BB'S IRISH TRADITIONAL TUNE LIBRARY
Miscellanous Tunes from "IRISH FOLK DANCE MUSIC"
J. O'Brien, Boston 1952
= = = = = = = = = = = =
Jerry O'Brien was a box player from Kinsale, Co. Cork, who arrived in the
Boston area in 1921 and became a respected teacher and recording artist.
Among his pupils was Joe Derrane, with whom O'Brien recorded. 

This tune collection has long been out of print, as is O'Brien's "Irish
Accordion Tutor. Thanks to Mary McGowan for providing me her late father's
copy of "IFDM".
 
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Transcriber's note:
Owing no doubt to the fact that O'Brien was a box player, many of the
setting in his book are loaded (overloaded?) with ornamentation that
I'm afraid would be of little use to anyone interested more in the tune
itself and less in how Messrs. O'Brien or Derrane would be playing it.
For that reason, I have taken my (usual) liberty of simplifying the
tunes whenever I thought such editing was required. The "source version"
(i.e, O'Brien's) will be found under the "BB version" in the unlikely
event that anyone wants to know what it would sound like as actually
performed by O'Brien or his disciples.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

folder contents - dance tunes
folder contents - miscellaneous tunes

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

X:59201
T:BANKS OF MY OWN LOVELY LEE, The
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:160
L:1/4
M:3/4
R:waltz
K:D
A/G/|F^EF|GFG|Afe|d2d|c^Bc|EF^G|A3-|A2A/G/|
F^EF|GFG|Afe|d2d/d/|c^Bc|EF^G|A3-|A2A|
ecA|GFG|BAG|F2F/F/|FED|DCD|F3|E2A|
ded|cEF|GcB|A2A/A/|AEF|GAG|F3-|F2A|
ded|cEF|GcB|A2A/A/|A^GA|cBc|d3-|d3|]

%%%

X:59202
T:BATTLE SHIP SINN FEIN
C:ABC/arr. BB
N:a/k/a "Hot Ashfelt"
Q:160
M:6/8
R:jig
K:A
"^B dorian"
FGA|B2B B2c|B2A F2A|d2e f2d|e3 fga|
b2a f2d|e2e f2e|d2B A2F|A3 FGA||
B2B B2c|B2A F2A|d2e f2d|e3 fga|
b2a f2d|e2e f2e|d2B B2A|B3-B2f||
a2a a2b|a2f d2f|a2a a2f|a3 fga|
b2a f2d|e2e f2e|d2B A2F|A3 FGA||
B2B B2c|B2A F2A|d2e f2d|e3 fga|
b2a f2d|e2e f2e|d2B B2A|B3-B3|]

%%%

X:59203
T:EILEEN McMAHON
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:140
L:1/4
M:3/4
R:waltz
K:G
B/c/|dAB|cdc|BG2-|G2d|gfg|agf|e3-|e2e/f/|
gfg|age|dB2-|B2d|dAB|cBA|G3-|G3|]

%%%

X:59204
T:ENNISKELLEN DRAGOON
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:200
L:1/4
M:C
R:air
K:G
dB|G2AB|cAdc|AG2F|G3d|
g2eg|fd2c|A2Bc|d3d|
g2eg|fd2B|A2fe|d2cA|
G2AB|cAdc|AG2F|G4|]

%%%

X:59205
T:FINNEGAN'S WAKE
C:ABC/arr. BB
N:This is O'Brien's setting of the tune known today
as "Spanish Lady". I have a problem with the sound of
the first part but I have transcribed the tune exactly
as it appears in the book.
Q:200
L:1/4
M:C|
R:polka
K:D
FGA2|BAB/c/d|gefd|(3B/c/B/ A (3B/c/B/ A|
FGA2|BAB/c/d|gefd|(3B/c/B/A A2:|
faaf|edde|faaf|(3e/g/e/ de2|
faaf|edde/f/|gefd|(3B/c/B/A A2:|

%%%

X:59206
T:GARDEN OF DAISIES, The
C:ABC/arr. BB
Y:"long dance"
N:O'Brien's repeat of part 2 makes this a little long (cf. the shorter
setting in "Allan's Irish Fiddler", tunefolder 11). 
Q:130
L:1/8
M:C|
R:hornpipe
K:D
fg|a2af gbag|fefa gfef|dcde fdec|dedc AGFG|
AB (3cBA dcAG|FEFG AB (3cBA|dcdf edce|1 d2dc de :|2 d2dc d2||
|:A2|dcde fefg|a2af defg|a2af ggag|fgfe defg|
a2af gbag|fefa gfef|dcde fdec|dedc A2fg|
a2af gbag|fefa gfef|dcde fdec|dedc AGFG|
AB (3cBA dcAG|FEFG AB (3cBA|dcdf edce|1 d2dc d2:|2 d2dcd4|]

%%%

X:59207
T:GIRL FROM DONEGAL, The
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:160
L:1/4
M:3/4
R:waltz
K:D
A|DFA|d2A|c2B|BAF|AGE|D2D|D3-|D2d|
e2e|ABc|d2d|dcB|A2F|FED|E3-|E2d|
e2e|ABc|d2d|dcB|A2F|FED|E3-|E2A|
DFA|d2A|c2B|BAF|AGE|D2D|D3-|D3|]

%%%

X:59208
T:HARVEST HOME (hornpipe)
C:ABC/arr. BB
N:1:O'Brien's "florid" setting of this 'chestnut'!
N:2:Cut time (x>yz>x) throughout original. Other ornamentation per original.
Q:150
M:C|
R:hornpipe
K:D
AF|DAFA DAFA|dfec dc B/c/B/A/|eAfA gAfA|(3efe (3dcB (3ABA (3GFE|
DAFA DAFA|d>fe>c d>c B/c/B/A/|eAfA gAfA|(3cec (3ABc d2 :|
AB|eA (3AAA fA (3AAA|gA (3AAA fA (3AAA|eAfA gAfA|(3efe (3dcB (3ABA (3GFE|
DAFA DAFA|dfec dc B/c/B/A/|eAfA gAfA|(3cec (3ABc d2 :|
cd|eA (3AAA fA (3AAA|gA (3AAA fA (3AAA|(3eAA (3fAA (3gAA (3fAA|\
(3efe (3dcB (3ABA (3GFE|
DA (3FAF DA (3FGA|dfec dc B/c/B/A/|(3eAA (3fAA (3gAA (3fAA|(3cec (3ABc d2 :|

%%%

X:59209
T:HILLS of GLENSWILLY, The
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:140
L:1/4
M:3/4
R:waltz
K:G
B|d2e|dBG|BAB|AGE|D2E|G2G|G3-|G2B|
d2A|ABd|e2e|edB|G2G|A2B|E3-|E2B|
d2A|ABd|e2e|edB|G2G|A2B|E3-|E2 (3A/B/c/|
d2e|dBG|BAB|AGE|D2E|G2G|G3-|G3|]

%%%

X:59210
T:HUMORS OF BANDON, The
C:