The Good Natured Man hornpipe

You can hear a nice version of this on Martin Hayes’s cd “Martin Hayes,” though I think he does it in F. Most commonly played in G major as posted here, watch for those accidentals in the second measure of Part B.

As a hornpipe, it goes well at a slow to moderate tempo, and seems to want to linger on the second main downbeat of each bar (the 5th note in the count of 8). It goes well with Chief O’ Neill’s Favorite, the Hangman’s Noose, or An Comhra Donn.

There’a new CD out by 2 of Scotland’s finest young(ish) musicians, Iain MacDonald (pipes & flute - ex-“Battlefield Band” & “Ossian”), and Iain MacFarlane (fiddle), which has this tune on it. (Cd is titled“The First Harvest”).
It is a composition of Scottish-born, but Gateshead-resident fiddle-player James Hill, who also wrote “The High-Level Hornpipe”, “The Bees-wing”, and , according to Joe Burke, “The Scholar”. Many of his compositions have entered the repertoire of traditional Irish musicians. Also recorded by “The Boys Of The Lough” on their “West of Ireland” CD. A fine tune, so credit where it is due to the composer.

According to the Fiddler’s Companion it is not certain whether Hill composed this. I found this on the net:

S:George Spencer m/s, Leeds,1831
|:d2|g2bg d2gd|B2dB G2G2|F2AF D2d2|c2B2 B2d2|
g2bg d2gd|B2dB G2BG|FGAB cAGF|G2G2 G2:|
|:Bc|d2de dBGB|c2cd cAFA|GABc defg|edcB A2Bc|
d2de dBGB|c2cd cAFA|Ggec BdFA|G2G2 G2:|

Considering Hill was actively composing stuff 1840-1860 this seems a bit early to me.

Not that it really matters. It’s a nice tune. Where I’m from it’s known as “The Steamboat Hornpipe”. The version I play is one that I got from a handwritten manuscript photocopied for me when I was at school. It goes like this:

|:(3def|g2bg d2gd|BcdB G2AB|c2ec A2cA|FGAB cdef|
g2bg d2gd|BcdB G2AB|cedc BAGF|A2G2 G2:|
|:Bc|dBdB g2gd|ecec a2ae|fefd gfgb|agfe defd|
g2bg d2gd|BcdB G2AB|cedc BAGF|A2G2 G2:|

Not on the track listing, but a cracking version can be heard here: https://thesession.org/recordings/3735

In Kohler’s Violin Repository it is called “The Steamboat Hornpipe” as well, with no composer credit.

I was tripping up over the rhythm at an English session. Then I found the recording as a rant here http://www.folknortheast.com/learn/beginners-guide/rant1 (middle tune of the clip). Something like this:

d2 | g2bg d2gd | BcdB G2AB | c2ec A2 ag | fgaf d2 ef|
g2bg d2gd | BcdB G2AB | cedc BAGF | Az G2 G2 :|
Bc | dBdB g2g2 | ecec a2a2 | fdfd g2g2 | fgaf d2 ef |
g2bg d2gd | BcdB G2AB | cedc BAGF | Az G2 G2 :|

Has the ‘too toot’ of the boat enjoyed at some English sessions. Next to no swing, third beat 1/4 note in most bars clipped a bit.

Good natured persons may find it a bit daggy like this 😉

X: 5
T: Steamboat, The
S: ~ from memory…
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: hornpipe
K: GMaj
|: d/e/f |\
g2 bg d2 gd | BcdB G2 AB | c2 ec A2 cA |FGAB cdef |
g2 bg d2 gd | BcdB G2 AB | cedc BGAF | G2 B2 G2 :|
|: Bc |\
d^cdB G2 cd | ecec A2 Bc | d^cdB edcB | FGAB cAFA |
d^cdB G2 cd | ecec A2 AB | cedc BGAF | G2 B2 G2 :|

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8mNRWhkxWE

play video

Version as played at the Golden Guinea pub session, Bristol (UK).

At at the Golden Guinea pub session, Bristol (UK) it is normally played with a tune which we call “Steamboat No. 2”

https://thesession.org/tunes/14271#setting26026

As played by Boys of the Lough
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8mNRWhkxWE

play video

I love this in F major, and I particularly like the accidental sharps in the second measure of the B part.

In F Major, this can follow the Brown Coffin in G Minor from the classic Martin Hayes set.

Source: An Tower
Transcription: Gian Marco Pietrasanta

Unlike you not to check, gian marco…
https://thesession.org/tunes/312

From the playing of Iain MacDonald and Iain MacFarlane.

The First Harvest. Track 3.1 (The Steamboat).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_habZDa3srA

play video

They add a wee variation in the repeat of the B part that I’ve also included.