Cruiskeen Lawn (1)
CRUISKEEN LAWN (Cruiscin Lan). AKA and see "O'Sullivan's Return," "Men of '82 Z(The)," "Wife Who Was Dumb (The)," "Dumb Dumb Dumb." Irish, Air (4/4 time). G Minor (O'Neill): A Minor (O'Farrell). Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (O'Neill): AABB (O'Farrell). "Cruiskeen Lawn" is the Englished form of the Gaelic title Cruiscin Lan, which means 'The Full Little Jug'. Flood (1905) mentions a rather bold assertion that Dr. Sigerson, in " 'The Bards of the Gael and Gall', believes this tune evidences strong Scandinavian musical influences from the period of the Norse invasions of Ireland c. 800-1050. He is in error," states Flood, who doubts the tune dates from the Norse period or even mediaeval days. Cazden (et al, 1982) finds the earliest publication of the song to be a sheet-music copy printed in New York by Edward Riley, dated between 1823 and 1831, and notes that the song became a favorite on both sides of the Atlantic during the mid-19th century. As a popular tune it was used for several other ballads and hymns, including the American shape-note piece "Consolation" (Sacred Harp, 1848). See also note to "Cruisgin Beag (An)" and "We'll take again a cruiskeen a cruiskeen laun."
Source for notated version: Chicago Police Sergeant James O'Neill, a fiddler originally from County Down and Francis O'Neill's collaborator [O'Neill].
Printed source: P.H. Hughes (Gems of the Emerald Isle), c. 1860's; No. 72, p. 17. O'Farrell (Pocket Companion, vol. III), c. 1808; p. 41 (appears as "Cruskeen Lawn"). O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 254, p. 44.
X:1 T:Cruiskeen Lawn M:C L:1/8 R:Air N:"With expression" S:O'Neill - Music of Ireland (1903), No. 254 Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:Gmin G/^F/ | D<GGA B2 AB | .c.B.A.G F3 D/C/ | D<GGA B>ABc | d6 zd | d>BBd f2 ed | cBAB c2 Bc | d>c B<G d2D2 | G2A2B2 Bc | d>c B<G d2 D2 G6 z || G/A/ | B>A B<d f<d f2 | c>A F<A c<A c2 | d>c B<G d2D2 | G2A2B2 Bc | d<g d>c B2A2 | G6 ||
X:2 T:Cruiskeen Lawn, The M:C L:1/8 R:Air N:"Moderato" B:P.H. Hughes -- Gems from the Emerald Isle (c. 1860's, No. 72, p. 17) Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:Gmin D2|DGGA B2 AB|c>BAG ^F2 D2|DGGA B>ABc|d6 f2| d>BBd f2 ed|c>BAB c2 Bc|d>cB>G d2D2|G2A2 B2Bc|d>c B<G d2D2 |G6||
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