Annotation:Mug of Brown Ale (1)

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MUG OF BROWN ALE [1], THE. AKA and see "Butcher's March (3)," "Clare Jig (1) (The)," "Delaney's Drummers," "Paddy in London (2)," "Raffle Jig (The)," "Spoonful of Treacle (The)," "Winter Apples (2)." Irish, Jig. A Dorian. Standard tuning. AB (Kerr): AABB (Mallinson, Miller & Perron, Songer): AABB' (Allan's). Bayard (1981) states that this tune belongs to a rather vague, and so far nameless, tune family whose members "seem always on the point of diverging off into other pieces." The family is probably Irish, he thinks, and has attracted many "floating" titles from that tradition over the years. "Delaney's Drummers" is a related melody.

Brown ale is one of the oldest brewing styles in the British Isles, one of the three beers or "three threads" that blended together make a beer that developed into porter. It is first mentioned in literature in the 16th century. Brown ale was widely brewed at one time, primarily by women (hence the term 'alewife' for a married woman). Many brown ales have a round, nutty flavor (especially those brewed with the Yorkshire square system of fermentation), and are sometimes referred to as 'nut-brown ales'. The brew was originally probably slightly sweet, lightly carbonated, and served from the barrel a few days after fermentation was complete.

Sources for notated versions: Kevin Burke (1982) via Dan Compton, via hammered dulcimer player Mick Doherty [Songer]; set dance music recorded at Na Píobairí Uilleann in the late 1980's [Taylor]; fiddler Peter Turbit [Feldman & O'Doherty]; Roscommon fiddler Paddy Ryan & Kerry accordionist Donal de Barra [Miller & Perron].

Printed sources: Feldman & O'Doherty (The Northern Fiddler), 1978; p. 231 (appears as last "Untitled Jig" on page). Kerr (Merry Melodies, vol. 1), c. 1875; No. 41, p. 39. Mallinson (100 Essential), 1995; No. 86, p. 37. McDermott (Allan's Irish Fiddler), c. 1920’s; No. 19, p. 5. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 1977; vol. 2, No. 60. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 2nd Edition, 2006; p. 28. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; p. 143. Taylor (Music for the Sets: Blue Book), 1995; p. 2.

Recorded sources: CCF2, Cape Cod Fiddlers – "Concert Collection II" (1999). Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann No. C18, Paddy Ryan & Donal de Barra – "From the Homes of Ireland" (1973). Green Linnet SIF 1047, John Cunningham – "Fair Warning" (1983). Randal Bays & Joel Bernstein – "The Rashers." Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD 40126, Rodney Miller – "Choose Your Partners!: Contra Dance & Square Dance Music of New Hampshire" (1999).

See also listings at:
Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index [1]
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [2]

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