Annotation:Jer the Rigger

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 JER THE RIGGER (Jer an Rigéara). AKA - "Ger the Rigger." AKA and see "Thadelo's." Irish; Polka, Single Reel or Hornpipe. A Mixolydian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The tune is set variously as a hornpipe, single reel, and, in the Sliabh Luachra region of southern Ireland, as a polka. The title probably refers to a man, Jer short for Jeremiah, and his occupation--a 'rigger' is a carpenter who roofs houses.  Sources for notated versions: fiddler Denis Murphy, 1966 (Gneeveguilla, Co. Kerry, Ireland) [Breathnach]; accordion player Johnny O'Leary (Sliabh Luachra region of the Cork-Kerry border), who associated the tune with accordion player Thadelo Sullivan [Moylan]; set dance music recorded at Na Píobairí Uilleann, late 1980's [Taylor].  Printed sources: Breathnach (CRÉ II), 1976; No. 128, p. 67. Mallinson (100 Irish Polkas), 1997; No. 16, p. 7. Moylan (Johnny O'Leary), 1994; No. 113, pp. 65-66. Sullivan (Session Tunes), vol. 2; No. 19, p. 8 (appears as "Ger the Rigger"). Taylor (Music for the Sets: Blue Book), 1995; p. 16.  Recorded sources: Gael-Linn CEF 057, "Jackie Daly & Seamus Creagh." Gael-Linn CEF 132, Johnny O'Leary - "An Calmfhear/The Trooper" (1989). Green Linnet GLCD 3009, Kevin Burke - "If the Cap Fits" (1978. Learned from accordion player Jackie Daly). Kicking Mule KN-327, "Scartaglen" (1984. Learned from Kevin Burke). Wild Goose WGS 320, Old Swan Band - "Swan-Upmanship" (2004. Learned from Jackie Daly).  See also listing at: Alan Ng's Irishtune.info Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources

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