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The Teelin barndance

Also known as Teelin #2, The Teelin #2, The Teelin Polkas.

There are 5 recordings of this tune.

The Teelin has been added to 16 tunebooks.

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Two settings

1
X: 1
T: The Teelin
R: barndance
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
d>c |B2 D2 G2- G>A | B2 A2 A2 (3ABc | d2 d2 ^c2 d2 | e2 d2 B>dB>A |
B2 D2 G2- G>A | B2 A2 A2- A>d | e2 ^d2 e2 F2 | A2 G2 G>ed>c |
B2 D2 G>FG>A | B2 A2 A>^GA>B | d2 ^cd (3ded c>d | e2 (3ded B2- B>^A |
B2 D2- D2 G>A | B2 A2 A2 (3Bcd | e2- e>^d e2 F>G | A2 G2 G2- ||
G>A |B2 d2 b2- b>a | g2 B2 d2 (3efg | f2 e2 A>Bc>d | e2 d2 B2- B>A |
G>AB>d b>^ab>=a | g2 B2 d2- d>g | f2 e2 f2 F2 | A2 G2 G2- G>A |
B2 d2 b>c'b>a | g2 B2 d>Bd>g | f2 e2 A>Bc>d | e2 d2 G>AB>c |
G>A (3Bcd (3bbb b>a | g2 B2 d2 (3eeg | f2 e2 f2- f>F | A2 G2 G2 |]
2
X: 2
T: The Teelin
R: barndance
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|: d>c |B2 D2 G2- G>A | B2 A2 A2 (3ABc | d2 d2 ^c2 d2 | e2 d2 B>dB>A |
B2 D2 G2- G>A | B2 A2 A2- A>d | e2 ^d2 e2 F2 |[1 A2 G2 G>e :|[2 A2 G2 G2- ||
|: G>A |B2 d2 b2- b>a | g2 B2 d2 (3efg | f2 e2 A>Bc>d | e2 d2 B2- B>A |
GABd b2- b>a | g2 B2 d2- d>g | f2 e2 f2 F2 |1 A2 G2 G2- :|2 A2 G2 G2 |]

Four comments

"The Teelin #2" / "The Teelin Polkas #2"

More in the family of barndance / schottische than polka, but the term ‘polka’ got around, mainly because the ‘step’ or ‘steps’ associated with the term were used in all sorts of music, including 3/4 waltzes and mazurkas and numerous 2/4 and 4/4 melodies, including marches. Also, the dances associated with these forms are not as common as they once were, and these defined each other, dance and music…

This pair, #1 & #2, I learned ages ago but haven’t found those recordings or notes. Bumbling on my behalf, taking some of the blame, lead to the great harddisk meltdown of 2006. Enough said, or I’ll start crying… The transcription here is basically gleaned from the playing of Gerry & Eilish O’Connor. A recording of these two tunes in a set can be found on Skylark’s CD "all of it", track 10: "The Teelin Polkas"…

"The Teelin #2" / "The Teelin Polkas #2" ~ straight

These tunes could also be transcribed in 2/4, but they are, even at a clip, played with swing…but not exagerrated, the classic 2-to-1… (never 3-to-1)…

K: G Major
|: dc |
B2 D2 G3 A | B2 A2 A2 (3ABc | d2 d2 ^c2 d2 | e2 d2 BdBA |
B2 D2 G3 A | B2 A2 A3 d | e2 ^d2 e2 F2 |1 A2 G2 Ge :|2 A2 G2 G3 ||
|: A |
B2 d2 b3 a | g2 B2 d2 (3efg | f2 e2 ABcd | e2 d2 B3 A |
GABd b3 a | g2 B2 d3 g | f2 e2 f2 F2 |1 A2 G2 G3 :|2 A2 G2 G2 ||

One simple option for taking it home ~ | A2 G2 G4 ||

Here are some examples of some of the options notated,
B-part, measures 1 & 5 (9 & 12) the second half, four possibilities:

| B2 d2 b3 a | ~ | B2 d2 (3bbb b>a | ~ | B2 d2 b>c’b>a | ~ | B2 d2 b>^ab>=a |

| G>AB>d b3 a | ~ | G>AB>d (3bbb b>a | ~ | G>AB>d b>c’b>a | ~ |G>AB>d b>^ab>=a |

"The Teelin #1 & #2" / "The Teelin Polkas #1 & #2" ~ notes

Notes from "Skylark: all of it" ~ Green Linnet, 1989:

"The Teelin Polkas
Danny O’Donnell from Dungloe, County Donegal is associated with these two polkas. Danny named the tunes after Teelin in Southwest Donegal, home to a thriving tradition of fiddle music."

Both of these tunes were part of the shared repertoire of that area and are part of my exposure to these dance airs and the dances they accompanied, both giving life and definition to the other… If I can find my old notes and recordings for these I will return and add that information…