Annotation:Bonny Lass of Fisherrow (The)

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BONNY LASS OF FISHERROW/FISHIRRON, THE. AKA and see "Cait Bhoidheach," "Bonnie Kate (1)/Bonny Kate," "Boys of Limerick (The)." Scottish (originally), English, Canadian; Reel. England, Northumberland. Canada; Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton. C Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Kerr): AAB (Athole, Gow): AABB' (Phillips): AA'BB' (Cranford). Composed by Edinburgh composer and music teacher Daniel Dow (1732-1783), most famous as the composer of "Monymusk." Glen finds the tune first published in Daniel Dow's c. 1773 or 1775 (p. 2) and Neil Stewart's 1761 (p. 65) collections. In the opinion of Mr. Troup of Ballater (as cited by David Baptie in Musical Scotland, Past and Present, 1894, p. 46) "Bonny Lass of Fisherrow" is among the dozen or so of Dow's best compositions. The tune's title appears in Henry Robson's list of popular Northumbrian song and dance tunes, which he published c. 1800. As "Bonnie Kate (1)" the tune is played in Ireland in the key of D Major. On Prince Edward Island the tune is often played in a medley between "Rothermurches Rant" and "Bird's Nest." It was printed by Thompson in his Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 5 (p. 21) of 1788, which version was reprinted by Brendan Breathnach in his Ceol Rince na hÉirreann, vol. 1, No. 174 (1963). The melody is popular in Ireland as the reel "Bonnie Kate (1)."

Source for notated version: Carl & Jackie Webster (Cardigan, Central Kings County, Prince Edward Island) [Perlman].

Printed sources: Aird (Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. 5), Glasgow, 1797; No. 31, p. 12. Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 400. Cranford (Jerry Holland's Collection), 1995; No. 73, p. 22. Gow (Complete Repository), Part 3, 1806; p. 21. Kerr (Merry Melodies, vol. 3), c. 1880's; No. 120, p. 14. Lowe (A Collection of Reels & Strathspeys), 1844. Perlman (The Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island), 1996; p. 118. Phillips (Fiddlecase Tunebook), 1989; p. 12 (appears as "Bonnie Lass of Fisherow"). Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; p. 70. Thompson (Twenty-Four Country Dances for the Year 1787), 1787; p. 21. Thompson (Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 5), 1788; p. 21.

Recorded sources: Breton Books and Music BOC 1HO, Winston "Scotty" Fitzgerald - "Classic Cuts" (reissue of Celtic Records CX 40). Shanachie Records 14001, "The Early Recordings of Angus Chisolm" (appears as "Bonnie Lass of Fisherow").

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

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