Annotation:Return of Spring (The)
X:1 T:Return Of Spring, The M:2/4 L:1/16 S:Desi Wilkinson R:Barndance Z:Juergen.Gier@post.rwth-aachen.de K:G G4|:d3e d2B2|G6 D2|G2Bd e2d2|c6 B2|c3d c2A2|F6 D2| DGBd e2d2|d2c2 B2c2|d3e d2B2|G6 D2|G2Bd e2d2|d2c2 B4| A2f2 e4|G2B2 e4|d2B2 c2A2|G2F2G4:|g3a g2e2|f2f2 f3d| e2d2 ^c2e2|d6 Bd|G2Bd e2d2|F6 Bc|d2^cd e2d2| B6 (3Bcd|g3g g2e2|f2f2 f3d|e2d2 ^c2e2|d6 Bd|G2Bd e2d2| F6 (3Bcd|g3f e2f2|g2g2 g4|:d2d2 efgf|e2e2 a3g| f2e2 e3f|e2d2 B3c|d2d2 efgf|e2e2 a3g|f2d2 e2f2|g8:|
RETURN OF SPRING, THE. AKA and see "Decca Polka (The)," "Golden Rooster (2) (The)," "Mountain Pathway (The)." Irish, Polka or Barndance (2/4 time). According to collector and fiddler Philippe Varlet, the tune was recorded by south County Sligo fiddlers Paddy Killoran (1904-1965) along with Paddy Sweeney (1894-1974) in the 1930's as "The Decca Polka"--Decca being their recording company at the time. Paired with "Mountain Pathway (The)," the tune was recorded as "Return of Spring" (first tune in "Medley of Polkas") by South Sligo fiddler James Morrison (1893-1947) in New York in early 1926, and the two are still often played together is a set today. Varlet associates the tune with the Sligo/Leitrim/Roscommon area and points out that they have a different, more legato, feel from the more commonly heard Kerry style polkas played with a 'punchier' rhythm.
See also Douglastown, Gaspe, Quebec, fiddler Cyril DeVogue's version as "Golden Rooster (2) (The)."
