Annotation:Flagon (The)
X:1 T:Flagon, The M:C| L:1/8 R:Reel B:Stewart-Robertson - The Athole Collection (1884) Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:G c|:BG G/G/G BGdG|BG G/G/G G2gd|BG G/G/G BGd_B|A/_B/c =Fc AfcA:| |:g2 dB GBdB|g2 dB gbaf|g2 dB GBd_B|A=fcf AfcA:| B/c/d gd B/c/d gd|B/c/d gd BGG_B|A/_B/c =fc A/B/c fc|A/_B/c =fc AFFc| B/c/d g>d B/c/d gd|B/c/d gd BGGe|=fgag fgfd|cA=fc AFF|| c|B/c/d Gd BdGd|BdGd BGG_B|A/_B/c =Fc AcFc|Ac=Fc AFFc| B/c/d Gd BdGd|BdGd BGGe|~=fgag ~fgfd|cA=fc AFF||
FLAG(G)ON, THE. AKA and see "Alonby Lasses," "Floggin' (The)". Scottish, Irish, English; Reel. England, Northumberland. G Mixolydian (most versions): G Major (O'Malley). Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (O'Malley): AABB (Vickers): AABC (Mackay): AABBCD (Athole, Cranford/Holland, Gow, Lowe): AABBCC'D (Kerr). A flagon is a drinking vessel with a handle and often a spout and a cover, usually for intoxicants such as ale or beer, sometimes wine. "This is still a very popular tune in Ireland, where it is known as the 'Flogging Reel'" (Seattle)-see "The Floggin'" for more information about Irish variants, which are generally different in modality (Scottish versions tend to keep to double-tonic modality to suit the pipes). It's interesting to speculate on the reasons for the similar but meaningfully different versions of the title between Scotland and Ireland-the Irish title is perhaps heard through the lens of their history of oppression. A version called "Alonby Lasses" appears in the music manuscripts of the Browne family of Troutbeck, England, and appears to be a local Lake District name for the tune. Paul Stewart Cranford (2000) says the tune is sometimes attributed to Niel Gow. I have not seen evidence of this, but perhaps it is said on the strength of its first printing by the Gow's in their 1784 collection. Cape Breton fiddler Donald MacLellan recorded the tune on 78 RPM.
