Annotation:Hag at the Churn (The)
Tune properties and standard notation
HAG AT THE CHURN. THE (Cailleach 'sa Mhaistrim). AKA and see "Dinny Delaney's (1)," "Maid at the Churn (The)," "Merry Woodsman (The)." Irish, Double Jig. D Mixolydian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Mallinson): AAB (Sullivan). A highly regarded pipe tune, according to the Bothy Band. Caoimhin Mac Aoidh says a correct translation of the Irish title would be "Hag in the churn." This refers, he maintains, to the folk superstition that witches would inhabit a churn to steal butter. They could not abide this particular tune, however, so it would be played as a ward when the chore of churning butter was done. It was a terrible and telling mark if a woman left the house during this ritual. See also the related "Church Hill (2)."
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: Breathnach (CRÉ II), 1976; No. 43 (appears as "Gan ainm/No title"). Mallinson (100 Enduring), 1995; No. 50, p. 21. Sullivan (Session Tunes), vol. 2; No. 27, p. 11.
Recorded sources: CCF2, Cape Cod Fiddlers - "Concert Collection II" (1999). Green Linnet SIF 3013, Bothy Band - "Out of the Wind, Into the Sun."