As I Went Out Upon The Ice polka

A member, ‘dubhghaill’, made an inquiry in discussions:

Discussion: West Kerry Polka
# Posted on July 22nd 2007 by dubhghaill
https://thesession.org/discussions/14536

That sent me out looking for polkas from West Kerry, and in particular polkas that began eA ~… I found several, including some melodies that I couldn’t find on site here, though some seem to share the same name and even share parts… I found this, with two different B-parts.

Here are some others on site to compare these two takes with ~

"Tralee Gaol" ~ Also known as: "As I Went Out Upon The Ice", "Glen Cottage", "Glen Cottage Polka #2", "Glen Cottage Polka 2", "Glen Cottage Polka No.2", "The Green Cockade", "The Haughs O’ Cromdale", "The Haughs Of Cromdale", "O’Neill’s March".
Key signature: G Major
Submitted on November 6th 2002 by alastair wilson.
https://thesession.org/tunes/1113

"The Glen Cottage Polka"
Key signature: E Dorian
Submitted on December 5th 2005 by hetty.
https://thesession.org/tunes/5278

& ~ there is another take also known as "As I Went Out Upon the Ice", and also beginning eA ~ … :-/

|: eA BA | eA BA | eA BA | ~ It may be different enough to also warrant a place on site, if it isn’t already here in one key or t’other…

My earliest personal records for these ABCs is the 1970s… More to follow…

The transcripts I have with this ‘repeat’ given previously are more often associated with the name "Dalaigh’s" (Daley’s)…

(N:) removed for now, remembering last time it didn’t work… :-/

Just to remind anyone curious or confused, the ABCs offer two different versions attached to this name, both with the same basic A-part but different B-parts…

( N: )

X: 1
T: As I Went Out Upon The Ice
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Ador
|: g>f |
eA BA | e2 AB/d/ | eA B/c/B/A/ | G2 GB/d/ |
eA BA | eA B/c/B/A/ | G>e dB | A2 :|
|: A2 |
ea- ab | ag ed | Bd ef | ga/g/ fd |
ea ab | ag ed | Bd gB | A2 :|

Variations also noted from the time ~

A-part,
bar 4 ~ | G2 G2 | & | G>A Bd | & | G2 AB/d/ | ~

B-part,
bar 1 ~ | e2 a>b |
bar 4 ~ | g2 fg/f/ |
bar 7 ~ | B/c/d/B/ gB |

M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: A Dorian

1.)
|: g>f | eA BA | e2 AB/d/ | eA B/c/B/A/ | G2 G2 | ~
|: A2 | e2 a>b | ag ed | Bd ef | g2 fg/f/ | ~

2.)
|: B/d/ | eA BA | eA AB/d/ | eA BA | G2 GB/d/ | ~
|: B/d/ | ea a>b | ag ed | Bd ef | g2 g>f | ~

3.)
|: g>f | eA BA | eA AB/d/ | eA BA | G2 Gg/f/ | ~
|: AB/d/ | ea ab | ag g/e/d | Bd ef | gf/g/ fg/f/ | ~

4 & 5.)
|: g>f | eA BA | eA AB/d/ | eA BA | G2 Gg/f/ | ~
|: AB/d/ | ea ab | ag g/e/d | Bd ef | ga/g/ fg/f/ | ~

1.) "Johnny O’Leary of Sliabh Luachra:
Dance Music from the Cork-Kerry Border"
edited by Terry Moylan
The Liliput Press, Dublin, 1994
ISBN: 1-874675-42-2
Page 31, tune #52: "As I Went Out Upon the Ice"

2.) "100 Irish Polkas"
Edited by Dave Mallinson
Dave Mallinson Publications, 1997
ISBN: 1-899512-21-7
Page 8, tune #19: "As I Went Out Upon the Ice"
Alternate names: "Glin / Glen Cottage Polka No.2", "Johnny O’Leary’s"

