Blackthorn Stick (1)
X:1 T:Blackthorn Stick [1] T:Coach Road to Sligo L:1/8 M:6/8 K:G gfg e/f/ge|dBG AGE|DEG AGA|BdB ABd|gfg e/f/ge|dBG AGE|DEG AGA|BGG G2:| |:d|edd gdd|edd gdd|Bdd gfe|dBG A2d|gfg age|dBG AGE|DEG AGA|BGG G2:||
BLACKTHORN STICK [1]. AKA and see "Billy Patterson('s Favorite)," "Boys of Bockhill/Rockhill," "The Catholic Boys [3]," "The Coach Road to Sligo [1]," "Daniel O'Connell's Welcome to Parliament," "The Eagle's Nest," "Fire in the Valley," "Fire on the Mountain(s) [2]," "The Hare on the Mountain," "Humors of Bantry," "The Maid(en) on the Green," "O'Connell's Welcome," "The Rose on the Mountain [1]," and "Joys of Wedlock [2]." Irish (originally), English, American; Jig. G Major (Allan, Kennedy, Miller & Perron, Spandaro, Sweet): A Major (Barnes, Kerr, Raven). Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB (Kerr): AABB (most versions). This popular tune has been absorbed into several fiddling traditions, similar to the jig "Haste to the Wedding." For example, it is one of the tunes (along with "Ten-Penny Bit" and "Connaughtman's Rambles") used to accompany English rapper sword dancing. Bayard (1981) thinks the tune "a thoroughly characteristic Irish jig, probably of no great age." Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa also known as the Europena spiny plum, is a hard wood tree or bush with small white flowers. It is reddish-black in color and has very sharp, vicious spines on the bark. Its wood is very hard, close grained and has numerous knots, and although it can be difficult to work with, it is the choice wood for canes. Modern day shillelaghs are made of blackthorn due to the long shortage of oak in Ireland, and tend to be short, stubby implements (as opposed to the old oak shillelaghs which were about three feet long). See also "Welcome Home, Royal Charlie," which uses one part of "Blackthorn Stick [1]."
Source for notated version: David Street [Spandaro].
Printed sources: Allan's Irish Fiddler, No. 3, p. 2. Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes, vol. 2), 2005; p. 107. Giblin (Collection of Irish Traditional Dance Music), 1928; No. 97. Jarman (Old Tyme Fiddlin' Tunes); p. or No. 16. Kennedy (Jigs & Quicksteps, Trips & Humours), 1997; No. 7, p. 4. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 1; No. 13, p. 37. Miller & Perron (New England Fidders Repertoire), 1983; No. 2. O'Brien (Jerry O'Brien's Accordion Instructor), 1949. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; p. 115. Ryan's Mammoth Collection, 1883; pp. 80 & 83. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; p. 12. Spandaro (10 Cents a Dance), 1980; p. 44. Sweet (Fifer's Delight), 1964; pg. 38. Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, vol. 1), 1999; p. 30.
Recorded sources: Pibroch MacKenzie - "The Mull Fiddler" (1969). Bob Smith's Ideal Band - "Better than an Orchestra" (1977).
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