The Lark On The Strand jig

There are already four tunes in the database with the name Lark On (or In) The Strand as their primary or a secondary name. As far as I’m aware, the primary name for this jig is The Lark On The Strand. However I’m told, by the ever-erudite Danny, that he’s heard this tune referred to as “The Kesh” and it shares a number of bars with “The Kesh” that we all know and love/hate (delete as appropriate). I’ve also heard someone, once, God knows where, refer to it as “The Old Kesh”. However in both cases, I’d be loathe to use the “another name” feature here on the basis of just one reference (even if one of those references is m’Lord Danny!). Whatever … a great wee tune.

…if you want a name that isn’t given to any other tune and isn’t on the database already.

Thanks Dow … shall you do it or shall I?

Do what?

It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing, Dow… do what do what do what do what do what

Never mind; it’s done! (with swing?)

Actually … if you’re a keshophile (cos the Irish trad world seems to divide into keshophiles and kechophobes) … this tune and The Kesh make a great set. The recurring themes in the 3rd and 4th bars of the A parts of each give the set a nice thread of continuity. (If you’re a keshophobe, of course, then you may not like The Lark On The Strand much … too many unpleasant connotations!)

Or, if you couldn’t give a damn either way but you’ve a few Keshophobes about you’d like to wind up ~ let rip… But get some support just in case those phobes are pushing a multi-reed Mac Truck (piano accordions in less than considerate hands) or one of those rocket ships (certain modern union pipes)… 😉

Grey Larsen has a nice version, part of his solo riff in a duet medley at a gig, here: http://youtu.be/QqKWhBnfGBc Starts out with Poll Ha’penny (hornpipe) then at 2:35 Lark on the Strand… short, but sweet version! Ends 3:41. Worth checking out, gorgeous bouncy little triplets. Finishes with The Windy Gap. Both the first and third pieces get longer shrift, possibly b/c he finds them more interesting?

play video

The Brendan Breatnach’s Ceol Rince Na hEireann vol 1-5 corresponds to the present setting #1 and is called “Gleanntan na Samhaircini”, but sorry my keyboard has no accented i’s to write it properly. The #7 of the same book is named “An Fhuiseog ar an Trà” which can be translated by “The lark on the strand” but with another melody corresponding to the one posted here https://thesession.org/tunes/1634
By the way, what does mean, or where is, “Samhaircini” (google maps doesn’t know it) ?

I forgot to mention another title of this as mentionned in Brendan Breathnach vol1 notes for #5 : Wicky Sears

What’s happening there in bar 6? Is it supposed to be crooked?

Nellie-in neither setting is bar 6 crooked, nor is it supposed to be. If you’re thinking of bar 6 of didier’s setting, the triplet takes up 2/3 of the second half of the measure.

To answer to myself (!), “sabhraicín” means primrose (gen. plur. sabhraicíní), thus the english name “primrose glen” (more exactly little valley of the primroses)

This setting comes from my great grandfather, who got it from Tom Billy Murphy of Ballydesmond. It’s a nice tune and as mentioned above is easily confused with the Kesh. I play it in a set I got from him, with Tom Billy’s 3-part jig.
I’ve heard other variations on the B part here in Boston, but don’t think the tune is played much anymore.

https://vimeo.com/38912664#t=1019s

Here it is the version i learnt to play and added some slightly variations (not precise) i took from the album from Eoin Ó’Riabhaigh - “Tiomnacht (Handed On)”.

K: Gmaj
BA|:GEF G2A|BAG ABd|edd gdd|edB dBA|
GEF G2A|BAG ABd|edd gdB|1AGF GBA:|2AGF G2f||
|:~g3 efg|afd edB|A2d fdd|ed^c def|
~g3 ~a3|bag fge|dBd gdB|AGF G3||
“variation1”
BA|GEF G2D|BAG ABd|edd gdd|edB dBA|
|GEF GGB|AGB ABd|edg edB|AGF G3|
“variation2”
~g3 abc’|bag fgf|edc BAG|BGF G2f|
“variation3”
~g3 ~a3|bag fgf|edc B(3A.^c.A|BGF G3||