The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #7641   Message #57820
Posted By: Philippa
09-Feb-99 - 11:18 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: This phrase has been... (Fan-a-Winnow)
Subject: Tune Add: FAN-A-WINNOW
Threads do diverge in strange directions and this one has the sort of general title that's asking for multiple queries, especially when people are having technical difficulties starting new threads. From 20 Nov '98 through 6 Feb. '99, this thread had 17 entries all concerning weaving songs, connected to the original enquiry about "the lovely blue-eyed bontiro". So shift off that easy chair ye Dylanites as the thread returns to the straight and narrow.
I know of two songbooks which include this song. Both are published by Mercier Press of Cork:
Carmel OBoyle. "Cut the Loaf: The Irish Children's Songbook", 1986
David Hammond. "Songs of Belfast" John Moulden describes this book as "slim but interesting with children's songs, mill songs general songs and some politics"
Both books are available from John Moulden at Ulstersongs (N Ireland) You'll also find a link at the Mudcat links page.
I e-mailed Alison a GIF of the page from Hammond's book. Alison graciously provided a MIDI and ABC, but she said the GIF image wasn't very clear and some notes might wrong. I compared Alison's ABC with Hammond's notation and came up with the ABC below. I'm not experienced at ABCs, so may yet have to add another corrective message! The notation given in Carmel O'Boyle's book is slightly different again.
By the way, Harvey Fishman never wrote again after his initial enquiry. Nor did he acknowledge my e-mail to him. Has anyone else heard from Harvey whetherFan-a-Winnow is the same song he remembers? It does seem probable.

X:1
T:Fan-a-winnow
M:4/4
Q:1/8=100
K:D
D2FAA2A2|A2A2AB3|DEFGA2B2|E4F4|DEFGA2A2|d2dBA2FG|
A2A2B2AG|E2D2D3A|d2ABBA2A|d2A2BA2G|F2D2E2AG|
E2D2D4|D3EF2G2|A2dBA4|D3EF2A2|G2F2E4|D3EF3G|
AB=cBA3G|F2D2E2AG|E2D2D3A|d2ABBA2A|d2A2BA2G|
F2D2E2AG|EE3D4||