Tune Req: Witch of the Glen + Sweetness of Mary

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Witch of the Glen + Sweetness of Mary
From: Jack Campin
Date: 22 May 12 - 05:29 AM

If you don't do ABC the dots are a couple of clicks away on a converter site like folkinfo.org or concertina.net.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Witch of the Glen + Sweetness of Mary
From: GUEST,Seayaker
Date: 22 May 12 - 05:25 AM

If you don't do ABC the dots are on Folk Tune Finder.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Witch of the Glen + Sweetness of Mary
From: Jack Campin
Date: 22 May 12 - 05:12 AM

Sweetness of Mary is normally played in A (i.e. going up to the high C sharp), but I first learned it in G and prefer it that way.

I think it's really in 12/8, though I've never seen anyone else notate it like that.

X:1
T:The Sweetness of Mary
C:Joan McDonald Boes
S:Aly Bain (from a TV programme)
S:Phil Cunningham, Aly Bain "Another Gem"
Z:Nigel Gatherer, John Chambers, Jack Campin
M:12/8
L:1/8
K:A
AB|"A"    c3   cBA  "D"F3  FAB|   "A" ce2 "D" df2 "E" e4 fg|
   "D"    a2g  f2e  "A"e2d c2d|[1 "Bm"ea2     cA2 "E7"B4  :|\
                               [2 "A" ea2 "E7"cB2 "A" A4  ||
ab|"A"    c'2e ac'2 "E"b2e gb2|   "D" a2g     fa2 "A" e6   |\
   "D(Bm)"f2e  d2f  "A"e2d c2d|
                                  "Bm"ea2     cA2 "E7"B4 AB|\
   "A"    c3   cBA  "D"F3  FAB|
                                  "A" ce2 "D" df2 "E" e4 fg|\
   "D"    a2g  f2e  "A"e2d c2d|   "A" ea2 "E7"cB2 "A" A4  |]

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Witch of the Glen + Sweetness of Mary
From: GUEST
Date: 22 May 12 - 02:08 AM

X: 3
T:Sweetness of Mary (in D)
M:2/4
L:1/16
C:Traditional
S:Rock, Salt & Nails 'Stand your Ground'
K:D major
||: A,2 D2E2|F4F2ED|B,4B,2DE|F3A GB3|A4A2Bc|d3c B3A|AG3 F3G|Ad3 F2ED|E2A ,2
D2E2|F4F2ED|B,4B,2DE|F3A GB3|A4A2Bc|d3c B3A|AG3 F3G|Ad3 F2ED|D2:||
|:A 2 d2e2|f2A2 df3|e2A2 ce3|d2c2 Bd3|A4A2FA|B2A2 G2B2|A2G2 F3G|Ad3 F2ED|E2A
2 d2e2|f2A2 df3|e2A2 ce3|d2c2 Bd3|A4A2FA|B2A2 G2B2|A2G2F3G|Ad3 F2ED|D2 :||

Subject: RE: Witch of The Glen/The Sweetness of Mary
From: SueH
Date: 12 Jun 99 - 05:57 PM

Hi Jeri

Debbie doesn't emphasise the dance rhythm when she plays, & in fact as I play it as close as I can to the way she plays it (this is the EC one) I hadn't thought too much about it's being a strathspey until I showed it to my violin teacher, who played it in dance rhythm. I like it better as I'm used to it. I must sort out those recordings!

I had a go at the RS&N version & found it REALLY HARD, I'll comment again after a few more goes.

Oh & lots of dots - if I put ABC2Win to display at 100% with lots of space between the staves, everything looks MUCH easier!!!!!

Sue

Subject: RE: Witch of The Glen/The Sweetness of Mary
From: Jeri
Date: 12 Jun 99 - 01:18 PM

She changed the rhythm. I think mine was closer to the way EC plays it, but I'll have to listen to the CD again. The way your sister and RS&N plays it is closer to the tune Boes wrote, though.

It is worth mentioning that both EC and RS&N have this ©1987, Joan MacDonald Boes tune listed as "Traditional." (There's no blame here - the copyright appears to never have been registered.)

