Annotation:Father Tom's Wager

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FATHER TOM'S WAGER (Geall an t-Atar Tomais). AKA and see "Close to the Floor (1)," "Frog in the Well (1)." Irish, Double Jig. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The melody appears in Ryan's Mammoth Collection (c. 1880's) as "Close to the Floor (1)." As "The Frog in the Well" it was recorded on a 78RPM in America by Francis Cashen and Tom Cawley in 1929. As "Father Tom's Wager" the tune was popular among New York musicians in the mid-20th century (it was recorded by the Coen brothers, and by fiddler Andy McGann).

Source for notated version: fiddler Johnny Henry (b. 1922, Cloonlairn, Doocastle, Co. Sligo) [Flaherty].

Printed sources: Flaherty (Trip to Sligo), 1990; p. 148. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 52. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 1005, p. 187. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 220, p. 50. Ryan's Mammoth Collection, 1883; p. 86.

Recorded sources: Shanachie 29012, Andy McGann, Joe Burke & Felix Dolan - "The Funny Reel" (1979). Topic Records, Fr. Charlie and Jack Coen - "The Branch Line" (1977. Appears as "Paddy O'Brien's Jig").

See also listings at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [2]

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