Annotation:Jamie Allen
Tune properties and standard notation
JAMIE ALLEN. AKA and see "Jimmy Allen," "Reel of Tullochgorum." English, Scottish, American; Country Dance Tune (4/4 time). England, Northumberland. USA, New England. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. Northumbrian musician Jamie Allen (c. 1734-1810) was a famous small pipes player whose name is associated with this tune; he was also somewhat of a rogue, as chronicler John Sykes noted on the occasion of the piper's death:
13th November, 1810. Died in the house of Correction (under Elvet Bridge) at Durham, where he had been confined upwards of seven years, under sentence of transportation for life, James Allan, a character wellknown in most parts of the United Kingdom, particularly in Northumberland, where he was known by the name of Jemmy, the duke’s piper, and was in early life a great proficient on the pipes. He was capitally convicted of horse-stealing at the assizes held in Durham in 1803, and received sentence of death but was afterwards pardoned on condition of transportation for life; but on account of his age and infirmities, his sentence could not be carried into execution. He had nearly completed his 77th year and for the greatest part of his confinement was afflicted with a complication of disorders. Had the chequered life of this notorious character been prolonged a little, he would have regained his liberty as the first signature of the Prince Regent officially addressed to the city of Durham was a free pardon for Allan – but death had removed him beyond the reach of royal clemency.
The melody is categorized as a 'rant' among Northumbrian musicians. Johnson also prints the contra dance of the same name to this tune.
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: Johnson (Twenty-Eight Country Dances as Done at the New Boston Fair), vol. 8, 1988; p. 6. Northumbrian Pipers' Society (Northumbrian Pipers Tunebook), 1936 (2nd Edition, 1970); p. 8 (appears as "Jimmy Allen"). Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; p. 109.
Recorded sources: Acorn Music, Tony Elman - "Shakin' Down the Acorns vol. 2" (1984).