Annotation:Flagon (The)

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FLAG(G)ON, THE. AKA and see "Alonby Lasses," "Floggin' (The)". Scottish, Irish, English; Reel. England, Northumberland. G Mixolydian (most versions): G Major (O'Malley). Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (O'Malley): AABB (Vickers): AABBCD (Athole, Cranford/Holland, Gow): AABBCC'D (Kerr). A flagon is a drinking vessel with a handle and often a spout and a cover, usually for intoxicants such as ale or beer, sometimes wine. "This is still a very popular tune in Ireland, where it is known as the 'Flogging Reel'" (Seattle)-see "The Floggin'" for more information about Irish variants, which are generally different in modality (Scottish versions tend to keep to double-tonic modality to suit the pipes). It's interesting to speculate on the reasons for the similar but meaningfully different versions of the title between Scotland and Ireland-the Irish title is perhaps heard through the lens of their history of oppression. A version called "Alonby Lasses" appears in the music manuscripts of the Browne family of Troutbeck, England, and appears to be a local Lake District name for the tune. Paul Stewart Cranford (2000) says the tune is sometimes attributed to Niel Gow. I have not seen evidence of this, but perhaps it is said on the strength of its first printing by the Gow's in their 1784 collection. Cape Breton fiddler Donald MacLellan recorded the tune on 78 RPM.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 254. Cranford (Jerry Holland: The Second Collection), 2000; No. 212, p. 78. Gow (First Collection of Strathspey Reels), 1784 (revised 1801); p. 4. Kerr (Merry Melodies, vol. 2), No. 131, p. 16. O'Malley (Luke O'Malley's Collection of Irish Music), 1976; No. 37, p. 19. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 482. Seattle/Vickers (Great Northern Tune Book, part 3), 1987; No. 488. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; p. 170.

Recorded sources: Green Linnet GLCD 1128, Brendan Mulvihill & Donna Long – "The Morning Dew" (1993). Tannahill Weavers – "Dancing Feet." Rounder 82161-7032-2, Bill Lamey – "From Cape Breton to Boston and Back: Classic House Sessions of Traditional Cape Breton Music 1956–1977" (2000).

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 the recording by Donald MacLellan at Juneberry 78's [4] (appears as 2nd tune in medley, paired with "Miss MacLean's" and "Miss Charters").

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