Annotation:Butterfly (3) (The)

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BUTTERFLY [3], THE. AKA and see "Óró a thaidhg a ghrá," "Skin the Peeler(s)." Irish, Slip Jig. E Minor/Dorian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABBCC. Composition of the "The Butterfly" is credited to the late fiddler Tommy Potts, who knew the first two parts of the tune from his father, Sean, an Uilleann piper (the two-part tune appears in Cole's 1000 as "Skin the Peeler" and "Barney's Goat"). Caoimhin Mac Aoidh gives that Potts was working in his garden one day when he noticed the erratic flight of a butterfly flitting about. Intrigued, Potts tried to mimick the rhythm of the insect while he continued to work in the garden, and was inspired to come up with the third part of the tune. The first two existing parts were altered rhythmically to fit. It has become a commonly heard tune at sessions, to the dismay of many who find overplaying has made it unpalatable. The tune is called "Skin the Peeler" by Highland bagpipers. "Barney's Goat" resembles the second and third parts of the slip jig. "Óró a thaidhg a ghrá" and "Stoneybatter" are related tunes.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes, vol. 2), 2005; p. 47 (appears as "The Friendly Brooke", the name of a country dance by Chris Sackett written in 2001 to the tune). Bulmer & Sharpley (Music from Ireland vol. 3), 1976; No. 79. Mallinson (100 Enduring), 1995; No. 91, p. 38. Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, vol. 1), 1999; p. 38.

Recorded sources: Green Linnett SIF3011, The Bothy Band - "1975." North Star NS0031, "Dance Across the Sea: Dances and Airs from the Celtic Highlands" (1990). Tommy Potts - "The Liffey Banks." Paddy Glackin & Jolyon Jackson - "On Hidden Ground."