Blackthorn Stick (1)

X:1 T:Blackthorn Stick [1] T:Coach Road to Sligo L:1/8 M:6/8 K:G gfg e/f/ge|dBG AGE|DEG AGA|BdB ABd| gfg e/f/ge|dBG AGE|DEG AGA|BGG G2:| gfg age|dBG AGE|DEG AGA|BGG G2:||
 * d|edd gdd|edd gdd|Bdd gfe|dBG A2d|

 BLACKTHORN STICK [1]. AKA and see "Billy Patterson," "Billy Patterson's Favorite," "Boys of Bockhill,"Boys of Rockhill," "Catholic Boys (3) (The)," "Coach Road to Sligo (1) (The)," "Eagle's Nest (The)," "Fire in the Valley," "Fire on the Mountain [2," "Hare on the Mountain (The)," "Humors of Bantry," "Maid on the Green (2) (The)," "Rose on the Mountain (1) (The)," and "Joys of Wedlock (2)." Irish (originally), English, American; Jig. G Major (Allan, Kennedy, Miller & Perron, Spandaro, Sweet): A Major (Barnes, Kerr, Raven). Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB (Kerr): AABB (most versions). This popular tune has been absorbed into several fiddling traditions, similar to the jig "Haste to the Wedding." For example, it is one of the tunes (along with "Ten-Penny Bit" and "Connaughtman's Rambles") used to accompany English rapper sword dancing. Bayard (1981) thinks the tune "a thoroughly characteristic Irish jig, probably of no great age." Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa also known as the Europena spiny plum, is a hard wood tree or bush with small white flowers. It is reddish-black in color and has very sharp, vicious spines on the bark. Its wood is very hard, close grained and has numerous knots, and although it can be difficult to work with, it is the choice wood for canes. Modern day shillelaghs are made of blackthorn due to the long shortage of oak in Ireland, and tend to be short, stubby implements (as opposed to the old oak shillelaghs which were about three feet long). See also "Welcome Home Royal Charlie," which uses one part of "Blackthorn Stick [1]." Some general melodic contour similarities with the first strain of "O'Connell's Welcome", "O’Connell’s Welcome to Parliament (1)," or "Daniel O'Connell's Welcome to Parliament." Source for notated version: David Street [Spandaro]. Printed sources: Allan's Irish Fiddler, No. 3, p. 2. Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes, vol. 2), 2005; p. 107. Giblin (Collection of Irish Traditional Dance Music), 1928; No. 97. Jarman (Old Tyme Fiddlin' Tunes); p. or No. 16. Kennedy (Jigs & Quicksteps, Trips & Humours), 1997; No. 7, p. 4. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 1; No. 13, p. 37. Miller & Perron (New England Fidders Repertoire), 1983; No. 2. O'Brien (Jerry O'Brien's Accordion Instructor), 1949. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; p. 115. Ryan's Mammoth Collection, 1883; pp. 80 & 83. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; p. 12. Spandaro (10 Cents a Dance), 1980; p. 44. Sweet (Fifer's Delight), 1964; pg. 38. Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, vol. 1), 1999; p. 30. Recorded sources: Pibroch MacKenzie - "The Mull Fiddler" (1969). Bob Smith's Ideal Band - "Better than an Orchestra" (1977). X:2 T:The Blackthorn Stick D:Jimmy Shand 78: Beltona BL 2229 (1935) Z:Nigel Gatherer M:6/8 L:1/8 K:A e|aga faf|ecA BAF|EAA GAB|cAc B2 e|aga baf|ecA BAF| EAA GAB|cAA A2::e|cee aee|fee aee|cee agf| edc B2 e|aga baf|ecA BAF|EAA GAB|cAA A2:|]

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