The Liverpool hornpipe

A lovely hornpipe, popular in sessions in my area.

I’ve not heard a 3-part setting before. I’ve heard it played with a 2nd part either like the B-part posted here, or like the C-part, or somewhere between the two. This is one of a large body of hornpipes which is known throughout Great Britain and Ireland, and despite its title, cannot be said to be ‘from’ any particular part thereof.

Irish players I have heard playing this tune, play bars 4, 12 (and, in theory, 20) as:

EDEF GBAG

This is a great tune! Very versatile tempo wise. Accompanying instruments may produce lush harmonies, moving bass lines and fill in substitution chords which sound wonderful at a slower tempo. This also sounds well at speeds approaching a reel.

Been playing it for years and never knew. Neither did the lady I learned it from who played it in Chicago for 30 years. Hmm…

So play it as you learned it then and you’ll show where on the ITM family tree you are? Playing three parts would cause it to become a solo then.

The C part given here is just a variation on the B-part, and I’ve only ever heard it given that way, on several continents and over a long stretch of time… It works as it usually does, as a 32 bar hornpipe, swung by some and straight as an arrow and even reel-like by others…

X: 2
T: Liverpool, The
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: hornpipe
K: Dmaj
|: A>G |\
F>DF>A d>fa>f | g>fe>c d>cB>A | G2 B>G F>GA>F | E>^DE>F (3GBA A>G |
F>DF>A d2 (3agf | g>fe>c d2 (3cBA | d>fa>f b>g (3edc | d2 d>c d2 :|
|:(3ABc |\
d2 f>d c2 e>c | B>^AB>c d>cB>=A | G2 B>G F2 A>F | E>^DE>F G>BA>G |
F>DF>A d>fa>f | g2 (3fec d>cB>A | d>f (3agf b>ge>c | d2 A2 D2 :|

Another option ~ with those variations as a second ending ~

[2 d>fd>f c>ec>e | B>cd>e d2 (3cBA | G>BG>B F>AF>A | E>^DE>F G>BA>G |
F>D (3FGA d>fa>f | g>e (3fec d>cB>A | a>f (3def b>g (3ece | d2 (3ddd d2 |]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vwcCI5ksyk&feature=related

play video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYvU7oBBgKA

play video

N: # Added by andy9876 as “Manchester’s Hornpipe” - January 23rd, 2008
Originally here:

“The Alston Hornpipe”
# Added by ceolachan - January 20th, 2008
https://thesession.org/tunes/8165

With these notes:

I have this as Manchester’s (Joshua Jackson Manuscripts, 1798) which is quite different. Anyone know this by another name? It’s not “Ricketts” (also called “The Manchester”), on here as:
https://thesession.org/tunes/272

# Posted by andy9876 - January 23rd, 2008

c: Maybe Joshua Jackson wasn’t so good with geography? ~ or didn’t like Liverpool? 😏
# Posted by ceolachan - January 23rd, 2008

~ unable to find my copy of Joshua Jackson to check…

I first heard this tune played by the Spinners, I have loved it ever since then. I just think that this one is more like the one the Spinners played 🙂

Setting as played at the Golden Guinea pub session, Bristol, UK.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdc57kju7Z0

play video

This tune it seems to be Swedish..http://www.folktunefinder.com/tunes/15940

Transcribed from Fergal Scahill’s playing on his CD ‘Wayfaring’

This is a version from the Winders of Wyresdale. From c1820s

More info andyhornby.net/Winders.html

re. The Swedish version..
Hornpipes arrived in Sweden via sailors and were called Engelskas ( Englishes) like you might have a Schottische. This one was recorded by the brilliant band Groups on their album “Vildhonung”. A nice variation

Oops, I’ve listened to Groupa almost as long as I’ve known this Liverpool Hornpipe, but never thought of any connection until your post.

The setting as played by Jordi Savall and Andrew Lawrence-King from the album The Celtic Viol II.

Setting in D Major with chords. There are a few triplets but they are in reality two: one as a part of the melody that is always in the same place in the phrasing and another as the anacrusis for the second part. I also added an ending to the parts (before the anacrusis) with a silent note that I don’t see in the other settings.