Annotation:Over the Water to Bessie
X:1 T:Over the Water to Bessie S:Altan M:4/4 L:1/8 K:D dB||A2fA BAfA|~A2fd edef|a2fA BAfB|ABAF D3A| A2fA BAfA|~A2fd edef|a2fA BAfB|ABAF D3g:| ~f3d g3e|~f3d ~e3c|defg a2ab|afed Bdde| ~f3d ~g3e|~f3d ~e3c|defg a2ab|afed BddB:|]
OVER THE WATER TO BESSIE. Irish, Reel (cut time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). Caoimhn Mac Aoid believes "Over the Water to Bessie" was probably obtained by Dundalk fiddler Gerry o'Connor from Rev. Luke Donnelan's manuscripts, published in the Louth Archaeological Journal in the early part of the 20th century. The Reverend was a parish priest in the south Armagh/north Louth area who collected material. Fr. John Quinn points out that the second strain of "Over the Water to Bessie" is shared with the second strain of "Wind that Shakes the Barley (1) (The)." The first strain of "Over the Water to Bessie" seems related to the second strain of "Anderson's Reel (1)," taking into account octave differences for some of the primary notes.
