The Lemonville jig

This is a lovely tune which loses a lot of its charm if played too quickly. It’s possibly a little on the ‘camp’ side, but has a lovely upbeat positive feel to it. Although I learnt this from an Irish fiddler I’m not sure of its origins.

Apparently it’s Canadian. It was popularised in the Borders through the playing of Willy Taylor, but I’ve heard it in (Irish) sessions in the south of England also. I wouldn’t have said that it’s standard Irish session material though - it’s not the same style.

who was the camp Irish fiddler you learned this gay jig from?

Yeah, I guessed it wasn’t Irish. I learnt it (or rather received the music) from Tony Corcoran, a fiddler working in Newcastle where I was brought up (this is about 13 years ago nop). He’s not camp - just the tune! It’s a handy tune to have up your sleeve for ceilidh sets.

Grerat Tune -Canadian origin but Northumbriated by Willy Taylor.
We claim it as ours now,.
Angels of the North play it with The Hogmanny Jig(Andrew Rankin) and The Corner House (Charlie Sherrit). Charlie was a Scot who worked in Newcastle then went down to Corby. It a set of mixed parentage but unified by adoption into the Northumbrian idiom.
Noel Jackson
Angels of the North

"Northumbriated" — LOL! Interesting that you put the Hogmanay with Corner House - we used to do Hogmanay into Corner House into Stool Of Repentance. Can’t remember what we used to play Lemonville with - I’d have to have a look at my old sheetmusic.

I’ve seen his name attached to this tune on other websites.

X: 2
T: Lemonville, The
C: Jack C. Hayes
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmaj
fg |\
aba afd | fgf fdA | ded dAF | G3- Gef |
gag gec | efe ecA | cBA gfe | f3- ffg |
aba afd | fgf fdA | ded def | B3- Bef |
gag gec | efe ecA | cBA gfe | d3- d ||
|: AG |\
FGA AA/B/c | ded dd/e/f | gag gfe | B3- Bed |
cea aed | cea a2 e | cea gfe |[1 fdB A- :|[2 d3- d |]

Quickstep / Two-Step ~ in 6/8 time…

x

This was indeed composed by Canadian fiddler and dance teacher Jack Hayes.

Mention above of Hogmanny Jig, which is "The Hogmanay Jig" which was indeed composed by the late Andrew Rankine. "The Corner House Jig" was also composed by Andrew, not by that fine composer Charlie Sherritt from Aberdeen.

I just found this discussion. Although it’s very old, I’d like to add my tuppence’orth here. Jack Hayes was an Ontario fiddler who died in the 1970’s. He wrote a vast number of tunes and was very active in the square dance scene all over the "Golden Triangle"(Toronto -Hamilton, ON). Lemonville is a tiny community just outside of Hamilton. Ontario’s fiddle traditions are largely overlooked and it’s a shame.Ontario fiddle tunes have their own distinct style. I’m just discovering this local heritage.
There are still the big fiddle/stepdance competitions and some amazing players have come out of that. Shane Cook , for one…not only multiple Canadian Open Fiddle Champion, but the only Canadian to win the US Open Fiddle championship. I’m not keen on competitions, but Shane is an astonishing player!

Thank you Brad for your comments about my father, Jack Hayes. I too just found this thread of conversation about dad and his work along with another blog in the website Ontario Traditional Music Library. It is wonderful to see people are still enjoying dad’s music 25 years after his death.
Dad died on January 25, 1993 of congestive heart failure. He was a composer, old-time fiddler and square dance caller for almost 70 years. I was going to nominate him for an Order of Canada for 70 years promoting Canadian culture as dad was adamant there is a difference between Canadian and American square dance. Unfortunately dad died one year shy of this anniversary.
You were correct about dad calling all throughout the Golden Horseshoe. Just a small correction for you. Lemonville is a small town north of Toronto at McCowan Rd and Bloomington Sideroad. Dad was also a judge for fiddle competitions in Ontario, was a guest on Don Mercer’s Jubilee and has an award dedicated in his name posthumously.

A G Major Take on this tune.