Bonny Lass of Fisherrow (The)

 BONNY LASS OF FISHERROW/FISHIRRON, THE. AKA and see "Cait Bhoidheach," "Bonnie/Bonny Kate," "The Boys of Limerick." Scottish (originally), English, Canadian; Reel. England, Northumberland. Canada; Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton. C Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Kerr): AAB (Athole, Gow): AABB' (Phillips): AA'BB' (Cranford). Composed by Edinburgh composer and music teacher Daniel Dow (1732-1783), most famous as the composer of "Money Musk." Glen finds the tune first published in Daniel Dow's c. 1773 or 1775 (pg. 2) and Neil Stewart's 1761 (pg. 65) collections. The tune's title appears in Henry Robson's list of popular Northumbrian song and dance tunes, which he published c. 1800. As "Bonny Kate" the tune is played in Ireland in the key of D Major. On Prince Edward Island the tune is often played in a medley between "Rothermurches Rant" and "The Bird's Nest." It was printed by Thompson in his Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances (p. 25) of 1786, which version was reprinted by Brendan Breathnach in his Ceol Rince na hÉirreann, vol. 1, No. 174 (1963). The melody is popular in Ireland as the reel "Bonny Kate." Source for notated version: Carl & Jackie Webster (Cardigan, Central Kings County, Prince Edward Island) [Perlman]. Printed sources: Carlin (The Gow Collection), 1986; No. 400. Cranford (Jerry Holland's), 1995; No. 73, p. 22. Gow (Complete Repository), Part 3, 1806; p. 21. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 3; No. 120, p. 14. Lowe (A Collection of Reels & Strathspeys), 1844. Perlman (The Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island), 1996; p. 118. Phillips (Fiddlecase Tunebook), 1989; p. 12 (appears as "Bonnie Lass of Fisherow"). Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; p. 70. Recorded sources: Breton Books and Music BOC 1HO, Winston "Scotty" Fitzgerald - "Classic Cuts" (reissue of Celtic Records CX 40). Shanachie Records 14001, "The Early Recordings of Angus Chisolm" (appears as "Bonnie Lass of Fisherow").

X:1 T:Bonny Lass of Fisherrow M:C| L:1/8 R:Reel B:Stewart-Robertson - The Athole Collection (1884) Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:C A|GEcG AcGE|CEGE D/D/D A2|GEGc AFAc|BdGB c/c/c ~c:| f|ecgc egca|gcec Bddf|ecgc egca|gede c/c/c ~cf| ecgc egca|gcec Bddf|ecGc Acfa|gede c/c/c ~c||

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