Tune Req: The Tea Gardens

Subject: The Tea Gardens
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 04:29 AM

Came across a jig - played by a bunch of Cape Breton musicians - called the Tea Gardens.

Can't find abc or sheet music for it anywhere on the Web.

Anybody got any ideas as to where it can be tracked down?

It's a relative of the tune to "The Humour Is On Me Now", but a more elaborate relative!

Many thanks in advance.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 04:06 AM

Refresh.

Apparently the tune is associated with Angus Chisholm about whom, sadly, I know nothing. Does this further info jog anyone's memory?

Thanks again in advance.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From: nutty
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 04:14 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From:
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 06:01 AM

I can probably tell you a number of the CB players who play this tune. You are correct that it is an Angus Chisholm composition. Here is what Kate Dunlay said a couple of years back.

>From the back of the 1978 Shanachie recording, "the early recordings of
Angus Chisholm: Legendary performances of traditional Scottish Fiddling":
 
"SIDE B: (5) TEA GARDENS/MRS. McGEE--...'Tea Gardens' was composed by Angus as he was waiting for a bus in front of a Chinese place by that name in Sydney; he wrote down enough of it on the bus going home so that he could remember and sort it out later. It is the only one of Angus' compositions which he himself recorded."

You're likely to be getting the best results on either Scots-L or CB-Music Mailing lists. There are people there who could probably quote you page numbers of a book with it in it.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From:
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 06:08 AM

Oh. The Chinese place was in Sydney, Cape BReton, Nova Scotia. Corner of Charlotte Street, and Pitt Street. The name of the restaurant, until the mid sixties, was the Tea Garden Restaurant. It changed then to the name it still holds - The Maple Leaf Restaurant. At the time, my father was one of the owners. Current owner is my uncle, Johnny. Stop in and say hello if you're ever in town.

I live about 300 miles away in Halifax these days.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 07:28 AM

Wow ...

You see for someone living in London, UK ... originally from Derrymacash, County Armagh, Ireland ... this level of local detail is amazing. I am particularly interested in the link that musicians establish between their music and their sense of place. I am very conscious that when I compose tunes, there is often for me some link with a particular place from my past that drives the composition and is reflected in the tune's name. (Some of my compositions have names such as "Derryadd Bay", "The Wee Lough", "Kitty Smith's Corner", "Ballinary Turn", "The Rich View", "The Head of the Plain", "Distillery Hill", etc., all of which are very local to where I was born and raised.

Anyway ... enough of my rambling. Thanks for your info and your efforts to assist!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From:
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 11:08 AM

If you need information on joining Scots-L or CB-Music Mailing lists, please e-mail (see above).

Other tunes of the sort, look up Scott MacMillan. He has a web-site, but I don't know if I have a link to him handy or not. He's written a lot of fiddle tunes that are on 3 CD's, the Minnie Sessions, Vol 1 through 3. He's not a CB Fiddler, doesn't even PLAY fiddle. However he's a true musician. He is also a composer of note. Also, the tune might be found through Paul Cranford, musician-lighthouse keeper. He's published several books of Fiddle Tunes. Kate DUnlay and David Greenburg might have also, in the Dungreen Collection. Here are some web-sites to check into

Cranford Publications
Scott MacMillan - Composer
Scott MacMillan - Web Page
TideMark Canada - Music Distributors
DunGreen collection Web-site

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 11:39 AM

George ...

Many thanks. This trawl has established that the tune is available in Jerry Holland's collection of fiddle tunes available through Cranford.

Now ... the question is do I wait and see if the tune turns up in a free abc collection somewhere or do I buy the book ... or do I transcribe it myself?

Mmmmm! Many thanks for turning up a source. My indecision is entirely my own fault ...

Aidan

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 09:37 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From:
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 11:04 AM

Well, as I said, you might try Scots-L or CB-Music.

Tullochgorm and Mailing Lists
CB Music Web-site

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Jun 01 - 11:20 AM

The tune itsself is not at the Cranford site, nor anywhere else I looked. Looks like you'll have to buy the book.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 04:06 AM

Refresh.

I'll refresh a few more times, just in case! And in any event will sit down with the CD on which I heard the tune and write it out in abc.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 19 Jun 01 - 10:49 AM

I'm giving this a refresh in a last ditch effort to try to flush out someone who has the tune available in electronic form.

I tried transcribing it last night and could not get my head around it at all. First off, I couldn't get get my mandolin to sound in tune with the tape of the tune which I have ... could just be that my machine was running slightly faster or slower than the machine on which it was taped?

And then just couldn't figure out what was happening in the fourth and fifth bars. And had to give up ... (principally cos my missus was going nuts after hearing me repeat three bars over and over again, then attempting countless variations of the next two. Divorces have been sought on much weaker ground!)

Which makes me wonder. Does the fact that there is so much material available to us in abc and other formats mean that we can no longer play by ear as well as previously? I know that this holds true for me ... I didn't have the world's best ear. But it was my primary means of learning tunes. Now, I'm afraid the availability of abcs means that I rarely learn tunes in this way!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From: Sorcha
Date: 19 Jun 01 - 10:54 AM

Cassette tapes often play a half step flat. Don't know about CD's......

