Annotation:Lark in the Morning (1)

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LARK IN THE MORNING [1]. AKA and see "Buachaillín Buí (An)," "House in the Glen (1)," "Western Lilt (A)." Irish, Double Jig. D Major (Brody, Mallinson, Miller & Perron, Moylan, Phillips, Spandaro, Tubridy): D Mixolydian (Mitchell). Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB (Mitchell): AABB (Mitchell, Phillips, Spadaro): ABCC'D (Moylan): AABBCCDD (most versions): AABB'CC'D (Mitchell). See also related tunes (some closely, some more distantly) "Come in the Evening," "Galloway Tom (2)," "Galway Tom (1)," "Galway Town," "Goats' Horn's The)," "Kelso Races (The)," "Little Yellow Boy (The)," "Plowman's Glory," "Spotted Cow (The)," "Thrush's Nest (The)," "Welcome (The)," "Yellow Little Boy (The)." It has also been identified as a variant of "Hills of Glenorchy."

James Morrison

The tune, widely and popularly played, has been associated with a variety of titles, finally settling as "Lark in the Morning" among most fiddlers only in the second half of the 20th century. Dublin piper, collector and researcher Seamus Ennis maintained that "Lark in the Morning" was derived from a tune called "Lark's March (The)," as played, for example in a five-part version by Kerry fiddler Padraig O'Keefe. Largely due to the influence of Co. Sligo/New York fiddler James Morrison's 1926 recording (one of the earliest appearances of the "Lark in the Morning" title), the jig has been associated with "Wandering Minstrel (The)" and the two are often played together (as they were by Slibah Luachra source O'Leary). Morrison (1893-1947), nicknamed "The Professor" for his teaching and spectacular command of the violin, was born near the town of Collooney in County Sligo, Ireland, and immigrated to the U.S. in 1915, first settling in Boston, and then in New York City. His recording career began as early as 1921.

Willie Clancy declared he had the tune from his mother, Ellen Killeen, a singer and concertina player from Ennistymon. Martin Mulvihill gives this tune for the longdance The Seige of Ennis. "Lark in the Morning" can be heard in the mid-1990's film The Devil's Own during the house-party scene in honor of Harrison Ford's film daughter's Confirmation. The fiddler is none other than New York's famous late fiddler Paddy Reynolds, shown for an instant. Chicago flute player Kevin Henry, originally from County Sligo, announced from the stage (East Durham, 2005) that the tune was played at 'American Wakes' in Ireland, just prior to a community member's emigration.

Sources for notated versions: accordion player Johnny O'Leary (Sliabh Luachra region of the Cork-Kerry border) [Moylan]; piper Willie Clancy (1918-1973, Miltown Malbay, west Clare) [Mitchell]; New Jersey flute player Mike Rafferty, born in Ballinakill, Co. Galway, in 1926 [Harker].

Printed sources: McDermott (Allen's Irish Fiddler), c. 1920's; No 5, p. 3 (appears as "A Western Lilt"). Breathnach (CRÉ I), 1963; No. 27. Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; p. 164. Harker (300 Tunes from Mike Rafferty), 2005; No. 226, p. 69. Mallinson (100 Essential), 1995; No. 76, p. 33. Martin & Hughes (Ho-ro-ghedllaedh), 1990; p. 45. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 1977; vol. 1, No. 41. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 2nd Edition, 2006; p. 26. Mitchell (Dance Music of Willie Clancy), 1993; No. 78, p. 74; No. 111, pp. 94-95 & No. 112, p. 95. Moylan (Johnny O'Leary), 1994; No. 186, pp. 107-108. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 23, p. 123. Phillips (Where's the Crack?), 1989; p. 34. Spadaro (10 Cents a Dance), 1980; p. 23. Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, Book Two), 1999; p. 35.

Recorded sources: Canadian Broadcasting Corp. NMAS 1972, Natalie MacMaster - "Fit as a Fiddle" (1993). Columbia 33108-F (78 RPM), James Morrison (1926). Copely DWL-9-617, Jack Wade- "Ceili Music From Ireland." Shanachie Records, Noel Hill - "The Irish Concertina." Danny O'Donnell - "Ón tSean-Am Anall."

See also listings at:
Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index [1]
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [2]
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [3]
Hear a 1955 recording of the Martin Feeney Trio (pipes, flute, fiddle) at the Internet Archive [4] (Martin Feeney flute, Andy Conroy, pipes, and ?. Paired with "Rose in the Heather").
Hear James Morrison's 1926 recording at the Comhaltas Archive [5]
Hear Tommy Gunn, Cathal McConnell & Sean McAloon's recording at the Comhaltas Archive [6]

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