Annotation:Bonny Charlie (1)

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BONNIE CHARLIE [1]. AKA and see "King of the Fairies (The)," "King William of Orange." Scottish, Scots Measure (4/4 time, "Slowish"). D Minor (Gatherer, Gow, Martin, Songer): E Minor (Aird). Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB (Gatherer, Gow, Martin, Songer): AABB (Aird, Harding). Nigel Gatherer credits the tune to the famous Scots fiddler and composer Niel Gow (1727-1807), born in Inver. Its printing in James Aird's Selection of Scots, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. II (1785), however, predates the Gows' printing by more than 20 years (although still within the mature period of Gow). See also Irish cognates "King of the Fairies (The)" and "Your Old Wig is the Love of My Heart."

Source for notated version: Eileen Witler via Lanny Martin [Songer].

Printed sources: Aird (Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. II), 1785; No. 109, p. 40. Carlin (Gow Collection), 1986; No. 13. Gatherer (Gatherer's Musical Museum), 1987; p. 30. Gow (Complete Repository), Part 3, 1806; p. 5. Harding's All Round Collection, 1905; No. 151, p. 48 {Reel}. Martin (Ceol na Fidhle, vol. 3), 1988; p. 41. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; p. 34.

Recorded sources: Philo 1031, Boys of the Lough - "Lochaber No More."