Old Timey Tunes

Seneca Square Dance / (Goodbye) Liza Jane AKA Going Down to Cairo

I learned to play Seneca Square Dance via another tune called "Waiting for the Federals" very similar, but not quite the same. So it is a bit of a blend. (Square Dancing for the Federals? That has a ring of Dukhobor to it...) I also learned what many people play as "Going Down to Cairo" as Liza Jane (Goodbye). Confusing because there are lots of songs about Liza Jane...Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys do this well. One of the best versions I've seen is from the Transatlantic Sessions. It was one of the things I saw that made me want to learn to play fiddle. They are posted below....

Bob Wills - Goodbye Liza Jane

Transatlantic Sessions (Jerry Douglas, Jay Ungar, Aly Bain & others) - Goodbye Liza Jane

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It appears the BBC has removed their copyrighted videos from youtube, but the Korean Broadcast Cooperative is still providing them! Liza Jane is at 4:50:

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/wDcWi4vjUPQ/




Waiting for the Federals



The Cat Came Back!


This is a tune I have been trying to figure out. I love the sound of it.

Nail That Catfish to a Tree

I just figured out that my phone records half decent videos, so here is a quick rendition of Nail that Catfish.

Jigs and Reels

Here are some jigs and reels. I am just learning how to do play DADGAD modal stuff to accompany to Irish tunes so bear with me...

Cooley's Reel / Miss Monaghan's / Ships are Sailing / the Drunken Landlady

I like these tunes together. No fancy stolen vacation videos from youtube accompanying this one...

The Mist on the Mountain, An Luaradain, Killavil



A nice set of tunes. They are the first that I learned from my fiddle teacher. They seem to fit together nicely. I don't have a camera. Video is, again, stolen from youtube. High seas!

Pipe Reel(s) - Alexander William McDonnell

I learned this from the Jerry Holland CD, "Fiddler's Choice." It sounds great accompanied by accordian, flutes...or pipes. Reedy stuff. There is the beginning of a second reel at the end that I am learning...I'm not quite there yet!

Cooley's Reel - Miss Monaghan's - Ships are Sailing - Drunken Landlady

This time I was able to make  video of this set.

Acre Woods - Fenella - Union Street Session

The first tune of this set I either remembered or wrote while visiting a beautiful acreage in the woods newly 'settled' by my partner's cousin and family. The other two I learned from Paul Cranford's Lighthouse recordings. They are Fenella and Union Street Session

Palm Sunday - Mist on the Mountain - An Lauraiden

Heartsongs, Waltzes and Sweet Tunes

Canyon Moonrise - John McGann

Intro:  E / G / E / D

(A part)   

E / G / C /F

Am / Bm / C / A

E / G / C / F

Am / B / E / E

(B part)

C / D / Em / C

G / Em / C / C

D / Em / C / G

C / F / F#m / B

Am / G / C / F

Am / B / E / E

There are some better, more complicated, more copyrighted...patented chords here: http://www.johnmcgann.com/canyon.html 

Cape Breton Home - Jerry Holland

(A part)

G / D / C / G / G / D / C / D

G / D / C/ G / C / D / G / G

(B part)

G / C / G / D / G / C / D / D

G / C / G / D / G / D / C / G

I like trying to play this tune. I've heard Ashley MacIsaac play it beautifully with Quinn Bachand. I wish that Jerry Holland had been around longer.    

Ashokan Farewell - Jay Ungar

(A part)

D / D / G / G / D / D / D / A

D / D / G / G / D / D / A / D

(B part)

D / D / G / D / D / G / A / A

D / C / G / D / D / D / A / D

"A scottish lament written by a jew from the bronx."

Rocky Shore

I think this is a Paul Cranford tune. He was a lighthouse keeper in Cape Breton and publishes great books of CB fiddle tunes. A lot of my favorite tunes are ones that I discovered through his book and CD "Lighthouse Collection." His website is http://www.cranfordpub.com/. I couldn't find a video or recording so I made one. And I love playing this one! The video for this is stolen from youtube. It is somebody's vacation in Cape Breton. I think it is Ingonish.

Give Me Your Hand... / Just Give Me Your Hand!

G / D / G / D / G / D / Bm / Bm

A / D / A / G / G / D / G / D

G / D / Bm / Bm / A / D / A / G

D / D / G / A / D / D / D / D

D / D / A / A / G / D / Bm / A

D / C / G / G / D / Bm / A / D

Its funny how an accordian can change this song...! I love the ways this song goes. It can be a vow and it can be plea.

Return From Fingal

Am / G ...

and along comes a helper...and is it nice.

Inion Ni Scannlain

Key of D...

I learned it from Lunasa albums and I think one of the members wrote it.

Helping Hands - Jerry Holland

Key of D

The video is of Qristina and Quinn Bachand playing this Jerry Holland tune at a tribute, I think at Celtic Colours. I love the "jesus!" by someone near the camera during the first few seconds!

MacDougall's Pride

Ashley MacIsaac and Quinn Bachand

Valley of Knockanure

The lyrical song is about fights and battles. I guess the version I play is about grain and trains.

Mary Jesse Gillis

This tune is from Paul Stewart Cranford's "Lighthouse Connection." I play it a bit slower than the way it is usually done.