Annotation:Dusky Meadow
X:1 T:Dusky Meadow M:4/4 L:1/8 Z:Toby Rider K:Amix B,| A,>A E<C D<G,D>B,| A,>A E<C F>DE>C| D<EC>E D/2C/2B,/2A,/2 G,>B,| A,>AE>D C<A,A,>B,| A,>A E<C D<G,D>B,| A,>A E<C F>DE>C|D<EC>E D/2C/2B,/2A,/2 G,>d| c>A e/2d/2c/2B/2 c<A>A|| g| a>ec>A BGG>g| a>e c<A e>Ac>A| d<Bc>A d/2c/2B/2A/2 G>g| f<ae>d c>AA>g| a>ec>A B<GG>g| a>e c<A e>Ac>A|d<Bc>A d/2c/2B/2A/2 G>g |f/g/a/f/ e>a c<A A||
DUSKY MEADOW. AKA - "Dusty Miller." Canadian, Strathspey. Canada; Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island. A Mixolydian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. Dunlay and Greenberg state there are several theories as to the origin of this strathspey. It is said to have been published by Elias Howe of Boston, who printed several collections in the 19th century, but they were not able to find it; Cape Breton fiddler Bill Lamey, they report, was one who was convinced it came from a book (his accompanist, Lila Hashern, suggested it was from a pipe collection). Famed Cape Breton fiddler and composer Dan R. MacDonald thought it might have been connected with Simon Fraser's unpublished second collection, though Paul Cranford (Little River, Cape Breton) could not locate it in his microfilm copy of the manuscript). Joan MacDonald Boes suggests in was 'Little' Jack MacDonald who brought the melody to the attention of Cape Breton fiddlers. Finally, the composition has been attributed to Donald MacLellan (e.g. by Cranford), who suggested there existed four parts to it. See also dissertation by Earl V. Spielman entitled "Traditional North American Fiddling" (1969). The alternate title, "Dusty Miller," is the name of several tunes and became attached to "Dusky Meadow" (at least with some Cape Breton musicians) due to its being called by the "Miller" title on a recording by Bill Lamey and Joe MacLean (Kate Dunlay).
