Cows are a-Milking

 COWS ARE A-MILKING, THE. Irish, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. O'Neill (1910, Irish Folk Music: A Fascinating Hobby) invites comparison of "Bummer's Reel [1]" with this tune, which he believes related. Breathnach (1963) writes that the reel is related to "Woman of the House [2]." Source for notated version: Mr. John Healy, Teacher of Smithstown National School near Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny. In 1884 or 1887 (when he sent Joyce the tune) he was then over 70 years of age, and had learned it early in life [Joyce]. Printed source: Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Dance), 1909; No. 346, p. 159.

X:1 T:Cows are a-Milking, The M:2/4 L:1/8 R:Reel S:Joyce - Old Irish Folk Music and Songs (1909) Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:G G>B cB/A/|G/B/d/B/ ed/B/|G>B c/B/c/d/|e/A/A e/A/A|D/G/B/G/ cB/A/| G/B/d/g/ ed/B/|G>B AG/A/|BA/c/ B/G/G:| gg/d/ ed/B/|d/g/g/d/ e/B/d/B/|G/F/G/B/ A/G/A/c/|BA/c/ B/G/G:||
 * g/f/g/d/ ed/B/|d/g/g/d/ ed/B/|G>B c/B/c/d/|e/A/c/A/ e/A/c/A/|

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