Annotation:Old Copperplate (The)

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OLD COPPERPLATE, THE. AKA and see "Copperplate (2) (The)." Irish, Reel. A Dorian (Mallinson, Taylor, Tubridy): A Mixolydian (Cranford). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB (most versions): AA'BB' (Taylor/Tweed). No great relationship to "New Copperplate (The)/Copperplate (1) (The)" in the first strain. The tune's age has yet to be established, despite the adjective 'Old' in the title, and there is often confusion about which 'Copperplate' is the 'old' and which the 'new' that either the 'G' or 'A dorian' tune may be meant by either. Published and recorded versions of the A dorian melody prior to 1974 have not been found. It is popular to play both "New Copperplate" and "Old Copperplate" as a medley called "The Copperplates."

Source for notated version: fiddler Brenda Stubbert (b. 1959, Point Aconi, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia) [Cranford].

Printed sources: Cranford (Brenda Stubbert's Collection), 1994; No. 36, p. 13. Bulmer & Sharpley (Music from Ireland, vol. 1), 1974; No. 48. Cranitch (Irish Fiddle Book), 1996; p. 84. Mallinson (100 Essential), 1995; No. 2, p. 1. Taylor (Through the Half-Door), 1992; No. 42, p. 29. Taylor (Traditional Irish Music: Karen Tweed's Irish Choice), 1994; p. 23. Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, Book Two), 1999; p. 20.

Recorded sources: Shaskeen - "Shaskeen Live." Brenda Stubbert - "House Sessions" (1992).

See also listing at:
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [1]
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [2]
Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index [3]
See/hear Séamus Connolly (fiddle), John McGann (mandolin and guitar), and Dan Gurney (accordion) play the tune on youtube.com [4]
Hear east Galway flute player Eddie Moloney's version [5]
Hear the tune from the Foinn Seisiún Volume 2 CD [6]