The Old Wheel Of Fortune strathspey

This started here:

Discussion: Highlands…
# Posted on May 28th 2007 by dinn2
https://thesession.org/discussions/13906

I could remember versions of both tunes that were asked for, but this one I couldn’t remember a name for and haven’t found one yet. It isn’t like there aren’t nameless highlands about, including all those given the name of a known source, like Johnny Doherty. I’m hoping others may be able to help, so I’ve gone ahead and added it here.

I was surprised again that this wasn’t already here, but it may still be, but I did search for it in three keys and with various bars and arrangements, swung and not. Here is the plain brown wrapper version, two versions, the first without any > & (3 ~

X: 1134
T: Gan Ainm
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: strathspey
K: Dmaj
|: dB |
AFdF EA,CE | FDdD cDBD |
AFdF EA,CE |[1 FAGE D2 :|[2 FAGE DAdf ||
K: Amaj
eAcA eAdf | eAcA B^ABf |
eAcA e2 ec | d2 c2 BAAf |
eAcA eAdf | eAcA f^efg |
afec Aece | d2 c2 BA |]

& this one with some (3s thrown in but no > ~

X: 1134
T: Gan Ainm
M:4/4
K:D
|: (3dcB |
AFdF EA,CE | (3FFF dF cDBD |
AFdF (3EEE CE |[1 FA (3GFE DA :|
K: Amaj
[2 FA (3Bcd AGAf ||
ecac e2 ef | ecac fefa |
ecac (3efe (3edc | (3ded (3cdc Bcdf |
ecac e2 ef | ecac f2 f^g |
afec af (3efe | (3ded (3cdc B2 |]

This appears as a nameless strathspey on Altan’s Blackwater, track 4.

X: 1
T: Gan Ainm
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: strathspey
K: Dmaj
|: (3dcB | A<Fd>F E>A,C>E | (3FED d>D c>DB>D |
A<Fd>F E>A,C>E |1 F>A (3GFE D>c:|2 F>A (3Bcd A>^GA>f ||
K: Amaj
e<ca>c (3efe e>f | e<ca>c f>e (3f^ga |
e<ca>c (3efe e>c | (3ded (3cdc B>cd>f |
e<ca>c (3efe e>f | e<ca>c f>ef>^g |
a>fe>c a>fe>c | (3ded (3cdc B>c||

The liner notes say "Strathspey", but I suppose it sounds more like a highland. It’s a great tune.

Of course, Dermot Byrne is the box player in Altan - one of my favourites. Given that this tune is also on his solo album, I’d say he could be given credit for popularising the tune. Why not call it "Dermot Byrne’s", until you get another name for it?

Thanks Ceolachan your Brilliant.🙂

I call it Con Cassidey’s but It isn’t the Correct name.

I don’t care what the liner notes say ~ yes, as is usual, it probably has a ‘Strathspey’ history, I first learned this ages ago as a highland fling… Yes, dinn2, the Cassidy’s played this, Con & Frank, so, with Frank being the elder, and in the fashion of attribution to title, I suppose it could also be called "Frank Cassidy’s"…

I’m going fishing… If Frank hasn’t anything named for him it is about time, until the Scots wake up, Kenny?, and others, Nigel, and give us a root. It alwasy takes me forever, my faulty memory, searching the few of my tune collections I have on hand, to find those roots. Also, as said previously, a load, now I’m going to get blue, of my stuff was fried with the demise of a hard drive… 🙁 But, I will keep looking and reassembling what I can of what was lost…

"The Laird of Thrums" is all that has been attributed to Frank Cassidy by his name being attached as an ‘alternate title’! I still remember well how Con Cassidy spoke of Frank’s fiddling, reason for the want to find missing tapes of Frank’s playing, which we never did find… Maybe someday something will surface? There is always hope.

I’ve sent out emails for help, including to Kenny & Nigel… 😏

That’s how it’s called on "The Brass Fiddle: Traditional Fiddle Music from Donegal." I believe you have a copy of the recording, "c." According to the notes, this is a highland version of "The Old Wheel of Fortune."

James Byrne plays both reel and highland versions on "The Brass Fiddle." It’s a shame, I missed him when I visited Glencolumbkille some years ago.

Scots Fiddle group "Session A9" recorded this tune as "Donegal Highland." If it’s been in the repertoire of Scots musicians, they would have a much more imaginative title for it.

Yes!, slainte / Hiro, I have a couple of recordings of it, plus ‘The Brass Fiddle’ three times over, LP, cassette and CD… I should have checked the commercial recordings first. It would be nice to have a transcription from one of those added here.