Thanks, SueH, and thanks to your sister. (Dots, she mutters...lots of little teeny dots...)

Subject: RE: Witch of The Glen/The Sweetness of Mary
From: SueH
Date: 12 Jun 99 - 07:26 AM

Hi Jeri

Below, with any luck, are:

1) slightly revised Eliza Carthy Sweetness of Mary (I think it's only the bars that Debbie's changed, I just had a quick look at it when it arrived last night 2) Sweetness of Mary by Blood Salt & Nails in G 3) Sweetness of Mary by B S & N transposed in D

(This last was for me, so I didn't have to go above 1st position!)

I have the Blood Salt & Nails version on tape, but haven't been able to hear the Eliza Carthy version.

Sue

X: 1
T:The Sweetness of Mary
M:4/4 % could be 6/8
L:1/8
S:Eliza Carthy, "Red Rice"
R:Strathspey
K:D
||:D2E| F3 FED B,3D2E| FA2 GB2 A3 B2c |d2c B A2 A2G F G2| Ad2 FED E3
D2E| F3 FED B,3D2E |FA2 GB2 A3 B2c |d2c B A2 A2G1 FG2 |1 Ad2 F2E D2B,:|
2 Ad2 F2ED2Ad2e ||f2 A df2 e2 _B ce2| de2 d=B2 A6 |B2G AB2 A2G FG2|
A d2 FED E2 A d2e| f2A df2 e2 _B ce2|de2 d=B2 A6| B2G AB2 A2G FG2|
A d2 F2ED2 Ad2 e| f2 A df2 e2 _B ce2|de2 d=B2 A6| B2G A2B A2G FG2|
A d2 FED E3 D2E| F3 FED B,3 D2E|FA2 GB2 A3 B2c| d2c B2A A2G F2G|
Ad2 F2 E D6|

X: 2
T:The Sweetness of Mary
M:2/4
L:1/16
C:Traditional
S:Rock, Salt & Nails 'Stand your ground'
N:To be played freel
K:A major
E2 A2B2|c4c2BA|F4F2AB|c3e df3|e4e2fg|a3g f3e|ed3 c3d|ea3 c2BA|B2E2 A2B2|
c4 c2BA|F4F2AB|c3e df3|e4e2fg|a3g f3e|ed3 c3d|ea3 c2BA|A2:|||: e2 a2b2|c
'2e2 ac'3|b2e2 gb3|a2g2 fa3|e4e2ce|f2e2 d2f2|e2d2c3d|ea3 c2BA|B2e2 a2b2|
c'2e2 ac'3|b2e2 gb3|a2g2fa3|e4e2ce|f2e2d2f2|e2d2c3d|ea3 c2BA|A2:||

X: 3
T:Sweetness of Mary (in D)
M:2/4
L:1/16
C:Traditional
S:Rock, Salt & Nails 'Stand your Ground'
K:D major
||: A,2 D2E2|F4F2ED|B,4B,2DE|F3A GB3|A4A2Bc|d3c B3A|AG3 F3G|Ad3 F2ED|E2A ,2
D2E2|F4F2ED|B,4B,2DE|F3A GB3|A4A2Bc|d3c B3A|AG3 F3G|Ad3 F2ED|D2:||
|:A 2 d2e2|f2A2 df3|e2A2 ce3|d2c2 Bd3|A4A2FA|B2A2 G2B2|A2G2 F3G|Ad3 F2ED|E2A
2 d2e2|f2A2 df3|e2A2 ce3|d2c2 Bd3|A4A2FA|B2A2 G2B2|A2G2F3G|Ad3 F2ED|D2 :||

% Output from ABC2Win Version 2.1 h on 11/06/99

Subject: RE: Witch of The Glen/The Sweetness of Mary
From: Jeri
Date: 06 Jun 99 - 09:16 AM

If I had had to learn that tune from the dots in the book, (in the key of A, by the way,) I'd still be "un-Sweetened." I look forward to the sound samples - I'd love to hear the way the tune sounds when played closer to Cape Breton style.

