Tune History Articles

Tune History Articles

The articles below appeared in issues of Fiddler Magazine, a quarterly periodical edited and published by Mary Larsen.

“Fiddle Tune History” is one of the Departments of the magazine; each issue including an article on traditional fiddle tunes from a variety of genres, along with fascinating background and contextual material that for many helps to make playing the tune ‘come alive’.

It’s been my distinct pleasure to have been allowed to indulge myself in this forum for these several years. I thank Ms. Larsen for not only giving me the opportunity to exercise my interest and allowing me free reign to pursue my curiosities, but also for producing a fine periodical that each issue contains much of importance and value about fiddling.

Please be reminded that the articles are written specifically for a periodical
that has an audience with a general interest in fiddling.  I have written the
pieces to entertain and inform, and not for academic purpose or scholarship;
save my own edification and the indulgence of my readers.

The articles are listed in order of their appearance in the magazine:

Fiddler Issue:	Article Title:	Tunes Included:
Summer 2001, vol. 8, No. 2	(Untitled)	The High Level Hornpipe, Marmaduke’s Hornpipe.
Fall 2001, vol. 8, No. 3	Last Request: Music and Legends of Condemned Fiddlers	MacPherson’s Lament, Callahan, Coleman’s March.
Winter 2001/2002, vol. 8, No. 4.	Fiddler Reprieved	Flannery’s Dream, Camp Chase.
Spring 2002, vol. 9, No. 1.	(Untitled)	The Graf Spee, Rothiemurchus Rant.
Summer 2002, vol. 9, No. 2.	The Misses Gunning	Miss Gunning's Delight, Miss Gunning's Reel, Contradiction Reel (1) (The)
Fall 2002, vol. 9, No. 3.	Oh, Dear Mother, My Toes are Sore!	Kemp's Jig/Jegg, Jackie Layton, Jack Lattin (with variations).
Winter 2002/2003, vol. 9, No. 4.	Sir Roger de Coverley	Sir Roger de Coverley.
Spring 2003, vol. 10, No. 1	The Black Joak	Black Joak (The), Black Jock (Aird), Black Jock (Gow),
Summer 2003, vol. 10, No. 2.	The Great Eastern	Grondeuse (1) (La), Silver Spire, Bennett's Reel, Great Eastern Reel (1).
Fall 2003, vol. 10, No. 3	Speed the Plow	Speed the Plow.
Winter 2003/2004, vol. 10, No. 4	Oh, Ned!	Ned Kendall's Hornpipe (1), Ned Kendall's Favorite, Ned Kendall's Hornpipe (2), Salem Hornpipe.
Winter 2003/2004, vol. 10, No. 4	Mellie Dunham
Spring 2004, vol. 11, No. 1.	At the Circus	Leslie's Hornpipe, Astley's Ride, Rickett's Hornpipe, Durang's Hornpipe (1).
Summer 2004, vol. 11, No. 2.	The Dancers	Nancy Dawson (1), Aldridge's Hornpipe (1), Richer's Hornpipe, Dick Sands' Hornpipe, Big John McNeil, Dinkie's, Glenn Towle.
Fall 2004, vol. 11, No. 3.	And, Off We Go…	Off to California (1), Fireman's Reel, Silver Cluster, Far from Home, Possum up a Gum Stump (1).
Winter 2004/2005, vol. 11, No. 4.	Air Apparent	Hector the Hero, Queen of the Earth Child of the Skies, Amhrán na Leabhar (Song of the Books).
Spring 2005, vol. 12, No. 1.	The Misses Johnston	Miss Johnston of Hilton's Fancy, Miss Lucy Johnston's Compliments to Niel Gow, Bridegroom Geits (The).
Summer 2005, vol. 12, No. 2.	The King of the Patrons	Honorable Mr. Ramsay Maule's Reel, Honorable Mrs. Maule's Reel, Miss Maule’s Strathspey.
Fall 2005, vol. 12, No. 3.	Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (Part 1)	President Garfield's Hornpipe, President Grant's Hornpipe, General Longstreet's, Wade Hampton's Hornpipe.
Winter 2005/2006, vol. 12, No. 4.	Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (Part 2)	Vendome Hornpipe, American Rifle Team.
Spring 2006, vol. 13, No. 1	Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (Part 3)	Fagan and Fenton's, Fred Wilson's Clog
Summer 2006, Vol. 13, No. 2	Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (Part 4)	Minnie Foster's Clog, Lotta's Favorite
Spring 2007, Vol. 14, No. 1	A Well-Traveled Melody	Glenbeigh Hornpipe, Military Schottische, Bielbie's Hornpipe, Original Schottische Polka (The).
Summer 2007, Vol. 14, No. 2	Fiddle Tunes at the Races	Hexham Races, Hamilton Races, Knutsford Races, Newmarket Races
