Butcher's March (1)
BUTCHER'S MARCH [1], THE ("Máirseáil na mBúistéirí" or "Triall An Bustoir"). AKA and see "The Butcher's Jig," "Ree Raw." Irish, March or Double Jig. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB (Stanford/Petrie): AABB (Breathnach, Cole, Flaherty, O'Neill): AABBCCDDEEFF (Breathnach, O'Farrell). O'Neill (1913) records that the tune was associated with a tradition of butchers performing a long dance on "May-Eve." In the city of Limerick in the 18th century the dance, Rinnce Fada, was witnessed by Sylvester O'Halloran, an eminent native historian. In 'modern' times, states O'Neill, the tune in two strains is danced as a double jig, though he points out the setting in O'Farrell's Pocket Companion for the Irish or Union Pipes (vol. 2, Book 1, c. 1810) has six parts. Breathnach gives that Sliabh Luachra fiddler Denis Murphy called the tune "Along with the Girls I'd like to be." See also "Rub the Bag," and variants listed under "Butcher's March [2]," below. Don Meade points out this is not the tune usually known as "The Butcher's March" in Irish sessions today. There may be some relation to the "Gold Ring [1]" family of tunes.
Sources for notated versions: accordionist and fiddler John Keane (Co. Kerry, Ireland) [Breathnach]; fiddler Fred Finn (1919-1986, Kiltycreen, Kilavil, Co. Sligo, Ireland) [Flaherty].
Printed sources: Breathnach (CRÉ II), 1976; No. 27 [1], p. 16. Breathnach (CRÉ II), 1976; No. 27 [3], p. 17.Breathnach (CRÉ II), 1976; No. 21 (appears as "Gan ainm/No title"), p. 13. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; p. 70. Flaherty (Trip to Sligo), 1990; p. 84. Giblin (Collection of Traditional Irish Dance Music), 1928; No. 68. Levey (Dance Music of Ireland, 2nd Collection), 1873; No. 36, p. 15 (appears as untitled jig). O'Farrell (Pocket Companion, book 1), c. 1810. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; p. 36. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 867, p. 161. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 127, p. 36. O'Neill (Irish Minstrels and Musicians), 1913, p. 429 (reprint of O'Farrell's setting). Ryan's Mammoth Collection, 1883; p. 100.
X:1
T:The Butcher's March [1]
M:6/8
L:1/8
S:O'Neill - Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems (1907), No. 127
Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion
K:G
g|fAA eAA|~d2B A2g|fAA eAA|~d2B G2g|fAA eAA|fAA efg|faf gfe|~d2B G2:|
|:B/c/|ded BAB|~d2B A2B|ded BAB|~d2B G2B|ded BAB|~d2B A2g|faf gfe|~d2B G2:||
X:2
T:Butcher's March [1]
M:6/8
L:1/8
R:Jig
S:Levey - Dance Music of Ireland, 2nd Collection (1873)
N:Appears as untitled jig
Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion
K:G
g | fAA eAA | B>(ed/B/) A2g | fAA eAA | (B/c/d)B G2g |
fAA eAA |(B>ed/B/) A2g | (f/g/a)f {a}geg | dBA G2 :: B |
d>(ed/B/) dAB |d>(ed/B/) A2B | d>(3ed/B/) (dAc) | (B/c/)dB G2B |
d>(ed/B/) (dAB) |d>(e/d/B/) A2g | (f/g/af) {a}geg | (dBA) G2 :||
X:1 T:The Butchers' March [1] M:6/8 L:1/7 B:O'Farrell -- Pocket Companion for the Irish or Union Pipes (1810) Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:D g|fAA eAA|ded/B/ A2g|fAA eAA|ded/B/G:| |:B|ded/B/ dGB|ded/B/ A2B|ded/B/ dGB|ded/B/ G2:| |:g|f2a e2a|ded/B/ A2g|f2a e2a|ded/B/ G2:| |:g|faf gea|edB A2g|fga/f/ gea|edB G2:| |:B|dGB dGB|ded/B/ A2B|dGB dGB|ded/B/ G2:||
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Engraver Valerio M. Pelliccioni