Subject: RE: Witch of The Glen/The Sweetness of Mary
From: SueH
Date: 06 Jun 99 - 08:06 AM

Oh, & I forgot to say, I have finally got the Tam Lin web site up (www.questor-cp.demon.co.uk/tamlin.htm) & hope to get some sound clips on there soon. One of them will be the Witch of the Glen/Sweetness of Mary set, not by me I hasten to add!

Sue

Subject: RE: Witch of The Glen/The Sweetness of Mary
From: SueH
Date: 06 Jun 99 - 08:04 AM

Hi Jeri

I've finally got round to having a go at 'The Sweetness of Mary' & notwithstanding my relatively elementary ability as a violinist as yet, & the fact that Debbie plays it 'a la Shetland' with lots of double stopping, it sounds pretty much right to me!

Thanks very much again, it really is a beautiful tune.

Sue

Subject: RE: Witch of The Glen/The Sweetness of Mary
From: Jeri
Date: 22 May 99 - 08:48 AM

Don't feel like you're the only one this happens to! I was in a session last night, and folks started playing something that sounded vaguely familiar. I asked the name of the tune. When I heard it, everything clicked into place and I could play along. I guess I've been hanging around computers too long. I couldn't access the data in my brain without a file name!

When I started playing with others, I'd try to learn the whole durned tune all at once. Once in a blue moon, I can do that, but it's usually more productive to concentrate on bits. Get the first measure, then next time around the second, etc. It still takes a few times hearing it in a session before I can learn the whole tune, but perhaps someday I'll be able to ken a tune the first time 'round.

Subject: RE: Witch of The Glen/The Sweetness of Mary
From: SueH
Date: 22 May 99 - 06:28 AM

Hi Jeri

You might know it better as The Kerry Reel; I hate to admit this in public, but there I've been for the last month, since this got assimilated into sets for their next gigs, thinking, I really like that, it sounds pretty familiar. As it's virtually the same as The Kerry Reel which I do know & have the sheet music for, I can only hang my head in shame & blame it on the fact that she plays it about 10 times faster than I can!

I wonder how many years it will be before I can pick things up by ear.....

Sue

Subject: RE: Witch of The Glen/The Sweetness of Mary
From: Jeri
Date: 21 May 99 - 12:18 PM

Just listened to it - thanks! It sounds very familiar, and I have played it before from sheet music, although I never learned it. I can't remember the name as is normal for me. (Me in a session: "Can we play that tune that goes 'deedle deedly dee?' "What's the name?" "I dunno, but it goes 'deedle deedly dee?"

And thanks in advance for any corrections.

Subject: Tune Add: THE WITCH OF THE GLEN
From: SueH
Date: 21 May 99 - 10:43 AM

Hi Jeri

Below (I hope) is the ABC for the Witch of The Glen, which was done for me by Tam Lin's (my husband's band) fiddler, who is brilliant at taking down music. She says the A part is the same as The GReen Fields of Rossbeigh, but the B part is slightly different. I haven't had a go at it yet.

I'm sending her your ABC of the Sweetness of Mary & will let you know if she thinks there should be any corrections.

SueH

X: 1
T:The Witch of the Glen
M:4/4
L:1/16
C:Traditional
S:Chris Leslie 'The Flow'
N:Irish Origi
K:E minor
d2c2|B2E2E4B2A2F2B2|A2B2d2e2f2d2e2d2|B2E2E4B2A2F2A2|B2F2A2F2D2E2F2A2|B6d
2B2A2F2B2|A2B2d2e2f2d2e2d2|B2E2E4B2A2F2A2|B2F2A2F2E4:|:F2A2|Bcd2e2f2g2f2
f2e2|d2B2B2A2B2G2G2A2|Bcd2e2f2g2f2f2e2|d2B2A2F2E4e2f2|g6a2g2f2e2d2|f4f2g
2f2e2d2B2|A2B2d2e2f2g2f2e2|d2B2A2F2E4:||

% Output from ABC2Win Version 2.1 h on 20/05/99

Subject: RE: Witch of The Glen/The Sweetness of Mary
From: SueH
Date: 17 May 99 - 06:59 PM

I've just found some information that says that 'The Witch of the Glen' is also known as 'The Kerry Reel', 'The Green Fields of Rossbeigh', & 'The GReen Banks of Rossbeigh'. I should have these others somewhere & will check, altho' I'm not convinced.