Fall 2007, Vol. 14, No. 3	Playing the Ponies	Curragh Races (1), New Market Jig, Bee's Wing (The), Wagoner (1), Grey Eagle (1)
Row heading A	Surviving Playford	Frost is All Over (1) (The), Hey to the Camp, Untitled Air, Mask (The)
Spring 2008, Vol. 15, No. 1	The Black Sloven	Colonel Pickering's March to Lexington, The Black Seven, Black Sloven (The)
Summer 2008, Vol. 15, No. 2 & Fall 2008, Vol. 15, No. 3	A Night at the Opera	Dead March in Saul (The), Mr. Cosgill’s Delight, March in Solomon, Doctor Haydn, Blowzabella, Michael Turner's Waltz, Annan Polka
Winter 2008/09, Vol. 15, No. 4 & Winter 2008, Vol. 15, No. 4	The Duck's Eyeball	Duck's Eyeball (2), Rainbow Schottische, Winter Night Schottische
Spring 2009, Vol. 16, No. 1	Military Mysteries	Major Molle
Summer 2009, Vol. 16, No. 2	The Captain	Humors of Ballyconnell (1) (The), Old Bush (1) (The)
Fall 2009, Vol. 16, No. 3	Chance Meetings	High Ginks, Lamb Skinnet, Twenty May Play as Well as One, Old Sledge, Seven Up
Fall 2009, Vol. 16, No. 3	Lord(s) a-Leaping: The Cross-over Journeys of the Duke of Gordon's Reel	Duke of Gordon's Rant (The), Scott's Favorite, Scotch Patriot's Reel, Lord Gordon's Reel
Fall 2009, Vol. 16, No. 3	A Few Moor	Over the Moor to Maggie (2), Peggy's Wedding (2), Waynesboro, Ladies in the Ballroom (1)
Summer 2010, Vol. 17, No. 2	Duel Meanings	Monckton (The), Anspacher (The), Belles about the Flatbush (The), Mrs. Lt. Col. Johnson's Reel
Fall 2010, Vol. 17, No. 3	A Question of Provenance	Huntingtone Castle, Belfast Hornpipe (1), Sweep's Hornpipe (1), Millicent's Hornpipe
Winter 2010/11, Vol. 17, No. 4	Surprise du Québec, Part 1	Archie Menzies, Quêteux Trembley (Le)
Spring 2011, Vol. 18, No. 1	Surprise du Québec, Part 2	Uncle Paddy, Gigue du Bonhomme, Gigue de la Débauche, Eavesdropper (The)
Summer 2011, Vol. 18, No. 2	The Dunkeld Bridge War	Dunkeld Bridge, Jerry Hayes
Fall 2011, Vol. 18, No. 3	Where's the Fire?	Fireman's Quickstep, Fireman's Dance Cotillion, Philadelphia Fireman's Cotillion
Winter 2011/12, Vol. 18, No. 4	Funeral Fare	Merry Men, Roslyn/Roslin Castle, Mist-Covered Mountains (The), Flowers of the Forest (1)
Spring 2012, Vol. 19, No. 1	Douglas's Favorite	Douglas's Favorite Hornpipe, Woody's Hornpipe, Mountains of Kerry (The)
Summer 2012, Vol. 19, No. 2	Minstrel Tales: Picayune Butler and Japanese Tommy--"Hunky Dory!"	Camp-Town Reel, Japanese Tommy's Reel
Fall 2012, Vol. 19, No. 3	1812	Hull's Victory (1), Wasp's Frolick (The), Gurreire Dance (The)
Winter 2012/13, Vol. 19, No. 4	The Wampus Cat	Last Shot Got Him (2) (The),
Spring 2013, Vol. 20, No. 1	Tune History in Context	Scotland (1), Andrew Carey, Hills of Tipperary (The)
Summer 2013, Vol. 20, No. 2	Vive La! (Part One)	I'm Over Young to Marry Yet (1), Loch Erroch Side,
Fall 2013, Vol. 20, No. 3	Vive La! (Part Two)	Lass o' Gowrie (1), Over the Hills to Glory, Clare's Dragoons,
Winter 2013/14, Vol. 20, No. 4	Nuggets	Black Jack Grove, Marquis of Waterford's Hornpipe (The),
Spring 2014, Vol. 21, No. 1	Manuscripts
Summer 2014, Vol. 21, No. 2	Stranger in Paradise	Murthly Castle,
Fall 2014, Vol. 21, No. 3	Rustic Dance	Nightingale (2) (The), Rustic Dance (3),
Winter 2014/15, Vol. 21, No. 4	Rustic Dance, Part II	Limber Neck Blues, Peacock Rag, Starlight Clog,
Summer 2015, Vol. 22, No. 2	The Mason's (Extraordinary Extended) Family	Braes of Glenorchy (1), Lady Carbury,
Fall 2015, Vol. 22, No. 3	The Mason's (Extraordinary Extended) Family, Part II	Lady Carbury, Shipdam Hornpipe, Wake Up Susan (1),
Winter 2015/16, Vol. 22, No. 4	Doctor, Doctor	Doctor (2) (The), Worm Doctor, Ward's Drop, Ward's Pill,
Spring 2016, Vol. 23, No. 1	The Legends of Petticoat Loose	Petticoat Loose (1), Petticoat Loose (2), Petticoat Loose (3) (The Curickle),
Summer 2016, Vol. 23, No. 2	Good Stuff...by George!	Over the Mountains (3), Hole in the Wall (3) (The), Peggy's Favourite Jig,
Fall 2016, Vol. 23, No. 3	Busking in the 19th Century: Whistling Billy and Old Sarah	Harlequin Amulet, Rory O'More,
Winter 2016, Vol. 23, No. 4	Maggie in the Woods	Maggie in the Woods, Nancy Wants Her Own Share, Chearc ar Fad is an tAnraigh (An),