Roumen Sirakov’s Daichevo slip jig

This transcription took me a while. I haven’t played tunes in 9 much, so it isn’t wired into my head. The version here is a generalisation of the variations that appear on the Mozaik album and various recorded versions by Andy Irvine. I wasn’t game to transcribe from Andy’s solo versions as the rythym wasn’t all that obvious. But with Donal Lunny and the backing and some fiddle from Rens, the beat was easier to pick. I noted some variations in the recording that I suspect are unintended, so left them out. Interestingly, I heard from a friend about Bruce Molsky’s take on Mozaik. Friend is a keen old-timey banjo player, and hosted bruce on part of his recent trip to Australia. I’m told Bruce described the Mozaik experience as treating meter the way a mechanic changes spanner sizes, but with a subterannean streak of panic for Bruce who was more used to playing in the 3s and 4s of old time. I can just imagine flying in and having a week or so to practice this new repertore before appearing at the biggest Australian folk festival. Impressive!

Just a little note to whoever is interested. As you probably guessed, this is not actually a slip jig, as it is not an Irish tune. It is a daichovo horo, a dance from Bulgaria in 9/8 time-signature. The nine beats are divided in four groups of 2 and 3 beats in the following order: 2-2-2-3.

Andy Irvines version is a significant simplification of the original tune, written by Roumen Sirikov, the acknowledged founder of the modern Bulgarian Tamboura style.
Here is a track of Ludmil Krumov playing to the orginal Sirikov and orchestra recording. Its worth a watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHqWWJsB-cQ

play video

I have uploaded a transcription.