Here’s a laugh for you Hiro. I just went to try and find my CD copy of "The Brass Fiddle". I checked everywhere and was getting frustrated, and then looked down at a stack of things next to this keyboard. First there was a cassette of Dan R. tunes, as I was planning on transcribing "Jerry Holland’s", and just beneath it was what I’d put there when I was considering submitting this tune, something to check through ~ guess what? ~ "The Brass Fiddle"… My mind works in mysterious ways, as does the world. Now to get down to what I was going to do last week, but with specific guidance courtesy of you dear friend… 😉 I hope Kenny and Nigel may have something to add.

This has always been a favourite, but one I’d neglected. Thanks dinn2 for calling me on that neglect. Oh yeah, I think you’re safe. I don’t think Dow ever saw your ABCs… 😛

Someone has already done: http://misaok.hp.infoseek.co.jp/fmod/fmod2.html; http://misaok.hp.infoseek.co.jp/fmod/Do121~140.html Look for No.124.

I had also set aside "The Brass Fiddle" and some other recordings because Ben Hall had tempted me with a couple of highlands, they being a particular passion, but then I got distracted with helping my dear wife prepare Powerpoints for her primary children. I need to find or create some appropriate music now for planting and growing sunflowers… The next one has to do with baking bread ~ with sunflower seeds…

Over a cup of green tea? I’ll send you some more bags if you run out of it.

Yes, I need some tea right now, but I’ve opted for lager & lime instead. I still haven’t replenished my white tea yet and keep your green tea for accompaniment when I’m making music or food… 😉

I’d forgotten about that lovely site. Yes ~

No.124 Seamys O’Beirn’s Highland
http://misaok.hp.infoseek.co.jp/fmod/do124.html

But I’m still going to do some listening. At least I can have a guide to make the transcribing quicker. I have a slightly different twist on the B-part.

Now ill need to learn the last tune.
Any idea on a name🙂

The first transcription is from the consistent playing of James Byrne, track 25 of "The Brass Fiddle", a highly recommended recording, the reason I have it in three flavours and have even given it as a gift several times in the past. This transcription is different from the one at the end of the links given above by slainte and myself ~ "misaok"…

James Byrne’s playing starts out this way, with just a slight difference for the lead-in notes and the end of the first ending:

d>B |:
A<Fd>F E<A,C>E | F>Ad>D c>DB>D |
A<Fd>F E<A,C>E |1 F>A (3GFE D>A :|

Also, James Byrne does not play this with a heavy swing… For those that need, here it is without > & (3 ~
: 1134
T: Gan Ainm
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: highland fling
K: D Major
|: cB |
AFdF EA,CE | FAdD cDBD |
AFdF EA,CE |1 FAGE Dd :|2 FdBd A2 Af ||
K: Amaj
ecac e2 ef | ecac fefa |
ecac eceA | decd Bcdf |
ecac e2 ef | ecac fefg |
afec afec | d2 c2 Bd |]

#2 is from several sources and then passed through my tune digestive system, but hopefully without too much fusion or fission involved. Here also is that reduced to the plain brown wrapper version:

X: 1134
T: Frank Cassidy’s Highland Fling
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: strathspey
K: D Major
|: dB |
AFdF EA,CE | FDdD cDBD |
AFdF EA,CE |1 FAGE D2 :|2 FAGE DAdf ||
K: A Major
eAcA eAdf | eAcA B^ABf |
eAcA efec | decd BcAf |
eAcA ecdf | eAcA f^efg |
afec Afec | decd BA ||

You can listen to James Byrne playing it: http://www.cdworld.ie/mp3/31217_000100010025.mp3 (From CD World Catalogue: http://www.cdworld.ie/product-detail/31217/VINCENT+CAMPBELL++CON+CASSIDY++JAMES+BYRNE++FRANCIS+BYRNE/THE+BRASS+FIDDLE)

"The Old Wheel Of Fortune" ~ reel
Key signature: D & A Major
Submitted on June 3rd 2007 by ceolachan.
https://thesession.org/tunes/7306

Key signature: D Major
Submitted on July 11th 2004 by errik.
https://thesession.org/tunes/3268

I just found this on Amazon as Peter Bailie’s.

http://www.amazon.com/Dermot-Byrne/dp/B000005CU9/ref=sr_1_3/104-6101323-2801538?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1188051803&sr=8-3

As already rightly mentioned in the ‘comments’ for these reels… 😉