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Annotation:Nova Scotia Jig (The)
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NOVA SCOTIA (JIG), THE. AKA and see "Pride of Slieve Aughty." Irish, Jig. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AA'BB'. The original of this tune was "Lila MacIsaac's Favorite" by Cape Breton Island fiddler Sandy MacLean, who named it for his favorite pianist. It was published in Boston in 1940 in Gordon MacQuarrie's The Cape Breton Collection and was picked up by Irish musicians in Boston and New York, and subsequently throughout the Irish musical world.
The tune was in the repertoire of Donegal fiddler James Byrne's father, John, although James did not know where he learned it. Small/Breathnach prints the jig with the title "Pride of Slieve Aughty" in CRÉ V, obtained from Galway accordion player Joe Burke, however, the note with the tune says that it can be found in An Ceol, vol. 8, a fiddle instruction book from Cairdeas na bhFidléirí, in County Donegal. The first strain has similarities to "New York Jig (3) (The)."
Source for notated version: New York fiddler Larry Redican (d. 1975) [O'Malley]; fiddler Frank 'The Blacksmith' O'Reilly, fiddler [Breathnach/Small].
Printed sources: O'Malley (Luke O'Malley's Collection of Irish Music, vol. 1), 1976; No. 108, p. 54.
Recorded sources: DMTC001CD, Derek McGinley & Tara Connaghan - "The Far Side of the Glen" (2011. Learned from their mentor and teacher James Byrne). Green Linnet, Myron Bretholz, Jack Coen, Billy McComiskey, Jerry O'Sullivan - "The Rights of Man: Concert for Joe Doherty" (1991. Various artists).
