X:1
T:Tarbolton Lodge
M:C|
L:1/8
R:Reel
B:Stewart-Robertson – The Athole Collection (1884)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:Emin
F|Eee^d e2 BA|GBAF GEEF|Ddd^c d2 AF|GBAG FDDF|
E(ee)^d efga|fedf eBBA|GABG FGAF|BGAF GE E||
f|gfef gebe|gebe geef|defg adfd|ABAG FDDF|
G2BG F2AF|Eeef gefd|B^cdB AGFA|BGAF GEE||
TARBOLTON LODGE. AKA ‑ "Tarbolton Reel," "Tarbolton (The)." AKA and see “Calum Bridge,” "Cooleen Bridge," "Hatton Burn," “Paddy in the Cornfield.” Scottish (originally), Irish, Canadian; Reel (cut time). Canada; Québec, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton, Ontario. E Dorian (Em). Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Athole, Mitchell, Skye): ABB (Moylan): AABB (Allan, Brody, Harker/Rafferty, Mallinson, Perlman, Taylor): AA'BB' (Carlin, Tubridy). Several writers have commented on the ‘Scottishness’ of the tune, suggesting its origins in that country, and, in fact, the town of Tarbolton lies in Ayrshire in western Scotland, not far from the banks of the River Ayr. Its name—Tor-Bealtiunn or Beltane Hillock—belies its association with the Druidic celebration of Beltane, held on May 1st. At that time fires would be lit in sacred places, most often on hills. The Scots national poet, Robert Burns, lived with his family of origin near the town for some years when he was a young man. It was at the Bachelors’ Club in Tarbolton, in an upstairs room, that Burns was initiated into Freemasonry, where he attended dancing classes, and where he helped found the Bachelors’ Club debating society.
The renowned Sligo/New York City fiddler wikipedia:Michael_Coleman_(Irish_fiddler) (1891-1945) recorded this in 1934 as the first tune in a very famous medley coupled with “Longford Collector” and “Sailor's Bonnet (The).” The tunes are still commonly played together as a set at modern sessions in hommage to the master musician. It has been suggested that Coleman might have learned “Tarbolton” from Cape Breton musicians in Boston.
Additional notes
Source for notated version : - fiddler Jean Carignan (Montreal) [Brody]; accordion player Johnny O’Leary (Sliabh Luachra region of the Cork-Kerry border) [Moylan]; piper Willie Clancy (1918-1973, Miltown Malbay, West Clare) [Mitchell]; fiddler Dawson Girdwood (Perth, Ottawa Valley, Ontario) [Bégin]; George MacPhee (b. 1941, Monticello, North-East Kings County, Prince Edward Island) [Perlman]; New Jersey flute player Mike Rafferty, born in Ballinakill, Co. Galway, in 1926 [Harker].
Printed sources : - Bégin (Fiddle Music from the Ottawa Valley), 1985; No. 76, p. 85 (appears as “Michael Coleman’s Reel”). Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; p. 273. Carlin (Master Collection), 1984; No. 228, p. 133. Harker (300 Tunes from Mike Rafferty), 2005; No. 125, p. 38. Kerr (Merry Melodies, vol. 1), c. 1880; Set 19, No. 2, p. 12 (appears as "Tarbolton Lodge"). Lyth (Bowing Styles in Irish Fiddle Music, vol. 1), 1981; 30. MacDonald (The Skye Collection), 1887: p. 75 (appears as "Hatton Burn"). Mallinson (100 Essential), 1995; No. 59, p. 26. McDermott (Allan's Irish Fiddler), 1920’s, No. 56, p. 14. Mitchell (Dance Music of Willie Clancy), 1993; No. 14, pp. 36-37. Moylan (Johnny O’Leary of Sliabh Luachra), 1994; No. 277, p. 158. Perlman (The Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island), 1996; p. 110. Prior (Fionn Seisiún 2), 2003; p. 17. Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; p. 246 (appears as "Tarbolton Lodge"). Sullivan (Session Tunes, vol. 2); No. 3, p. 2. Taylor (Through the Half-door), 1992; No. 43, pg. 30. Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, vol. 1), 1999; p. 22.
Recorded sources : - CAT-WMR004, Wendy MacIssac - “The ‘Reel’ Thing” (1994). Columbia 35612, "The Chieftains" (1978). Gael-Linn CEF 045, “Paddy Keenan” (1975). Culburnie CUL110, Abby Newton – “Crossing to Scotland” (1997. Appears as “Tarbolton Lodge”). Green Linnet SIF‑1110, Johnny Cronin, Paddy Cronin, James Kelly & Johnny McGreevy ‑ "My Love is in America: The Boston College Irish Fiddle Festival" (1991). Island ILPS 9501, "The Chieftains Live" (1977). Kicking Mule 216, Arm and Hammer String Band‑ "New England Contra Dance Music." Leader LEACD 2004, “Martin Byrnes” (1969). Mulligan 004, "Matt Molloy." Philo 2001, "Jean Carignan" (learned from a 1934 Michael Coleman recording for Decca). Rounder 7002, Graham Townsend‑ "Le Violin/ The Fiddle." Rounder CD7018, Frank Ferrel - “Boston Fiddle: The Dudley Street Tradition.” Rounder Records 7052, Buddy MacMaster – “The Cape Breton Tradition” (2003). Shanachie 33001, Michael Coleman‑ "The Wheels of the World." Shaskeen - "Shaskeen Live."
See also listing 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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