3.) "Music of Ireland: Fire Away, Now!!"
Edited by David J. Taylor
Dave Mallinson Publications, 1997
ISBN: 1-899512-31-4
Page 30: "As I Went Out Upon the Ice"
Alternate names: "Glin / Glen Cottage Polka No.2", "Johnny O’Leary’s"

4 & 5.) 2 books, identical transcriptions ~
"110 Ireland’s Best: Session Tunes" & "Polkas & Slides"
Produced by Pat Conway
Walton’s Publishing, 1999
ISBN: 1-85720-085-3
Page 36, tune #77: "As I Went Out Upon the Ice"
Page 6, tune #6: "As I Went Out Upon the Ice"

These all sound the same! I’m glad you have them sorted out in your head. I think I’ll stick with reels, hee heeeee.

That was the idea, and also why I only gave the first introductory bars, to show that mostly the tune is taken as given in the first transcription, the second being the odd one out… It was and is not uncommon for A & B parts to get mixed up and come out somewhere with an alternate name…

~ or worse, the same name… ;-)

X: ~
T: As I Went Out Upon The Ice
S: Matt Cunningham
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: A Dorian
|: g/f/ |\
eA BA | eA Ag/f/ | eA BA | G2 Gg/f/ |
eA BA | eA BA | G>B dG | BA A :|
|: B/d/ |\
ea ab | ag ed | ea ab |
[1 g2 gd | ea ab | ag ef | g/f/e dB | A2 A :|
[2 g2 g2 | a2 a>b | ag e>f | g/f/e dB | A2 A |]

I heard this tune played by Jeff Forbes of New South Fork Celtic Band.

The other tune here in sessions.org of the same name is entirely different - perhaps someone can identify if this is known by another name?

This is the same tune complete with guitar chords:

X:1
T: As I Went Out Upon the Ice
% As received from Jeff Forbes of New South Fork Celtic Band
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Dmaj
"Am"eA BA | eA AB/2d/2 | eA BA | "G"G2 Gg/2f/2 |
"Am"eA BA | eA BA | "G"GB dB | [1 "Am"A2 g>f :| [2 A2 AB/2d/2 |
|: ea ab | "Em"ag g/2e/2d | "G"Bd ef | "Em"ga/2g/2 "D7"fg/2f/2 |
"Am"ea ab/2g/2 | "Em"ag ed | "G"Bd "Em"gB | [1 "Am"A2 AB/2d/2 :] [2 A2 g>f |]

This looks like the same tune to me:
https://thesession.org/tunes/7528

It’s a polka, not a reel.

Same tune, posted by ceolachan, but with extra bits. I have to say I expect him to be generally correct.

Mac, this is a polka so 2/4 time signature with quavers is correct. You have 4/4 but with quavers as the "basic" note length, should be crotchets in 4/4. Doesn’t add up!

Also, the tonality is around A, so the key is not a D key (& not 2 #, either).
Ceolachan’s posting shows 1 #. and A dorian as the key; i.e. A tonality with a G key signature.

All the best

Peter Jenkins

Submitted on September 3rd 2012 by Mac McGrath.
~ /tunes/12155
https://thesession.org/members/71179

X: 8
T: As I Went Out Upon The Ice
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polks
K: ADor
|: g>f |\
eA BA | eA AB/d/ | eA BA | G2 Gg/f/ |
eA BA | eA BA | GB dB | [ A2 :|
|: AB/d/ |\
|: ea ab | ag g/e/d | Bd ef | ga/g/ fg/f/ |
ea ab/g/ | ag ed | Bd gB | A2 :|

I heard this tune played by Jeff Forbes of New South Fork Celtic Band.

