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Brendan Tonra’s jig

Also known as Brenda Tonra’s, Brendan Tone Rowe’s, Brendan Tonro’s, Carmen’s Amber, Joe O’Dowds, O’Mallies, The Tone Row, Tone Rowe’s, Tone Rowes, Tonra’s, Tonro’s, Tonroe’s, Tony Rowe’s.

There are 51 recordings of a tune by this name.

A tune by this name has been recorded together with The Killavil (lots of times), Condon’s Frolics (a few times), Willie Coleman’s (a few times), The Bride’s Favourite (a few times) and The Gold Ring (a few times).

Brendan Tonra’s has been added to 13 tune sets.

Brendan Tonra's has been added to 250 tunebooks.

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Five settings

X: 1
T: Brendan Tonra's
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
E|~F3 AFE|EDB, A,B,D|FEF GFG|ABF AFE|
~F3 AFE|EDB, A,B,D|FEF GFG|AFD D2:|
e|f2 d dcd |edc Bcd|f2d dcd|ABF Ade|
f2d dcd|edc Bcd|faf gec|dAF D2:|
X: 2
T: Brendan Tonra's
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|: E |F^EF AF=E | EDB A2 D | F^EF G2 G | ABF AFE |
F^EF AF=E | EDB ABD | F^EF G=E/F/G | BAF D2 :|
|: e |f2 d dcd | edc Bcd | fdd dcd | ABF Ade |
f2 d dcd | edc BB/c/d | f/g/af g>ec | Adc d2 :|
X: 3
T: Brendan Tonra's
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
A|B3 dBA|AGE DEG|BAB cBc|deB dBA|
B3 dBA|AGE DEG|BAB cBc|dBG G2:|
a|b2 g gfg |agf efg|b2g gfg|deB dga|
b2g gfg|agf efg|bd'b c'af|gba g2:|
X: 4
T: Brendan Tonra's
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
E|F3 AFe|edB ABd|FEF GFG|ABF AFE|
F3 AFe|edB ABd|FEF GFG|BAF D2:|
e|f2d dcd |edc Bcd|f2d dcd|AdF Ade|
f2d dcd|edc Bcd|faf gec|dAF D2:|
# Added by JACKB .
X: 5
T: Brendan Tonra's
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
E|F3 AFE|EDB ABd|FEF GFG|ABF AFE|
F3 AFE|EDB ABd|FEF GFG|BAF D2:|
e|f2d dB/c/d |edc Bcd|f2d dB/c/d|AdF Ade|
f2d dB/c/d|edc Bcd|faf gec|dAF D2:|
# Added by JACKB .

Fourteen comments

Brendan Tonra

Here’s a "new" compostion that has worked it’s way into the common session rep.. It’s already enjoyed a name transmutation, the composer of this tune is Brendan Tonra - a Boston area sligo fiddler. His name transformed into Tony Rowes or Tone Rowes or tone-rows (like the twelve tone ones) but let it be known - this mighty tune was penned by Brendan Tonra.

Here in Montana we know this one as Brendan Tonra’s, so there must be a strong Montana-Boston connection.

Posted .

And I’ve also seen it spelled Tonro’s in printed sources.

Posted .

Brad, if Brendan Tonra’s is its proper name, why didn’t you call it that?

btw, at our session we play the last bar of each part differently: |BAF D3| and |edc d3|

Tonra’s

One of the great jigs (what a melody!) and one that fits beautifully before the Killavil. The story goes that Brendan Tonra and Fred Finn were playing these tunes in a pub in Killavil and didn’t have a name for the second jig so they called it after the town.

“Brendan Tonra’s Jig” ~ other ways, with an ‘option’ not to drop below the D

X: 2
T: Brendan Tonra’s
C: Brendan Tonra
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmaj
|: E |\
F^EF AF=E | EDB A2 D | F^EF G2 G | ABF AFE |
F^EF AF=E | EDB ABD | F^EF G=E/F/G | BAF D2 :|
|: e |\
f2 d dcd | edc Bcd | fdd dcd | ABF Ade |
f2 d dcd | edc BB/c/d | f/g/af g>ec | Adc d2 :|

Thanks "c" for the version for those instruments without low As and Bs. I now have a solution for all those perplexed whistle and flute players who’ve been cursing this tune over the years. Also like the introduction of the slide to F natural in the first phrase!

~ | EDB AFD | ~ A-Part, bars 2 & 6

There’s another option for you, descending in 3rds, the D chord [DFA]…

…or you can just play the first part of the tune same as the fiddle but up the octave…

Tune Title

The correct title for this jig (supplied by Brendan Tonra) is Tonra’s Jig.

Susan Songer

Same tune in G

X: 1
T: Tony Rowe’s
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K:Gmaj
A|B3 dBA|AGE DEG|BAB cBc|deB dBA|
B3 dBA|AGE DEG|BAB cBc|dBG G2:|
a|b2 g gfg |agf efg|b2g gfg|deB dga|
b2g gfg|agf efg|bd’b c’af|gba g2:|

this version goes up to the high d’ but avoid sub-whistle, -flute or -pipes notes…

Carmen’s Amber

Andy McGann learned the tune from touring musicians from Clare, had no name for it, so named it after amber earrings worn by Carmen Hernandez, a good friend. (liner notes from ‘It’s a Hard Road to Travel’ (1995).)