Annotation:White Calves (The)

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WHITE CALVES, THE (Na Gamhna Geala). AKA - "Lovely Calves (The)," "White Calf (2) (The)." Irish, Slow Air (4/4 time). D Dorian (Joyce): C Minor (O'Sullivan/Bunting). Standard tuning (fiddle). One part (O'Sullivan/Bunting): AB (Joyce). O'Sullivan (1983) thinks there may be a relationship between this song and "Ailliliu na nGamhna" in Walshe's Ceol Ar Sinsear (p. 88).

Source for notated version: the index to the Irish collector Edward Bunting's 1840 collection asserts the melody was noted "at Deel Castle, Ballina in 1792," while his MS copy is marked "from Charles Byrne's singing". P.W. Joyce found his version in the manuscript collection of collector John Pigot.

Printed sources: Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Songs), 1909; No. 721, p. 359. O'Sullivan/Bunting, 1983; No. 54, pp. 83-84.

Recorded sources:




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