The Jig Runrig jig

Composed by Fergie MacDonald in the mid 1990’s. Still one of the most common jigs in Scottish sessions to this day - easy to learn and the pattern seems to stick well. If the demon players think it’s too easy, try winding up the tempo (and still maintain the precision!). Originally suggested played in Key D, repeat in G, then in A, before returning to the original key D. Also encourage some players (if required) to experiment with simple harmonies in Part B starting with 3rd’s on the cuckoo notes etc - good fun!

I luv this tune i first played it when i was playing at a concert thing with my local group. i had never seen the music before but it is such a brilliant tune the notes just come to your fingers i was playing with the rst of them as though i had been playing since i had learned how to pick up a fiddle. It was great! Thats why i simply had to find the music for it.

If anyone can ascribe a name to this tune I’d be much obliged, I really like it and want to play it for a Ceilidh band without just “no name”.

I found it in this Aly Bain/Phil Cunningham video , it’s the first 30s of music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmgrHRKOcwI

play video

You’ll find this is here:
https://thesession.org/tunes/1827

I just couldn’t think of another way to identify it! You are most helpful ;)

I know it sounds mad, and it’s not for sessions, but just for a bit of fun, try it as a slow waltz, I think it’s quite nice, give each bar lots of space, and scatter in grace notes, it sounds quite beautiful really slow. Give it a wee shot, just for a laugh

The Gaelic singer Darren Maclean has written words using a simplified version of this melody to create a piece of rhythmic ‘port à beul’ (mouth music).

Chaidh sinn su-as, suas gu Beinn Ea-darr-a, Suas dhan a’ bheinn air son uis-ge ri òl,
Ea-darr-a, Ea-darr-a, suas gu Beinn Ea-darr-a, Suas dhan a’ bheinn air-son uis-ge ri òl.

(We went up, up to Mount Edra, Up to the mountain for water to drink,)
(Edra, Edra, up to Mount Edra, Up to the mountain for water to drink.)

Beinn Eadarra (Beinn Eadra) is in Trotternish, the northern-most peninsula on the Isle of Skye.

The Anglicised version of the name of the mountain (as shown on the Ordnance Survey map) should read Beinn Edra.

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