The Lark On The Strand jig

This tune is on the Paddy Keenan (self-titled) album (on gael-linn), played by Thomas Keenan.

I think this tune probably belongs in another key, like A dorian, ie. without c#, even though the note only comes once, it sounds really strange that way. Perhaps a b would sound better? I’m sure Keenan isn’t going to change it, but if I get around to playing it, I’ll be fiddling around to find the right note there.

I learned a tune similar to this one by the name of "The Stolen Purse" (the A part is a little different) from someone who says it was from the playing of William J. Mullally.

I think you are correct about the b instead of the c#. However between the b and the d there is a slide through c#.

There is quite a good and somewhat simpler version ( the one by Tony Higgins in Bb ) of this tune at tinwhistle.com. The A part goes something like this
ABA AGA | BGE G2G | ABA GBd | e3 edB |
ABA AGA | BGE G2G | ABA G2B | dBG BdB |

The link above should be
http://www.tinwhistletunes.com/clipssnip/jigs.html

I’ve been playing the tune like this:

K: Ador
~A3 ABc|BGE ~G3|ABA GBd|egd edB|
~A3 ABc|BGE G2D|GBA G2B|dBG BdB:|
GBd ~g3|gba gdB|GBd g2f|egd edB|
GBd ~g3|gba ~g3|a2b age|edg edB:|

Key signature: A Dorian
Submitted on March 13th 2004 by Bill Reeder.
https://thesession.org/tunes/2646

I’m glad I found this tune. I forgot the name, but was thinking of playing it for the fleadh. Great site! Anyways, I’ve been playing this with a B rather than C#. I throw in some triplet runs that work great on flute going from B to C natural and then D. You can pretty much tell the tune isn’t in "D" because it "wants" to end on "A". It would sound quite odd to end on D… I’m curious to find out what Keenan does with it.

I had another listen to this and updated the ABC’s (which means they are a bit different to the sheet music)

I also know this tune as the Stolen Purse. The Lark on the Strand jig that I know, is a different tune and was a very popular jig played by all and sundry back in the sixties.

Very helpful mp3 download for learning this tune by ear can be found at http://www.mattandshannonheaton.com/totm.html

There are two jigs known as The Lark on the Strand. The Stolen Purse is a bit similar but different tune.

I know this tune under the name of "Paddy Hughes", learnt on the Na Fili’s album "Farewell to Connacht". I play it like this :
X:1
T: Paddy Hughes
M:6/8
R:jig
K:G
ABG AGA | BGE G3 | ABA GBd | egd edB | ABG AGA | BGE G2 D | GBA G2B | dBG BdB :|:
GBd ggg | gba gdB | GBd g2d | egd edB | GBd ggg | gba ggg | aba age | egd edB :|
The track on Na Fili’s album is followed by Garett Barry’s that suit particularly well with it.

Second in the set after A Fig For A Kiss.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26QgRgGFFVg

play video

David E.

Lovely jig