Annotation:Tune the Fiddle (1)
X:1 T:Tune the Fiddle [1] M:6/8 L:1/8 R:Jig K:G D | GFG B2G | BcA B2A | GFG cAG | FGA AFD | GFG B2G | BcA B2g | fed cAF | (G3G2) :| |: c | BAG AFD | DED AFD | DED AFD | EFG ABc | BAG AFD | DED D2g | fed cAF | (G3G2) :| |: B | GBd gba | gdB ecA | dBG cAG | F2G AFD | GBd gba | gdB ecA | fed cAF | G3 DEF :|]
TUNE THE FIDDLE [1]. AKA and see "Cailleach an Tuirne," "Cailin A' Tuirna," "Is Maith Le Nora Ciste" (Nora Likes Cake), "Kiss Me Darling," "The Maid at the Spinning Wheel," "Maire an Phortair," “Noran Kista,” “Nora's Purse,” "Norickystie," "The Road to Lurgan," “The Spinning Wheel [4]," "The Wild Irishman [4]", "Wreathe the Bowl.” Irish, Double Jig (6/8 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABBCC (McGuire & Keegan): AABBCCDD (Mallinson): AA'BB'CC'DD' (Taylor). The melody has a large number of variants, however, “Tune the Fiddle” is perhaps the most popular name for this melody in modern times. David Taylor (1992) believes "Norah, with the Purse," a two-part version of the tune, is very old.
There is a story about the famous American early county fiddler and singer from Georgia, Fiddlin’ John Carson, whose hey-day was in the 1920’s. Carson was on his death-bed and so weak he could no longer speak clearly. He summoned the energy to gesture to his nearby fiddle, which was immediately brought to him with those in attendance thinking it would comfort him. Carson’s concern, however, was that it was it tune, and having plucked the open strings he reassured himself that it still rang true. This last thing put in order, he relaxed and passed on.
