Whiskey Before Breakfast reel

This tune has become a real staple of the Canadian prairie repertoire and is a core tune in the Metis fiddle culture of the northwest. It was made popular in Canada in the 1950s and 60s via the recordings of Andy DeJarlis, a Metis fiddler who enjoyed a recording an broadcasting carreer in Canada.
I think this tune shares a lot of genetic material with “Speed The Plow” and “Roxburgh Castle”. I wonder which came first. Yeah, I know…who cares?
Ian

Hi Folks!

Here is a nice variation on the piece. Jeremy said he could not list it and suggested I post it as a comment:

|: D2 G2 GA B2|c2 d2 dc BA|G2 c2 cc B2|1 BB AB AG _GE :|2 BB AG _G2 =G2
|:g2 gg g2 gg|gf e2 d3 z| a2 aa a3a |b c’b a2 g2 z|g2 bg f2 af|e2 ge d2
z2|c2 ec B2
dB|AG _G2 =G2 :|

Enjoy,

Doc Lawlor

Yet another variation,

A,B,DE D2FG|AFBF A2EF|G2BG F2AF|1 EDEF EDB,A,:|2 EDEF D4|
|:F2d2 d2Bc|dcdA BAFA|e4 e2ef|gfed cABc|
d2fd c2ec|BABd BAFD|G2BG F2AF|EDEF D2z2:||

also enjoy!

trevor

Here’a varaition for the first two bars of the second part.
A2 B2 d2 cd|efed cBAc|. David Meredith

Deby Benton Grosjean plays this in a set with North Carolina Breakdown

I’m flumoxed regarding playing this tune on a standard D whistle - AFAIK, such whistles only go down to low D, and this tune *starts* on low A! I know it’s possible, as I’ve heard whistle players do this tune many a time - but I can’t get the hearing of it to come out right… Suggestions appreciated…

Jesse, that low A, start isn’t “required.” Most people start on D. Try this on for size:

X: 1
T: Whiskey Before Breakfast
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: D
DEFG AFDF|ABAG FEDF|GABG FGAF|EDEF GFEG|
DEFG AFDF|ABAG FEDF|GABG FGAF|1 EDEF D2 FE:|2 EDEF D3 A||
FABc d2 dc|defg afdf|edef gfef|gfed cABc|
defd cdec|BABc dAFA|GABG FGAF|1 EDEF D3 A :|2 EDEF D2 FE||

And mind that there are lots of opportunities for rolls or crans in here.

Or play it in D on a low A whistle.

I learned that if you play this tune in church you call it “Spirits in the Morning” 🙂

here’s a flute or pipe friendly variation on the 1st part:
(the changes happen to harmonise as well)
FDFG A2 A2 | ABAG FEDF | G2 BG F2AF | EDEF GFEF |
EDFG A2 A2 | ABAG FEDF | G2 BG F2 AF | EDEF D4 :|

This tune has almost a stately gait, c’est assez posé, mesuré… more Classical or litterary, in other words, than the more flowing, off beat Irish style.

..more polite; for strutting or marching (as a figure of dance) rather than tapping about..

You have to hear Andy de Jarlis play this song. it is on youtube. Amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RZ25JBzQR8

play video

Does anyone know which version Reg Bouvette plays on Youtube?

I first heard this setting on a session, it can be also heard on this tutorial video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hTpIYDXkc8

play video

My friend taught me this version of Whiskey Before Breakfast. He found it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hTpIYDXkc8

play video

This seems to be the version most popular here in Sweden. I think it was taught on some folk music in the early 1980s and just spread.

After having several people try to convince me that this os an Irish tune, I did my research a couple years ago and found out that it is a Metis tune. Andy De Jarlis was the first person to publish it and it is unclear whether he actually wrote it, but that is a possibility. It does seem to have achieved some notoriety in Irish American circles.

Definitely not Scottish with that spelling!

Hi,
As others pointed out that Andy deJarlis first recorded this tune and maybe wrote it, I tried to transcribe his version ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RZ25JBzQR8 ).

play video

The version of this tune which we use at the dances of the local folk dance/contra dance society is very similar to the version which was posted on here by “Fidicen”.
Although the dances are held in the fellowship hall at a local Presbyterian church, we don’t use the alternate name of “Spirits In The Morning” when we play this tune for a dance.

Laurence

This is how I play the tune. Not that different from some of the main lines here but I think it has a more open feel.

Years ago our old time string band was invited to fill in at a local Methodist church for two Sunday services when the pastor was away on his annual vacation. Our performance comprised the entire program of both the early and late services. I don’t remember what else we played but “Spirits of the Morning” accompanied the passing of the collection baskets during both.