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Aunt May’s Canadian jig

Also known as Aunt Mary’s, Aunt Mary’s Canadian, Aunt May’s, Aunty Mary’s Canadian, Aunty Mary’s Canadian Barndance.

There are 2 recordings of this tune.

Aunt May's Canadian has been added to 25 tunebooks.

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Four settings

1
X: 1
T: Aunt May's Canadian
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|: A |f2 f f>ga | d2 d dcB | ABA A>GF | E3- E2 A |
e2 e e>fg | e2 d c2 B |[1 A2 A A>BA | F3- F2 :|[2 ABA ABc | d3- d2 ||
|: B |AFA faf | e2 d c2 B | AF/G/A BcB | A2 G G3 |
GEG ege | d2 c c2 B |[1 A>BA A^G=G | F3- F2 :|[2 ABA AA/B/c | d3- d2 |]
2
X: 2
T: Aunt May's Canadian
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|: A |f2 f fga | d2 d dcB | ABA AGF | E3- E3 |
e2 e efg | e2 d c2 B |[1 ABA BAG | F3- F2 :|[2 ABA ABc | d3- d2 ||
|: A |AFA faf | e2 d d2 A | AFA ABA | A2 G G2 G |
GEG ege | d2 c c2 B |[1 ABA BAG | F3- F2 :|[2 ABA ABc | d3- d2 |]
3
X: 3
T: Aunt May's Canadian
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|: A |f3 ff/g/a | d3 dd/c/B | A^GA A=GF | E3- E2 a |
e3 ee/f/g | e3 dd/c/B |[1 A^GA A=GE | F3- F2 :|[2 A^GA AA/B/c | d3- d2 ||
|: A |AFA f2 f | e2 c d2 A | AF/G/A ABA | A2 ^G =G2 G |
GEG e2 e | d2 B c2 A |[1 A^GA BB/A/=G | F3- F2 :|[2 A^GA AA/B/c | d3- d2 |]
4
X: 4
T: Aunt May's Canadian
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
A|: f2f fga| d2d dcB | ABA AGF| E2E E2A |
e2e efg| e2d c2B | ABA ABA |1 F3 F2A :|2 d3 d2A ||
|: ABA faf | e2d d3 | AFA BcB | A2G G3 |
GFG efe | d2c c2B |[1 ABA ABA | F3F2A :|[2 ABA ABc | d3 d2A |]

Eight comments

"Aunt May/s / Mary’s Canadian Jig"

Well, maybe it was their accent, maybe it was mine, but I learned this jig ages ago as "Aunt May’s". Actually, maybe I just accepted it as so because it tripped off the tongue more easily.

This was also in the repertoire of "The Shepherd’s", Willy Taylor - fiddle / Joe Hutton - Northumbrian smallpipes / Will Atkinson - harmonica ~ though sadly I haven’t that recording, boo hoo, hint, hint! I understand it was referred by them as their "Canadian Jig Set".

This was also played in C ~ including on single row melodeon. Understandable on a single row the option for bar 7 of the B-part ~
~ | A2 A A^G=G | ~
wouldn’t have happened and would have been as usual ~
~ | ABA ABA | ~ or any of several other possibilities… 😉

"Aunt May’s Canadian Jig" / "Aunt Mary’s Canadian Jig" ~ the choice

I should further clarify that most transcriptions I have seen, and recorded tracks, have had this as "Aunt Mary’s" ~ and that includes all of half a dozen recordings made on these isles, meaning in England, Scotland and here abouts…

Discussion: "Irish Melodeon"

"I play the one-row melodeon (key : D) ~ "
https://thesession.org/discussions/13102
# Posted on March 22nd 2007 by jeanpierrewilmotte

There was motive in transcribing this, aside from it being one played by "The Shepherds", which would be reason enough. Jean Pierre Wilmotte was looking for D Major tunes for his one-row D Major melodeon. Yes, I know, technically this isn’t exactly ‘Irish’, but it is a kick to play whatever the origin or mix of your genes…and I suspect it can even trace it’s roots back to Irish sod… 😉

"Aunt May’s / Mary’s" ~ variants for the 2nd bar of the B-part ~

This can and is played either

~ | e2 d c2 B | ~ or ~ | e2 d d2 B | ~

~ the latter way seems to be quite common…

While I’m at it, a little fun with just that one bar ~

or ~ | | e2 d dcB | ~ or ~ | e3 dcB | ~ or ~ | e3 dd/c/B | ~ or ~ | e3 d3 | ~
or ~ | | e>fe d3 | ~ or ~ | ee/e/e dcB | ~ or ~ | efd cBA | ~ or ~ | ef/e/d cBA | ~
or ~ | | ef/e/d cBA | ~ or ~ | ef/e/d d2 B | ~ or ~ | ef/e/d d3 | ~ or ~ | ef/e/d dcB | ~

just a few possibilities… 😎

Attrributed to…

Mrs L. Dolman is listed in Nottingham Database as the originator of this tune. Any other opinions?

"Aunt May’s/Mary’s Canadian Jig" ~ George Wilson gives it bow

Cape breton Jam Flurry 2012
Uploaded on 21 Feb 2012 by GeorgeWilsonFiddler
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zm_u8lSumk

Jig medley: "Aunt May’s." "Top of Cork Road," "Sailor’s Wife," "Charlie Hunter’s," "Goldenrod," "Pipe on the Hob"

George Wilson - fiddle
Emily Addison - piano