My Darling Asleep jig

This is quite an easy tune to play. There isn’t very much to memorise; the second part varies only slightly from the first.

For variation, try giving the notes in the first part equal length: play FD, CA, BG, A instead of FDD, CAA, BGG, A.

This is one of the tunes I really need to learn. I’ve been thinking it’s a very old tired kids’ tune, but it’s definitely coming back! I often hear it played in both Ireland and Yorkshire these days. It also appears in Paul Smyth’s very recent recording.

With the right lift, this tune can really sail, despite (or because of) its simplicity. It’s a good tune to toss in the mix to set up or recover from a more melodramatic tune. Also, you’ll get an interesting change going from My Darling Asleep into Tar Road to Sligo.

The basic setting I play differs somewhat from Jeremy’s and goes as follows:

X: 1
T: My Darling Asleep
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmaj
e|:fdd cAA|BAG A2 G|FGA def|~g3 eag|
|fdd cAA|BAG A2 G|FGA def|1gec d2:|2 gec d2 A||
|:FAA Bcd|FAA BAG|FGA def|ge/f/g eag|
|fdd cAA|BAG A2 G|FGA def|1 gec d2 A:|2 gec d2 e||

Will, you could save yourself an awful lot of hassle transcribing repeat bars if you go:
|:e|fdd……gec d2:|
|:A|FAA……gec d2:|

Mark, I’m used to seeing the pick up note(s) (anacrusis) in the ending. I get lost when it’s included as you’ve shown, partly because the end bar is incomplete (at least mathematically). I’m an old dog, you see. :o)

Dear me you’re easily confused Will. Is that what I have to look forward to when I become an old dog? :-D

"If you’re not confused, you’re just not thinking clearly." Irene Peter

That quote will only make sense to me when I’ve had a few pints at tonight’s session.

Apparently, the word ‘anacrusis’ derives from the Greek ‘anakrouein’, which means ‘to strike up (a tune)’. So, whereas it may be mathematically incorrect to put an anacrusis at the beginning of a tune, it appears to be linguistically correct to do so…

I am looking for some history about the Jig "My Darling Asleep." Thanks for any help anyone can give me!

If this were a slow air, I’d happily suggest the title was a hidden reference to Eire "sleeping" before she wakes to throw off the yoke of the English occupation, which of course has now happened in the greater part of the Island.
I just can’t help wondering if the same idea could be behind the name of the jig.

Trevor

The version I learnt is almost identical to Will Harmon’s but has a few small differences:

X: 1
T: My Darling Asleep
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmaj
e|fdd cAA|BAG A2G|FAA def|gfg eag|
fdd cAA|BAG A2G|FAA def|gec d2:|
G|FAA B2A|FAA B2A|FAA def|gfg eag|
fdd cAA|BAG A2G|FAA def|gec d2:|

I learned this tune from Matt Cranitch’s book, and the first line of the B part goes like this:
|FAA CAA|FAA BAG|FAA def|gfg eag|
The rest is the same.

It was Peter Cooper’s book, not Cranitch’s.

I really need to proofread these things…it’s FAA DAA, not CAA

Doesn’t anyone call this tune "My Darling’s A Sheep?"

No? Is it just us? We’re some sick puppies.

Get it? GET IT? HA HA HA!

OK, sorry. Flogging a dead horse here…or sheep, as the case may be.

Grab your whistle or flute (or a pencil if you are at work) and play the first three notes. How do you separate the two Ds? Do you tongue the second D, or cut it? And if you cut it, which finger do you use? I am grateful for the help.

Has anyone ever tried this in a set with Banish Misfortune?

Fergus’s reel , a recent composition https://thesession.org/tunes/982 seems to have been at least partially inspired by this tune.

Just for fun:

X:977
T:My Darling’s Awake
C:Nigel Gatherer
N:After "My Darling’s Asleep"
Z:Nigel Gatherer
L:1/8
M:4/4
K:D
e | fd d/d/d cAGA | BGdB A3 G | FABc defd | gfed e2
ag | fd d/d/d cAGA | BGdB A3 G | FABc defa | gece d3 :|
G | FAdA BAdA | FAdA BAdA | FAdc defd | gfed eage |
fd d/d/d cAGA | BGdB A3 G | FABc defa | gece d3 :|

We’ve always called it My Darling A Sheep. Other such blasphemies of ours include The Taliban (Tarbolton), Hissing Sid (Sidney Smith’s March), Paddy McGinty’s Goat (Dance of the Honeybee - don’t ask, I haven’t a clue…), and, of course, She Begs For More.

I like this in D minor (Aeolian).

X:9 from Joe Burke.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guT05atCESs

play video

Learned this version a friend of mine, George Balderose, a bagpipe instructor in Pittsburgh.

The late John McGrath used that tune for his beginning violin students. He claimed that the correct title for the tune was, "My Wife’s A Darling When She’s Asleep".

Same as the X:10 but with chords.