Annotation:What will I do with this thing of mine
X:1 T:What will I do with this thing of mine M:C| L:1/8 R:Reel N:Howe sets the tune in two sharps, perhaps from a Highland pipe setting; N:but the tune works perhaps better on fiddle in one sharp (Dorian mode). B:Elias Howe – Musician’s Omnibus Nos. 6 & 7 (Boston, 1880-1882, p. 634) B: http://ks4.imslp.net/files/imglnks/usimg/c/c7/IMSLP601433-PMLP562790-ONeill_Rare_Medium_M40_M8_v6.7_text.pdf Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:Amix cd|e2 AB A2 dc|BcAB G2 ga|bage gedB|e2 AB ABcd| e2 AB A2 dc|BcAB G2 ga|bage gedB|e2 AB A2:| |:BA|G2 ga g2ga|bage d2 df|e2a2 agab|c'bag e2 ga| bagb agfa|gbge dega|bage gedB|e2 AB A2:|]
WHAT WILL I DO WITH THIS THING OF MINE? AKA and see "Blood Red Rose (The)," "Moran's Return," "This Wife of Mine," "To Danton Me." Scottish, English, Irish; Air(?) or Reel(?) (cut time). A Mixolydian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. Elias Howe's "What will I do with this thing of mine?" is structured as a reel, but has no tempo directions. As Fr. John Quinn finds, however, it is based on an old Scottish air, "To Danton Me," with versions published by James McGibbon around 1746 and James Oswald around 1760 that have been described as "country dances". It was considered an old tune at that time; the 1694 music manuscript of Henry Atkinson contains a version as "This Wife of Mine." Francis O'Neill printed a version as the slow air "Blood Red Rose (The)," which he obtained from his assistant, County Down-born Chicago Police Sergeant James O'Neill (who may have had the tune from his father's repertory which was full of Scottish and English tunes). P.W. Joyce had another close version as "Moran's Return" which he said he obtained from singers about 1844.