This is the same tune complete with guitar chords:

X: 8
T: As I Went Out Upon the Ice
N: Chords as received from Jeff Forbes of New South Fork Celtic Band
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: ADor
|: g>f |\
"Am" eA BA | eA AB/d/ | eA BA | "G" G2 Gg/f/ |
"Am" eA BA | eA BA | "G" GB dB | "Am" A2 :|
|: AB/d/ |\
"Am" ea ab | "Em" ag g/e/d | "G" Bd ef | "Em" ga/g/ "D7" fg/f/ |
"Am" ea ab/g/ | "Em" ag ed | "G" Bd "Em" gB | "Am" A2 :|

# Posted on September 3rd 2012 by Mac McGrath

"…(& not 2 #, either)…."

There are no Cs or C#s in the tune (in this setting, at least) so it makes no difference to the melody whether or not there is a C# in the key signature. However, if you are using A minor* as an accompanying chord, then the hypothetical C# would clash.

*An A major chord, whilst bringing out a different character in the tune, would not necessarily be incorrect. Leaving out the 3rd of the chord (‘A5’ - consisting of A and E notes only) would allow both possibilities.

definitely the same tune, not "totally" different.

X: 1
T: As I Went Out Upon The Ice
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Dmaj
eA BA | eA AB/2d/2 | eA BA | G2 Gg/2f/2 |
eA BA | eA BA | GB dB | [1 A2 g>f :| [2 A2 AB/2d/2 |
|: ea ab | ag g/2e/2d | Bd ef | ga/2g/2 fg/2f/2 |
ea ab/2g/2 | ag ed | Bd gB | [1 A2 AB/2d/2 :] [2 A2 g>f |]

This is the same tune complete with guitar chords:

X:1
T: As I Went Out Upon the Ice
% As received from Jeff Forbes of New South Fork Celtic Band
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Dmaj
"Am"eA BA | eA AB/2d/2 | eA BA | "G"G2 Gg/2f/2 |
"Am"eA BA | eA BA | "G"GB dB | [1 "Am"A2 g>f :| [2 A2 AB/2d/2 |
|: ea ab | "Em"ag g/2e/2d | "G"Bd ef | "Em"ga/2g/2 "D7"fg/2f/2 |
"Am"ea ab/2g/2 | "Em"ag ed | "G"Bd "Em"gB | [1 "Am"A2 AB/2d/2 :] [2 A2 g>f |]

Submitted on September 3rd 2012 by Mac McGrath.
https://thesession.org/members/71179
~ /tunes/12155

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ NOTES ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"…(& not 2 #, either)…."

There are no Cs or C#s in the tune (in this setting, at least) so it makes no difference to the melody whether or not there is a C# in the key signature. However, if you are using A minor* as an accompanying chord, then the hypothetical C# would clash.

*An A major chord, whilst bringing out a different character in the tune, would not necessarily be incorrect. Leaving out the 3rd of the chord (‘A5’ - consisting of A and E notes only) would allow both possibilities.

# Posted on September 4th 2012 by CreadurMawnOrganig

This tune reminds me that one called Dalaigh’s that can be confusing, especially on the A part :-/
https://thesession.org/tunes/7531

S: (primary) “Jimmy Doyle & Dan O’Leary: Traditional Music From The Kingdom Of Kerry”
https://thesession.org/recordings/1247 ~ track 9 (Side B, track 2) ~ the 2nd polka of two

Q: 136 bpm (1 beat = one crotchet/quarter note)

Other options from the playing of Jimmy Doyle and Dan O’Leary, and one or two I’ve picked up along the way… ;-)

- Breandan Breathnach transcription of Johnny O’Leary’s playing

"The Man and His Music - Johnny O’Leary"
an article by Breandan Breathnach
page 15, tune #5: "As I Went Out Upon the Ice"

Weird! I’m not sure how that order changed, but the just mentioned transcription, Breandan Breathnach’s for Johnny O’Leary, the previous two comments, is not X: 9 but X: 10…

Has a resemblance to Shootin’ the Bull (https://thesession.org/tunes/2559). A few polkas/singles played in Newfoundland seem to have a Kerry influence.