Annotation:Paddy's Leather Britches

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PADDY'S LEATHER BREECHES. Scottish, Jig. B Minor/Dorian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABBCCDD. The tune is played for the Scottish dance called The Irish Washerwoman, familiarly known as the Irish Jig by Scottish dancers, and part of the modern repertoire at dancing schools. Emmerson (Rantin' Pipe and Tremblin' String,1972) states: "The tune is a superb set of variations, usually published under the title of 'Paddy's Leather Breeches,' which, in the hands of a good piper, can sound absolutely fascinating."

A port-à-beul (mouth music) variant is known as "Ciamar a ni mi an dannsa direach" ("How will I do the dance properly"):

Ciamar a nì mi an dansa dìreach?
Ciamar a nì mi an ruidhe bòidheach?
Ciamar a nì mi an dansa dìreach?
Dh’fhalbh am prìon’ a bann mo chòta?

Dh’fhalbh am prìona, ‘s chuir e clì mi
Dh’fhalbh am prìon’ a bann mo chòta?
Dh’fhalbh am prìona, ‘s chuir e clì mi
Ciamar a nì mi an ruidhe bòidheach?

Translation:

How can I do the dance rhythmically?
How can I do the reel prettily?
How can I do the dance rhythmically?
The pin has gone from the hem of my coat!

The pin has gone - that I upset me
The pin has gone from the hem of my coat!
The pin has gone - that I upset me
How can I do the reel prettily?

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Martin (Ceol na Fidhle, vol. 1), 1991; p. 38.

Recorded sources:

See also listing at:
Hear a bagpipe version on youtube.com [1] and Vimeo [2]
See more information on the dance [3]

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