HELP: Cucharan's Cross -- proper title?

Subject: HELP: Cucharan's Cross -- proper title?
From: Scoville
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 10:21 AM

Okay, we've been debating this literally for years.

What the heck is the correct title, spelling, and pronunciation of the tune we've been calling "Cucharan's Cross" (KOOK-a-ran's, which I'm sure is completely wrong).

I'm in the process of cleaning up our tabulature and I'd like to have both a more correct spelling and be able to provide a pronunciation and an explanation for the title to help people remember it. We've been mangling it for at least ten years.

Subject: RE: HELP: Cucharan's Cross -- proper title?
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 10:56 AM

On De Denann's 1976 LP "Selected Reels, Jigs and Songs" there's a pair of marches one of which is called 'Crucaharan Cross.' Any good?

Subject: RE: HELP: Cucharan's Cross -- proper title?
From: Scoville
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 12:37 PM

Actually, no--I'm sure it's the same tune but unfortunately, that's a spelling I haven't seen before. Ha ha. But thank you just the same.

Subject: RE: HELP: Cucharan's Cross -- proper title?
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 04:30 PM

It's spelt "Crucaharan Cross" on the "De Danann" LP mentioned above. Sleeve notes say it's a tune played by the Dingle Wren Boys, and was played/collected by Charlie Piggott's grandfather, Charlie Flannery.
Assuming we're talking about the same tune.

Subject: RE: HELP: Cucharan's Cross -- proper title?
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 04:32 PM

This is the tune, as posted at "The Session".

http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/3533

if this is not the tune you mean, maybe you could post a fragment of "abc"s

Subject: RE: HELP: Cucharan's Cross -- proper title?
From: Scoville
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 04:37 PM

Yes, that's the tune, but that's the first time I've ever seen it spelt that way.

Well, it was worth a shot. Nobody in the U.S. has any concept of Celtic or Gaelic or whatever the proper terminology is. It's become a popular dulcimer tune in this area but we've all been saying and spelling it all over the map.

I usually see it as:

Cucharann['s] Cross
Cucharain['s] Cross
Cuckaran's Cross (probably the worst offender)

I've never seen it with a "Cr--" at the beginning or with the extra syllable. Dang.

Subject: RE: HELP: Cucharan's Cross -- proper title?
From: Scoville
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 04:49 PM

Sorry, I cannot tell from that page (very poor sight-reader and no instrument with me on which to pick it out), but since the title is spelt the same way as the De Danaan version (of which I heard a clip online), I assume it's the same.

Subject: RE: HELP: Cucharan's Cross -- proper title?
From: Scoville
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 04:52 PM

The recording I've got loaded into my office computer, but a pair billing themselves as Gingerthistle, just pronounced it "Crusharan's Cross", spelt "Crucharan's Cross".

Does anyone know--or have liner notes on hand--that might tell what historical basis, if any, this tune has?

Subject: RE: HELP: Cucharan's Cross -- proper title?
From: Peace
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 07:00 PM

Neat thread here from another site. Give it a boo, Scoville.

Subject: RE: HELP: Cucharan's Cross -- proper title?
From: Scoville
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 10:10 AM

Ha! Thanks!

Actually, Margaret and Rhonda are/were dulcimer compatriots of mine (I quit the club several years ago, but have known them for over a decade). I have to confess that it's Margaret's tab and spelling I'm trying to avoid.

Subject: RE: HELP: Cucharan's Cross -- proper title?
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 19 Feb 20 - 06:39 PM

Read somewhere on a dulcimer site that it is spelled as such but pronounced KOOK-a-ran. Whether this is accurate or not I have no idea.

Subject: RE: HELP: Cucharan's Cross -- proper title?
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 20 Feb 20 - 11:14 AM

I thought I had answered this above 14 years ago. Nobody else has since come up with a better explanation, nor of an example of the tune being recorded by anyone before "De Danann's" second LP. Is there any reason to doubt what they put on their sleeve-notes ?

Subject: RE: HELP: Cucharan's Cross -- proper title?
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 20 Feb 20 - 12:08 PM

Sorry to have posted. Excuse me. Won't happen again.

Subject: RE: HELP: Cucharan's Cross -- proper title?
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 20 Feb 20 - 12:57 PM

No worries. All the best. Kenny

Subject: RE: HELP: Cucharan's Cross -- proper title?
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 20 Feb 20 - 12:59 PM

In fact, someone has posted "De Danann's" track of the 2 "Dingle Wren" tunes on "Youtube" - link here :

https://youtu.be/eg2llT3P-m0