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The Antigonish Polka barndance

Also known as Antigonish Polka #1, The Antigonish Polka 1, Antigonish Polka No. 1, The Antigonish Polkas No. 1, The Síbín Set #1.

There are 8 recordings of this tune.

The Antigonish Polka has been added to 1 tune set.

The Antigonish Polka has been added to 29 tunebooks.

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Four settings

1
X: 1
T: The Antigonish Polka
R: barndance
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|:FG|A2 f2 fedB|A2 AB AGFA|d2 cd b2 a2|g3 a gfed|
c2 cd cBAc|d2 dc defg|a/b/a ^ga b2 c2|d4- d2:|
|:B2|A/B/A ^GA Bcde|f4 fedB|A2 ^GA Bcde|f3 A fagf|
eagf edcB|Aagf edcB|A/B/A ^GA BAFA|d4- d2:|
2
X: 2
T: The Antigonish Polka
R: barndance
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|:(3EFG|A2 f2 f>ed>B|A2 A>B A>GF>A|(3ded c>d b2 a2|g2- g>a g2 (3fed|
c2 c>d c>B A2|d2 d>c d2 (3efg|(3aba ^ga b2 c2|d4- d2:|
|:(3dcB|A2 ^G>A B>cd>e|f2- f>g f>e d2|(3ABA ^G>A B>cd>e|f2- f>^e f2 (3agf|
e>ag>f e2 (3dcB|A>ag>f e>dc>B|(3ABA ^G>A B>A (3FGA|d4- d2:|
3
X: 3
T: The Antigonish Polka
R: barndance
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|:B|A2 f2 fedB|A2 AB AGFA|d2 cd b2 a2|gfga gfed|
c2 cd cBAc|d2 dc defg|a2 ^ga b2 c2|d4 d3:|
|:B|A/A/A ^GA Bcde|f2 A2 f<a- a2|A2 ^GA Bcde|f2 A2 f<agf|
eagf edcB|Aagf edcB|A/A/A ^GA BAFA|d4 d3:|
4
X: 4
T: The Antigonish Polka
R: barndance
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
FG|:A2 f2 fedB|A2 AB AGFA|d2 cd b2a2|g2ga gfed|
c2 cd cBAc|d3c defg|a2 ^ga b2 c2|d4- d2FG:|
|:A2 ^GA Bcde|f2A2 f2FG|A2 ^GA Bcde|f2A2 fagf|
eagf edcB|Aagf edcB|A/B/A ^GA B2c2|d4- d2FG:|

Seven comments

"Antigonish Polka #1"

This is a case of accepting someone else’s name for a ‘Gan Ainm’. This and another ‘ballroom’ style polka have become known as "The Antigonish Polkas" in Cape Breton and Nova Scotia, Canada, as played by Winston "Scotty" Fitzgerald for dances in Antigonish, Nova Scotia where they were fond of this type of ‘polka’ for their sets. These two ‘polkas’ are again tunes I’ve come across elsewhere in early printed sources ~ somewhere in that mass of work out there from the late 1800s to the Second World War. I am also sure I’ve heard them played in the old time repertoire, and possibly also in printed collections there. It would be wonderful if someone out there made the connection and could give an earlier name and source.

These tunes can be found written out in 2/4 or as I’ve chosen here, 4/4, and they ‘swing’ nicely too, if you choose to take them that way. Another transcription in 2/4 can be found in the following excellent collection:

"Winston Fitzgerald: A Collection of Fiddle Tunes" ~ page 82
Compiled and edited by Paul Cranford
Cranford Publications, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, 1997
http://www.cranfordpub.com/
ISBN: 0-9691181-7-1

Hiccup or srew-up, the penultimate choice:

~ | (3ABA ^ga BAFA | d4- d2 :|
- or -
~ | (3ABA ^GA BAFA | d4- d2 :|

X: 3 "The Antigonish Polkas No. 1"

"Wendy MacIsaac: That’s What You Get"
track 12: Two (3) Polkas and a Reel ~
Traditional ‘gan ainm’ Polka / "The Antigonish Polkas No. 1" / "The Antigonish Polkas No. 2" / "The Princess Royal"