Swedish Jig info please

Subject: Swedish Jig info please
From: Ian HP
Date: 19 Sep 99 - 06:34 AM

I have always seen the Swedish Jig credited as trad., but just discovered that Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham reckon it's by Arthur Darley of Donegal. I have attempted to find out about him on the web (when he lived, what else he wrote, etc.) but found nought. Any clues, anyone?

Subject: RE: Swedish Jig info please
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 19 Sep 99 - 06:49 AM

Ian

The late and great travelling Donegal fiddler, John Doherty, recorded the "Swedish Jig" as Puirt Arthur Darley but, like you, I am intrigued by the roots of the tune and have been able to find out little about Arthur Darley himself.

mcmoo

Subject: RE: Swedish Jig info please
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 19 Sep 99 - 11:27 AM

"Arthur Darley arrived in Co. Donegal from Dublin to play the organ in a church somewhere around, it is believed, Bruckless. This jig...is one of several tunes that (he) composed in the early 19th century."

This from the notes to Arty McGlynn's "McGlynn's Fancy" (Emerald Recordings, 1980).

The tune seems to have been pretty much unknown outside Donegal until a number of people learnt it from John Doherty, who may be heard playing it on "Taisce -The Celebrated Recordings" (Gael Linn). I've heard it called "Doherty's Jig" occasionally. Seamus Ennis didn't much like it: "In my opinion, it has the flavour of a more recent "makey-uppy" and lacks appeal", he wrote.( Sleevenotes for Paddy Glackin's album "Glackin", also Gael Linn.)

I think it's great, but I still can't play it properly. I've always assumed that it got called "The Swedish Jig" because of its unusual structure.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Swedish Jig info please
From: Ian HP
Date: 19 Sep 99 - 06:10 PM

Thanks, Malcolm. What do you play? If it's guitar, I find it's best in D, playing in Drop D, giving lots of movement on the second and third strings at the 7th fret.

Subject: RE: Swedish Jig info please
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 19 Sep 99 - 07:34 PM

Fiddle, nowadays, but with a long way to go! I can still play Darley's comfortably on open-tuned cittern, but on fiddle the bow always seems to be going the wrong way when I get down to the g string. Ho hum.

Malcolm