The Old Torn Petticoat reel

This version is based on Kevin Burke’s playing on his Promenade recording. I varied the 6th measure of the A Part from the 2nd measure (as Burke plays it) to show another common way of playing that particular phrase in this tune.

Burke plays each half twice through (AABB). it’s also common to play it as a single reel–one time through each half (ABAB).

Played on the concertina by Jacqueline McCarthy, daughter of the late Tom McCarthy of Kilmihil, Clare, on her CD “The Hidden Note”

T: The Old Torn Petticoat
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
D: Kevin Burke and Micheal O Domhnaill - Promenade
C: Traditional
N: This version is taken from the above album, Side A, Track 3. Burke plays the same set—with significant bowing differences—on a more recent cd, Kevin Burke — In Concert. The Promenade version is more representative of his swooping, flowing style. The notation here begins after the bridge Burke plays to get from the previous tune and ends as Burke starts in for the second time around the tune.
K: A dorian

ed|cdBc AE{G}ED|G2 [BG]G DG[BG]G|[cE]E[BE]E AE{G}ED|GABG A2 AB|
|(3ccA BA GE{G}ED|G2 [BG]G DG[BG]G|[cE]E[BE]E AE{G}ED|GABG A2 AB|
|c2 Bc AGED|G2 [BG]G DG[BG]G|[cE]E[BE]E AE{G}ED|GABG A2 AB|
|3ccA BA GE{G}ED|G2 [BG]G DG[BG]G|[cE]E[BE]E A~E3|GA[BE]G [A3E3]A||
|(3Bcd ef g{a}gea{b}|aged cAA2|(3Bcd ef gedg|eaag a3 a|
|bagb agef|~g3e dB[GB]B|c2 (3BcB AE{G}ED|GA[BE]G [A3E3]A|
|(3Bcd ef g{a}gea{b}|aged cAAe|(3Bcd ef gedg|eaag a(3aaa|
|bagb agef|~g3e dB[GB]B|c2 (3BcB AE{G}ED|GA[BE]G A3 A||

The way I learnt it, and have ever after heard it played, is to play that first part, as in the transcription, once, and then the B part twice. That’s because, in this transcription, the repeat of the A part has been written out in full. It does make it unusual though, in having A and B parts of unequal length, with the B part being twice as long as the A part..

X: 1
T: Old Torn Petticoat, The
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Ador
AB|c2 Bc AGEF|G2 BG DGBG|cABG AGEF|GABG A2 AB|
c2 Bc AGEF|G2 BG dGBG|cABG AGEF|GABG A2 AB||
|:(3Bcd ef g3e|aged cA A2|(3Bcd ef gedg|eaag ea a2|
|bagb agef|gage dBGB|c2 Bc AGEF|GABG A2 AB||

Roughly as played by Kevin Burke in the set Walshes, Old Torn Petticoat (hornpipe), Old Torn Petticoat (reel), Bank of Ireland which is on both Promenade and In Concert.
X:2
T:The Old Torn Petticoat
D:Kevin Burke
R:Hornpipe
M:4/4
K:Ador
L:1/8
ed |: “Am” (3cBA “G” (3BAG “Am” AG “Em” ED | “Am” EA AB cd ed | “Am” (3cBA “G” (3BAG “Am” AG “Em” ED |1 “Am”EA AB A2 ed :|2 “Am” EA AB A4 ||
|: “Am” (3ABd ef “G”gf ed | “Am” ea af “G”gf ed | “Am” (3ABd ef “G” gf ed | “Am”ea ag a4 |
“Am” (3ABd ef “G” gf ed | “Am” ea af “G” gf ed | “Am” (3cBA “G” (3BAG “Am” AG “Em” ED | “Am” EA AB A4 :|

Here’s a transcription of a significantly different setting, based on The Shores of Lough Graney, with P. Joe and Martin Hayes on fiddles.

X: 1
T: Old Torn Petticoat, The
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
D: Shores of Lough Graney, P. Joe and Martin Hayes
K: Ador
B|c2 Bc AGEF|G2 BG DGBd|c2 Bc AGEG|AcBG A3B|
c2 cB AGEF|G2 BG DGBd|c2 Bc AGEG|AcBG A3B||
c3d e~g3|ea{b}ag e=fed|cBcd e~g3|eaag a3B|
c3d e~g3|ea{b}ag e=fed|cdBc AGEG|AcBG A3B||

Submitted on February 12th 2012 by ceolachan.
https://thesession.org/tunes/11776

Submitted on May 22nd 2003 by gian marco.
https://thesession.org/tunes/1686

A version of this tune as played by Liam O’Flynn on Planxty’s Cold Blow And he Rainy Night.

is from the playing of Kathleen Conneely (starts @0:51):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld1nsrvvTrw

play video

She plays it ABB, which I quite like.

Sebastian, Thanks for posting, I love this version.

From the album of Mary Rafferty “Hand-Me-Downs” https://thesession.org/recordings/1342