Annotation:Gin I Had a Bonny Lass

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 GIN I HAD A BONNIE LASS/LASSIE, LITTLE SLEEP WAD SAIR ME. AKA and see "Go About Your Business," "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 Dunlay & Greenberg first in print in Bremner's Collection (1751-1761) under the title "North Loch (The)." Violinist Joseph Lowe (1797-1847) from Marykirk, included it in his 1844 collection.  Source for notated version: Duncan MacQuarrie (Cape Breton) [Dunlay & Greenberg, Dunlay & Reich].   Printed sources: Dunlay & Greenberg (Traditional Celtic Violin Music of Cape Breton), 1996; p. 98. Dunlay & Reich (Traditional Celtic Fiddle Music of Cape Breton), 1986; p. 60. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 2; No. 211, p. 23. Lowe (Collection of Reels and Strathspeys), 1844. MacDonald (The Gesto Collection). Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; p. 190.  Recorded sources: CLM 1000, Carl MacKenzie- "Tullochgorum" (1979). Decca 14023 (78 RPM), The Inverness Serenaders (appears as "Go About Your Business"). Marquis ERAD 169, David Greenberg - "Celtic Memories" (1996). Rounder 7004, Joe Cormier- "The Dances Down Home" (1976. Appears as "Go About Your Business").  See also listing at: Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recordings Index

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