS. “Neither Stickle nor Fraser gave any hint that it may have been danced, but the title appears in a list of ’Names of Reels or Dance Music collected in the Island of Unst’ in the Notes section of the Old Lore Miscellany (vol. 4, 1913). Its asymmetrical phrasing and internal repetitions lead one to think it is not of Scottish origin” (Cooke, 1986). Francis Collinson also suggests the tune may be of Norwegian origin. Sources for notated versions: John Stickle (Unst, Shetland) [Cooke, version B], Peter Fraser (Shetland) [Cooke {version A}, Anderson & Georgeson]. Anderson & Georgeson (Da Mirrie Dancers), 1970; ppg. 10. Carlin (English Concertina), 1977; pgs. 48‑49. Cooke (The Fiddle Tradition of the Shetland Isles), 1986; Ex. 30a and 30b, pgs. 82‑83. Shetland Folklore Society ‑ “Shetland Folk Book.”

See the Balcarres Lute MS (Fife, c 1695 -1702) - “The More Discreet the Welcomer”.

The Henry Atkinson MS (Northumberland, c 1694) - “Ffarther be in the Welcomer”.

The title could obviously have a sexual connotation.

The tune, and title, in several variants was apparently around Scotland and Northern England in the 17th century. I would doubt the validity of Collinson’s suggestion of Norwegian origin.

Da Farder Ben Da Welcomer polka

One setting

Three comments