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 08 Jan 02 - 11:56 AM

Refresh ...

Just in case some new rapscallion has sneaked aboard the good ship Mudcat and might have information about the whereabouts on the web of the tune I'm after!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From:
Date: 10 Jan 02 - 11:18 AM

No luck. HEre are a couple of messages for you.
Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 08:40:52 -0400
From: Jackie Dunn
To: [e-mail]
Subject: The Tea Gardens
 

Hi George et all...saw the posting about the 'tea gardens' and checked out some things. The official printing of this tune is in Jerry Holland's Collection of Fiddle Tunes (his first book- yellow cover). I think this may be the only way to get the printed version, unless you ask a musician to transcribe it for you. BUT when people start passing around tunes like that I am thinking that copyright issues come into play when you don't have the composers'/publishers'permission. Best to go with the real thing and buy Jerry's book, it is a bible of tunes (and so is his second collection). Try...
 
www.yellowcarmusic.com/holland for ordering info or www.castlebaymusic.com (their on-line store has the book)I am assuming this request is for someone who does not have access to a local store selling these books and needs to find it on-line...sorry I didn't have time to read all the posted info you sent.
 
Good Luck,
Jackie Dunn MacIsaac
 

Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 08:37:33 -0500
From: Irene Shelton
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: The Tea Gardens
 
Subject: The Tea Gardens
 
... An 'add-on' to this topic:
 
We learned this tune from Shane Cook at the GREAT Southampton Fiddle Workshop (a plug for your weekend, Lisa, if you're still on this list!!).
 
For anyone interested in hearing a lovely version of the Tea Gardens, it is on Shane's latest CD, "Sundry" along with a wonderful mix of Cape Breton / Scottish / Irish / Ontario Old Time / Texas 'Longbow' fiddle tunes ... well worth a listen, as Shane has been both a US Grand National Champion AND a Canadian Grand Master's Champion - all by the ripe old age of 19 (oh, how humbling it is to be taught by someone half one's age and 100+ times more talented ....)
 
Cheers
Irene
 
 
Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 09:44:03 -0500
From: Mike McGeary
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: The Tea Gardens
 
The best way to learn Tea Gardens would, of course be to hear Angus Chisholm himself play it on his recording, Legendary Performances of Traditional Scottish Fiddling, Shanachie 14001 (1989). He plays it with Mrs. McGee, which Jerry Holland's tune book says was composed in the 18th century by John Riddell of Ayr.
 
Some other recordings of Tea Gardens:
 
-- Howie MacDonald, on his CD, The Dance Last Night, HMD123 (1997).
 
-- "All" (including Buddy and Natalie MacMaster, Brenda Stubbert, Carl MacKenzie, Jerry Holland, Dougie and Howie MacDonald, et al.), on the CD, Traditional Music from Cape Breton Island, Nimbus Records, NI 5383 (1993).
 
The last might be most accessible to those in the UK, because Nimbus is based in England.
 
Mike McGeary
----------------------
http://www.cbmusic.com
----------------------
 

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From:
Date: 10 Jan 02 - 11:18 AM

No luck. HEre are a couple of messages for you.
Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 08:40:52 -0400
From: Jackie Dunn
To: [e-mail]
Subject: The Tea Gardens
 

Hi George et all...saw the posting about the 'tea gardens' and checked out some things. The official printing of this tune is in Jerry Holland's Collection of Fiddle Tunes (his first book- yellow cover). I think this may be the only way to get the printed version, unless you ask a musician to transcribe it for you. BUT when people start passing around tunes like that I am thinking that copyright issues come into play when you don't have the composers'/publishers'permission. Best to go with the real thing and buy Jerry's book, it is a bible of tunes (and so is his second collection). Try...
 
www.yellowcarmusic.com/holland for ordering info or www.castlebaymusic.com (their on-line store has the book)I am assuming this request is for someone who does not have access to a local store selling these books and needs to find it on-line...sorry I didn't have time to read all the posted info you sent.
 
Good Luck,
Jackie Dunn MacIsaac
 

Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 08:37:33 -0500
From: Irene Shelton
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: The Tea Gardens
 
Subject: The Tea Gardens
 
... An 'add-on' to this topic:
 
We learned this tune from Shane Cook at the GREAT Southampton Fiddle Workshop (a plug for your weekend, Lisa, if you're still on this list!!).
 
For anyone interested in hearing a lovely version of the Tea Gardens, it is on Shane's latest CD, "Sundry" along with a wonderful mix of Cape Breton / Scottish / Irish / Ontario Old Time / Texas 'Longbow' fiddle tunes ... well worth a listen, as Shane has been both a US Grand National Champion AND a Canadian Grand Master's Champion - all by the ripe old age of 19 (oh, how humbling it is to be taught by someone half one's age and 100+ times more talented ....)
 
