Annotation:Gin I Had a Bonny Lass
X:1 T:He that has a bonny Lassie &c. M:C L:1/8 R:Reel B:Robert Petrie – Third Collection of Strathspey Reels (p. 16) N:Dedicated to Francis Garden Esq. Junior of Troup by N:Robert Petrie at Kirkmichael. Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:Gmin A|BGdB Bcdf|AFcF {B}A2 FA|BGdG Bcdg|(fdTcA) G2 G:| d|gagd gagd|fgfd {B}A2 FA|gagd gagd|Bdgd B2 Gd| gagd gagd|fgfc A2 FA|BGdG Bcdg|fdTcA G2G||
GIN I HAD A BONNIE LASS/LASSIE, LITTLE SLEEP WAD SAIR ME. AKA and see "Go About Your Business," "He that has a Bonny Lassie," "North Loch (The)." Scottish, Canadian; Reel. Canada, Cape Breton. G Mixolydian (Dunlay & Greenberg, Dunlay & Reich): G Dorian (Athole, Kerr). Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB (Athole, Kerr): AABB (Dunlay & Reich). Dorian and mixolydian versions are extent. The tune is usually played in G Mixolydian in Cape Breton, though occasionally the 'b' notes are flatted. Similarly, Scottish settings are generally in Dorian, though there are exceptions (such as the setting in the Gesto Collection)—Malcolm MacDonald and the Gows printed it in the late 18th century in mixolydian as "If I Had a Bonny Lass" (Little Sleep Wou'd Sair Me)". The tune is found by John Glen first in print in Bremner's Collection (1751–1761) under the title "North Loch (The)." Robert Petrie included it in his turn-of-the-19th century Third Collection (c. 1802, p. 16) as "He that has a Bonny Lassie"). Violinist and Balmoral dancing master Joseph Lowe (1797–1847) from Marykirk, included it in his 1844 collection.
