Annotation:Kitty of Coleraine (1)

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KITTY OF COLERAINE (Caitilin Ua Cuilratain). AKA and see "Colairne," "New York Jig (3) (The)." Irish, Air (6/8 time, "gaily"). D Major (O'Farrell, O'Neill): C Major (Howe). Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (O'Farrell, O'Neill): AABA (Howe). "Road to Skye (The)" is a very closely related tune, and in fact Coleraine, in Northern Ireland is just across the straits from the Western Isles of Scotland, including Skye. The song is known as an Ulster folksong. See also the related "Belle of the Kitchen (1)," "Paddy's Resource (1)," "Rover (2) (The)."

Words set to the tune (collected in County Derry) begin:

As beautiful Kitty one morning was tripping,
With a pitcher of milk from the fair of Coleraine,
When she saw him she stumbled, the pitcher it tumbled,
And all the sweet buttermilk watered the plain.
Oh! What shall I do now, 'twas looking at you now,
Sure, sure, such a pitcher I'll ne'er meet again.
'Twas the pride of my dairy, Oh, Barney McCleary,
You're sent as a plague on the girls of Coleraine.

Thomas Moore used the melody for his song "Omens" in Irish Melodies (1807). The melody appears in the 1840 music manuscript collection of John Rook, from the Wigton area of Cumbria. The alternate title "Colairne" comes from a 1920 78 RPM recording by Brooklyn accordion player John J. "Dutch" Kimmel (1866-1942).

John J. Kimmel

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Howe (Complete Preceptor for the Accordeon), 1843; p. 11. O'Farrell (Pocket Companion, vol IV), c. 1810; p. 117. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 152, p. 27.

Recorded sources: Victor 18193-A (78 RPM), John J. Kimmel (1920. Appears as 2nd tune of "Geese in the Bog Medley").

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