Cheers
Irene
 
 
Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 09:44:03 -0500
From: Mike McGeary
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: The Tea Gardens
 
The best way to learn Tea Gardens would, of course be to hear Angus Chisholm himself play it on his recording, Legendary Performances of Traditional Scottish Fiddling, Shanachie 14001 (1989). He plays it with Mrs. McGee, which Jerry Holland's tune book says was composed in the 18th century by John Riddell of Ayr.
 
Some other recordings of Tea Gardens:
 
-- Howie MacDonald, on his CD, The Dance Last Night, HMD123 (1997).
 
-- "All" (including Buddy and Natalie MacMaster, Brenda Stubbert, Carl MacKenzie, Jerry Holland, Dougie and Howie MacDonald, et al.), on the CD, Traditional Music from Cape Breton Island, Nimbus Records, NI 5383 (1993).
 
The last might be most accessible to those in the UK, because Nimbus is based in England.
 
Mike McGeary
----------------------
http://www.cbmusic.com
----------------------
 

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 10 Jan 02 - 11:28 AM

George ...

Many thanks.

It's humbling to think that someone would take time out of his life to pass my request on to others.

Out of interest, it's on the last album that Mike McGeary mentions that I heard the tune. Maybe one of the reasons I had difficulty transcribing it is because there are just so many fiddles belting the tune out it's easy for the ear to get distracted!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From: Marion
Date: 10 Jan 02 - 02:35 PM

Hi Derrymacash. I have a copy of this tune (which I also like very much), photocopied from the Jerry Holland collection. If you PM me your address I could send it to you. I don't have a scanner.

Marion

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 10 Jan 02 - 04:21 PM

Marion ...

You're on!

With many thanks.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From:
Date: 10 Jan 02 - 07:38 PM

Send me an e-mail Derrymacash. A friend of mine has an abc file which he is willing to send to you.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From:
Date: 10 Jan 02 - 08:04 PM

BTW, that's why I had suggested you contact the mailing lists. i didn't actually spend a lot of time on it. Just a few minutes to edit the text from here into a format to go onto the mailing list. Then re-edit the messages back from there here.

IF you'd gone and joined the mailing lists, you probably would have had your answer many many months ago.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 11 Jan 02 - 03:33 AM

You're probably right George, but I subscribe to so many mailing lists and bulletin boards, etc. that my head reels trying to keep track of them all (I'm only a poor oul' country boy from the Lough shores at the end of the day).

I usually reckon that if I need a tune and my mates on mudcat can't come up with the goods, then it's probably not out there ...

Anyway go raibh mile maith agaibh to you and your mate.

I owe a big favour!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From:
Date: 11 Jan 02 - 11:12 AM

Aidan has his abc file now. The person didn't want to spread it in an open forum such as this due to copyrights.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From: Aidan Crossey
Date: 11 Jan 02 - 11:16 AM

You're damn right!! There it is .. alongside Scotty Fitzgerald's ... many thanks George and to the kind person about whom we're being coy!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From: GUEST,Nigel Gatherer
Date: 11 Jan 02 - 01:52 PM

X:351 T:Tea Gardens C:Angus Chisholm D:Early Recordings of Angus Chisholm Z:Nigel Gatherer L:1/8 M:6/8 K:G B2 c|d^cd b2 a|g2 d B2 d|cBc ezc|A3- A2 G| FDF A2 d|f2 d A2 B|cBc edc|B3 B2 c| d^cd b2 a|g2 d B2 d|cBc ezc|A3- A2 G| DF A2 d|f2 d A2 B|cBc bfa|1g3:|2g3 g2|| z|B,DG BGD|BDG Bdg|e^de B2 =d|c3- c2 B| ABc ABc|a2 g f2 e|d^cd ed=c|B3 d3| B,DG BGD|BDG Bdg|e^de B2 =d|c3- c2 B| ABc a2 g|f2 e A2b|c'bc' e2 f|g3|]

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From: MMario
Date: 11 Jan 02 - 02:24 PM

X:351
T:Tea Gardens
C:Angus Chisholm
D:Early Recordings of Angus Chisholm
Z:Nigel Gatherer
L:1/8
M:6/8
K:G
B2 c|d^cd b2 a|g2 d B2 d|cBc ezc|A3- A2 G| FDF A2 d|f2 d A2 B|cBc edc|B3 B2 c|
d^cd b2 a|g2 d B2 d|cBc ezc|A3- A2 G| DF A2 d|f2 d A2 B|cBc bfa|1g3:|2g3 g2||
z|B,DG BGD|BDG Bdg|e^de B2 =d|c3- c2 B| ABc ABc|a2 g f2 e|d^cd ed=c|B3 d3|
B,DG BGD|BDG Bdg|e^de B2 =d|c3- c2 B| ABc a2 g|f2 e A2b|c'bc' e2 f|g3|]

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The Tea Gardens
From:
Date: 11 Jan 02 - 05:10 PM

Thanks, Nigel. Much appreciated.