Annotation:Boy in the Gap (3)
X:1 T:Boy in the Gap [3], The M:D L:1/8 R:Reel S:Larry Smyth Manuscript vol. II (c. 1900, No. 65) N:Larry Smyth, Abbeylara, Co. Longford. Z:Transcribed by Conor Ward K:D d3 (A BA)FB|A2 dA BAFB|ABde f2 ed|(Be)ed (Be)ec| d3 (A BA)FB|A2 dA BAFB|ABde f2e2|dBA(F D4):| |:a3 (g fg)fe|d2 dA (BA)FB|(AB)de f2 ed|(Be)ed (Be)eg| a3 (g fg)fe|d3 (A BA)FB|(AB)de (fd)ec|dBA(F D4):|]
BOY IN THE GAP [3]. AKA and see "Merry Blacksmith (The)." Irish, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. Researcher Conor Ward finds the tune under this title in the music manuscripts of Leitrim/Longford musicians Larry Smyth (c. 1900) and O'Farrell (c. 1860s), in nearly identical versions. Ward also notes: "The scribes of these manuscripts can trace their fiddle heritage back to the local fiddle master Thomas 'Blind' Kiernan (c.1807-1887) of Drumlish, Longford. The [Stephen] Grier MS (c. 1883) and Maggie Reynolds MS (c. 1930s) entitle their versions of this tune as "Peeler's Cap (The)" and lastly, in the Meagher MS (c. 1900) the reel is entitled "North Wall." Curiously, a cognate version of the Irish tunes also appears under the title "Boy in the Gap" in the mid-19th century music manuscript collection (No. 644) of Manchester, England, musician biography:John Roose.
See note for "Annotation:Merry Blacksmith (The)" for more.
