The Fairhaired Child (waltz) on The Session

Also known as An Paisdín Fionn, An Paistin Fionn, The Fair Haired Boy, The Fair Haired Child, The Fair-haired Child, The Little Fair Child, Paisdín Fionn, Paistin Fionn.

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One setting

X: 1
T: The Fairhaired Child
R: waltz

M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: Edor
B2|e3 f e2|d2 e2 f2|g4 e2|f4 gf|
e3 d cB|G3 A Bc|d4 B2|B4 B2|
e3 f e2|d2 e2 f2|g4 e2|f4 gf|
e2 d2 B2|A2 G2 F2|E6|E4||EF|
G3 A Bc|d2 B2 B2|c2 A2 A2|d2 B2 A2|
G3 A Bc|d2 B2 d2|e6|e4 EF|
G3 A Bc|d2 B2 A2|B e3 f2|g3 a fe|
e2 d2 B2|A2 G2 F2|E6|E4||

Ten comments

The Fairhaired Child

I learned this as an Air on the whistle from Al Purcell, never knew it was a waltz.

Air

It’s not a waltz - it’s an air, I think “An Paistin Fionn” in Irish, but there is another tune with the same title.

It’s played as a “Song Air for the Old-Time Waltz” by Jimmy Power on the album “Round the House and Mind the Dresser”. I learned it from there.

Agreed

Yes - it’s a song-air, which I suppose could be played for a waltz, but I don’t think it would make a very good one, being in a minor key. I haven’t heard of this recording ,christine, but I see it has been posted.
If the tracks have been reported accurately, it’s 3rd in a set of 3 tunes after what I would know as a barndance, which would make an unusual medley, to say the least. “Song Air for the Old Time Waltz” has not been posted in the track listing.
Paddy Taylor recorded this as a slow air on his LP, “The Boy In The Gap”.

Round the house and mind the dresser

The tune listing in the archives for this CD have got a bit out of kilter. This tune is listed as “The Little Fair Child [Song Air for the Old-Time Waltz]”, and stands alone as track 5. Jimmy Power plays it in a slow and stately fashion.

Thanks

Thanks, GraemeO. That makes more sense.

Well, it certainly is gloomy and wistful sounding for a waltz, that’s true Kenny. I’m very fond of minor tunes. The way Jimmy Power plays it sends chills up my spine 🙂

No 13

Both “Paistin Fionn” and “The Fair Haired Child” are the names given to this tune -albeit a more elaborate form thereof- in Edward Bunting’s 1796 edition of his ancient airs of Ireland; No13, p7.

http://www.earlygaelicharp.info/sources/bunting.htm

http://imslp.org/wiki/The_Ancient_Music_of_Ireland_(Bunting,_Edward)

Version

Another waltz version, but in D, playing by Mary Mc Namara, not very far from the Danu song-version, and th Chieftains air-version :
X: 1
T: Fairhaired Child, The
T:An Paistin Fionn
D:Danu/Mary Mc Namara/Chieftains….
R: waltz
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K:D
A4d2|d3cd2|f3ed2|e3fe2|d3ed2|d2A2B2|=c4B2|A2F2G2|
A4d2|d3cd2|f3ed2|e3fe2|d2c2A2|G2E2A2|D3ED2|1D2F2G2:|2D6||
|:F3GA2|c2A2A2|B2G2G2|A2F2D2|F3GA2|c2d2e2|d4c2|d4D2|
F3GA2|c2A2A2|d2e2f2|g3fe2|d2c2A2|G2E2A2|D3ED2|D6:|

The Fairhaired Child waltz