Annotation:Black Rogue (1)
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BLACK ROGUE [1], THE (An Rógaire Dub). AKA and see "Bunch of Green Rushes (2)," "Bark is on the Swelling Shore (The)" "Before I Was Married," "Billy O'Rourke's Jig (1)," "Black Joke (2) (The)," "Come Under My Plaidie," "Donnybrook Fair," "God Bless the Grey Mountain," "Humors of Donnybrook Fair," "Inishowen," "Irish Lady (2) (The)," "Irish Lass (2)," "Johnny McGill/Johnnie MacGill," "Life is all Chequered," "Michael Malloy/Molloy/Mulloy," "Miss Thornton's Jig," "Nature and Melody," "O Pleasant Was the Moon," "Paddy McNicholas'," "Shane Glas/Shaun Glas," "Sublime Was the Warning," "Shandrum Boggoon," "This Life is All Chequered," "[['Tis a bit of a thing[[," "What sounds can compare." Irish, Double Jig. G Major (Levey, O'Neill): D Major (Taylor). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The provenance for the tune is unclear as it is claimed by both Irish and Scots. It has been said to have been composed by Ayrshire, Scotland, musician Johnny McGill (whose name is attached to Scottish versions), and indeed, "Johnny McGill" can be thought of as a modal version of "Black Rogue." O'Neill's setting is essentially the same as that given by O'Farrell, who included many Scottish melodies in his collection of Irish tunes. An early recording of the jig was by John Sheridan and his Boys on 78 RPM disc in 1928. It was in the repertoire of Cape Breton fiddler Bill Lamey, whose playing of it at Cape Breton dances in Boston was remembered by a young Jerry Holland. Lamey may have picked it up from Irish sources, such as Leitrim flute player John McKenna's influential 78 RPM recording.
Source for notated version: set dance music recorded live at Na Píobairí Uilleann, mid-1980's [Taylor].
Printed sources: Cranford (Jerry Holland: The Second Collection), 2000; No. 266, p. 96 (appears as "An Rógaire Dubh"). Giblin (Collection of Traditional Irish Dance Music), 1928; p. 99. Levey (Dance Music of Ireland, 2nd Collection), 1873; No. 13, p. 6. McDermott (Allan's Irish Fiddler), c. 1920's; p. 33. O'Farrell (National Irish Music for the Union Pipes), 1804; p. 40 (appears as "Rogue Erra Duff. The Black Rogue"). O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1979; No. 915, p. 170. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1986; No. 302, p. 65. Ryan's Mammoth Collection, 1883; pp. 81 & 103. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 1265. Taylor (Music for the Sets: Yellow Book), 1995; p. 27.
Recorded sources: Capelhouse Records, James Kelly - "Traditional Irish Music" (1996). Shanachie 79093, Paddy Glackin and Robbie Hannon - "Whirlwind" (1995. Learned from Donegal fiddler John Doherty). Jerry Holland - "Crystal Clear" (2000).
See also listings at:
Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index [1]
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [2]
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [3]