MY DARLING ASLEEP (Mo muirnin 'sa codlad). Irish, Double Jig (6/8 time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB (most versions): AABBCC (Harker/Rafferty). A popular Irish session tune; so much so, in fact, that it is sometimes seen as hackneyed, leading some wags to call it "My Darling's a Sheep." Chief Francis O'Neill originally collected the tune from Abram Beamish as "My Darling in Bed," but amended the title when he included it in MOI so as to preclude any suggestive connotations. In a letter[1] to Bernard Bogue (5/28/1917) O'Neill wrote:
A rare tune unknown to all of us named “My darling in bed” was noted down from theplaying of Abram S. Beamish (born within 5 miles of my birthplace in West Cork). Forobvious reasons the title was modified to "My Darling Asleep."
Robin Williamson's source for the tune, Leo Rowsome, died in 1970 after establishing himself as a key figure in Irish piping, both as a player and maker of pipes. Rowsome recorded the jig in 1948, but the first sound recording of "My Darling's Asleep" was by Dan Sullivan's Shamrock Band, in 1929. Sullivan's band recorded some 106 sides in the 78 RPM era, a prolific output. Personnel included Sullivan on piano, Murty Rabbett on piccolo, Neil Nolan on banjo, and George Tapley on accordion.
Additional notes Source for notated version : - piper Leo Rowsome (Ireland) [Williamson]; Abram Sweetman Beamish, a native of the adjoining parish to that of Caheragh, County Cork, where Francis O'Neill was born--although O'Neill got seven tunes from Beamish, only the "Fairhaired Boy (1) (The)" and "Tie the Bonnet" were previously known to him despite their common place of origin [O'Neill]; set dance music recorded at Na Píobairí Uilleann in the late 1980's [Taylor]; New Jersey flute player Mike Rafferty, born in Ballinakill, Co. Galway, in 1926, who had his unusual three-part version from fiddler Aggie Whyte [Harker].
Printed sources : - Carlin (Master Collection of Dance Music for the Violin), 1984; No. 244, p. 141. Harker (300 Tunes from Mike Rafferty), 2005; No. 220, p. 68. S. Johnson (The Kitchen Musician No. 6: Jigs), 1982 (revised 1989, 2001); p. 11. Jordan (Whistle and Sing), 1975; 47. Mallinson (100 Essential), 1995; No. 87, p. 38. O'Brien (Jerry O'Brien's Accordion Instructor), 1949. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; p. 43. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 925, p. 172. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 159, p. 41. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; p. 145. Taylor (Music for the Sets: Blue Book), 1995; p. 1. Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, Book Two), 1999; p. 36. Williamson (English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish Fiddle Tunes), 1976; p. 78.
Recorded sources : - Claddagh Records, CC11, Rowsome on "The Drones and the Chanters." Green Linnett SIF3012, Martin O'Connor - "The Connachtman's Rambles" (1979). Topic Records TSCD471, Leo Rowsome - "Classics of Irish Piping." Victor V 29046 (78 RPM), Dan Sullivan's Shamrock Band (1929).
See also listing at : Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [2]
Hear Leo Rowsome's 1948 recording on youtube.com [3]
Hear Dan Sullivan's Shamrock Band's 1929 recording at the Comhaltas Archive [4]