I also saw something which gave much the same info as you've given me Jeri, about Sweetness of Mary. I think it was on an index for (printed) music, which I found on the Ceolas site. I'll check & let you know the URL, could be useful!

SueH

Subject: RE: Witch of The Glen/The Sweetness of Mary
From: Jeri
Date: 17 May 99 - 04:17 PM

So there I was, finally getting a chance to leaf through my new tunebook, Mel Bay's "The Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island," and there it was. Additional info: a Cape Breton tune,(c) 1987 by Joan MacDonald Boes. (Somebody ought to tell Eliza Carthy - it's on her CD as "trad") "For St Mary. Can be played as a slow air or slow strathspey. The one in the book has way more dotted notes than I put in.

Subject: RE: Witch of The Glen/The Sweetness of Mary
From: Jeri
Date: 12 May 99 - 01:02 PM

On the ABCs for "Sweetness," - I think it should have been in 4/4.

I've looked in most of the collections I've downloaded and haven't found "Witch." Hope you find it!

Jeri

Subject: RE: Witch of The Glen/The Sweetness of Mary
From: SueH
Date: 12 May 99 - 12:29 PM

Thank you, Jeri, for the ABC of Sweetness of Mary. That's great. I might be able to twist my friend's arm to get the notation for Witch of The Glen; I think it was done by a band called Rock Salt & Nails, or something of the sort. Don't know it's origin though, but it's a marvellous tune. If I get the dots, I will post it.

SueH

Subject: Tune Add: THE SWEETNESS OF MARY
From: Jeri
Date: 11 May 99 - 02:30 PM

I spent quite a while searching for "The Sweetness of Mary" (completely different than "Sweets of May")in an ABC collection without luck. I learned the darned tune from the Eliza Carthy CD "Red Rice" and attempted to put it into ABC myself. It will probably be obvious that I'm barely musically literate, and there are probably gobs of mistakes. I'll gratefully accept any corrections or education.

Sue, I can convert the music to a .gif and e-mail it if you don't do ABC.

T:The Sweetness of Mary
M:6/8
L:1/8
S:Eliza Carthy, "Red Rice"
R:Strathspey
K:D
||:D2E F3 FED B,3|D2E FA2 GB2 A3|
B2c d2c B A2 A2G|F G2 Ad2 FED E3|
D2E F3 FED B,3|D2E FA2 GB2 A3|
B2c d2c B A2 A2G|1 FG2 Ad2 F2E D2B,:|
2 FG2 Ad2 F2ED2A||
|d2e f2 Adf2 e2 _B|ce2 de2 d=B2 A6|
B2G AB2 A2G FG2|Ad2 FED E2 A d2e|
f2A df2 e2 _B ce2|de2 d=B2 A6|
B2G AB2 A2G FG2|A d2 F2ED2 Ad2 e|
f2 Adf2 e2 _Bce2|de2 d=B2 A6|
B2G A2B A2G FG2|A d2 FED E3 D2E|
F3 FED B,3 D2E|FA2 GB2 A3 B2c|
d2c B2A A2G F2G|Ad2 F2 E D6|

Subject: RE: Witch of The Glen/The Sweetness of Mary
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 11 May 99 - 02:16 AM

Sue,

There is a really fabulous web site for tunes at
http://www.gre.ac.uk/~c.walshaw/abc/index/split.html
where you can easilly find thousands of tunes, including the Sweets of May. Forgive me for not posting the tune - you should be able to find it in two minutes flat.

Having said all that I couln't find Witch of the Glen. Maybe another Mudcatter can help.

If you need help understanding the supposed gobbledy-gook of the tune in abc format please give us a yell. There are lots of ways to help you.

Regards
John

Subject: Witch of The Glen/The Sweetness of Mary
From: SueH
Date: 10 May 99 - 08:09 AM

Does anyone have the notation for the above two tunes, please?

SueH