Annotation:Geese in the Bog (1)

Back to 

 GEESE IN THE BOG [1] ("Na Géabha sa bPortach" or "Na Geadna Annsa Mointe"). AKA and see "Bob Thompson's Favourite," "Green Meadows (2)," "Humours of Limerick (2) (The)," "Jackson's Coola," "Jackson's Trip to Limerick," "Jackson's Walk to Limerick," "Lark's March (The)," "Mist on the Meadow," "Morrison's Fancy," "Mountain Lark (5) (The)," "Piper's Frolic (The)," "Twice Tricked," "Wiseman's Favourite," "Tom Broderick's Jig," "Tuhy's Frolic." AKA - "Grouse in the Bog (The)." Irish, American; Double Jig. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB (Cole, Kerr, O'Neill/Krassen): AABB' (O'Neill/1001, White): AA'BBCCDDEE (Breathnach). Several tunes have been named "Geese in the Bog." One tune by this name was popular as long ago as 1779; its playing is mentioned by Berringer in an account of a "cake" dance (a dance where a cake was given as a prize) he attended in Connacht. The great County Sligo/New York fiddler Michael Coleman recorded the tune on a 78 RPM disc in the key of G Major, although his version differs slightly. Breathnach states the tune is related to "Saddle the Pony (6)" printed by Levey (No. 43) and to Joyce's "Housemaid (The)" (No. 841). He says that Petrie (edited by Stanford, 1905, No. 940) printed the first two parts. The title "Geese in the Bog" reminds one of a story related to Charlie Piggott by flute player Roger Sherlock, who was born in County Mayo on the border with Sligo. The story appears in Vallely's and Piggott's Blooming Meadows (1998) and concerns Michael Coleman's brother Jim, also a fiddler and accounted by many to have been even more proficient at the instrument than his famously-recorded brother. Sherlock remembered house-dances that Coleman played for, performing all night, sometimes playing his instrument while simultaneously dancing on a half-door that had been taken from its hinges. At that point coins would be thrown onto the door at his feet, his only pay. Sherlock reminisced: Well, then he'd put the fiddle in the case and outside he had a flock  ''of geese that would accompany him to and from the dances. The geese'' ''used to follow him everywhere. He had fifteen or eighteen geese. And '' he used to walk from our house to a place called Drumacoo, which would be-he used to walk as the crow flies of course, across the  ''fields and the bogs-'twould be roughly about seven miles. And'' the geese would be with him all the time. Michael Coleman recorded a two part version of the tune. Alternate titles are many: Goodman gives a version as "Humours of Limerick (The)," Dickman as "Piper's Frolic (The)," Hudson as "Jackson's Coola," and "Twice Tricked" in Holden. "Catholic Boys' (2) (The)" shares one part. O'Farrell (Pocket Companion) has it as "Tuhy's Frolic."  Sources for notated versions: accordion player Sonny Brogan (d. 1966. Dublin, Ireland; originally from Prosperous, County Kildare. Brogan made records in the 1930's with The Lough Gill Quartet and was a member of Ceoltóirí Chualann under the direction of Seán Ó Riada) [Breathnach]; flute and whistle player Micko Russell, 1969 (Doolin, north Co. Clare, Ireland) [Breathnach].  Printed sources: Breathnach (CRÉ II), 1976; No. 53, p. 29. Breathnach (CRE I), 1963; No. 28, p. 12. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; p. 77. Ford (Traditional Music in America), 1940; p. 106. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 1; No. 46, p. 40. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; p. 67. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 1085, p. 204. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1986; No. 279, p. 61. Roche (Collection of Irish Traditional Music, vol. 1), 1913; No. 91, p. 40. Ryan's Mammoth Collection, 1883; p. 110. White's Unique Collection, 1896; No. 19, p. 4.  Recorded sources: Green Linnet GLCD 1092, "Liz Carroll" (1988). Plant Life Records PLR017, "The Tannahill Weavers" (1979). Rodeo 47, Johnny Wilmot - "Another Side of Cape Breton." Tara Records 2006, Noel Hill & Tony Linnane.  See also listings at: Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources Alan Ng's Irishtune.info Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recordings Index

Back to