Annotation:Doon the Brae

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DOON THE BRAE (Down the Hill). AKA and see "Clans (The)," "Annotation:Down the Brae," "March of the Clans (2)," "Old Crossroads (The)," "Rocks of Brae." Scottish (originally), Irish; March (4/4 time). A Minor (Songer). Standard tuning (fiddle). AA'BB'. "Doon the Brae" ('down the hillside') is perhaps more common in the key of E Minor, although it appears in Martin Mulvihill's 1986 collection ("Old Crossroads (The)") in A minor. It is sometimes heard as the accompanying melody for the contra dance The Grand March, and in New England it has additionally been employed for the contra dance "British Sorrow." In Ireland it appears under the alternate titles "Old Crossroads (The)" or "Clans (The)/March of the Clans (2)." See also the related "Humors of Tullycrine (The)." The provenance of the melody has yet to be traced adequately.

Source for notated version: Portland banjo and piano player Maria Flasca, originally from Long Island, N.Y. [Songer].

Printed sources: Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; p. 65.

Recorded sources: Alcazar Dance Series FR 204, Rodney Miller - "New England Chestnuts 2" (1981. Appears as "Rocks of Brae"). Front Hall FHR 005, Fennig's All Stars - "Saturday Night in the Provinces" (1975). Liverpool Ceili Band - "Champions Twice" (1965. Appears as "The Clans").

See listing at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index [1]