Annotation:Shearing the Sheep (1)

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X:1 T:Shearing the Sheep [1] M:C| L:1/8 R:Reel B:O'Neill's Music of Ireland. 1850 Melodies, 1903, p. 280, no. 1515 Z:François-Emmanuel de Wasseige K:A EAAB ABcB|ABcA BFF2|EAAB ABce|faec d2(cB)| A3B ABcB|ABcA BFF2|EA (3ABA ABce|faec HA2 cd|| e2(ae) feaf|eaec d2(cd)|e2(ae) fefb|afec d2(cd)| e2(ae) feaf|eaec d2(cB)|c2(cB) cefb|afec dBcA!D.C.!|]

SHEARING THE SHEEP [1] ("Ag bearrad na caoire" or "Ag lomairt na gcaorac"). AKA and see "Red Haired Lass." AKA – “Dipping the Sheep.” Irish, Reel. A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (O'Neill/1850 & 1001): AA'B (O'Neill/Krassen): AABB. "Shearing the Sheep (1)" is similar in both strains to the well-known session reel “<incipit title="load:Red" width=850 link="https://tunearch.org/wiki/Red Haired Lass">Red Haired Lass</incipit>.” Parts of the tune also bear a striking resemblance to parts of "<incipit title="load:Boys" width=850 link="https://tunearch.org/wiki/Boys of Portaferry (The)">Boys of Portaferry (The)</incipit>" and "<incipit title="load:Peter" width=850 link="https://tunearch.org/wiki/Peter Kennedy's Fancy">Peter Kennedy's Fancy</incipit>," both of which appear in the O'Neill publications. Paul de Grae is of the opinion the tune "may represent another product of variation-addict McFadden's creative imagination."

Additional notes

Source for notated version: - John McFadden [O'Neill]. Chicago fiddler John McFadden was originally from County Mayo and was a frequent playing partner of Chicago Police Sergeant and uilleann piper James Early. Chief O'Neill was particularly impressed by McFadden's fertile musical ability to create variation sets on the spot, sometimes 'complaining' that the fiddler never played the tune the same way twice.

Printed sources : - Miller (Fiddler’s Throne), 2004; No. 245, p. 149. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; p. 154. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 734, p. 129. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 1515, p. 280.

Recorded sources: -Atlantica Music 02 77657 50222 26, Kim Vincent - “Atlantic Fiddles” (1994). Islander Records, Kim Vincent - “Welcome Paddy Home” (1989).

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]

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X:1 M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G DGGF ~G2 BG|GABG ~AGEG|DGGF GABd|egdB AGEG|