Annotation:Nova Scotia Polka
Back to Nova Scotia Polka
NOVA SCOTIA (POLKA), THE. AKA and see "All-Star Barn Dance (The)," "Nova Scotia Barn Dance." Canadian, Polka; Irish, Barn Dance. A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. A polka or barn dance in both Canadian 'Down East' repertoire and in Irish repertoire (albeit retaining the 'Nova Scotia' title), attributed to Nova Scotia fiddler Earl Mitton ([1]).
See also an untitled polka/barn dance in Breathnach's CRÉ V, from an early 20th century manuscript attributed to the Pigott family of east Kerry. Editor Jackie Small (CRÉ V) says the tune is "widely known nowadays as a barn dance."
Source for notated version:
Printed sources:
Messer (Way Down East), 1948; No. 59.
Messer (Anthology of Favorite Fiddle Tunes), 1980; No. 100, p. 63.
Jerry O'Brien (Irish Folk Dance Music), 1952; no. 243.
Recorded sources: Beaumex BMCD 563, "Joe Derrane and Jerry O'Brien – Irish Accordion Masters" (a reissue of the Copley record). Copley Records, The Irish All-Stars (Jerry O'Brien, Joe Derrane, George Derrane) [early 1950's]. Green Linnet GLCD 1051, "Buttons and Bows" (appears as second of the pair entitled "Barndances"). Rodeo RO-122 (78 RPM), Earl Mitton.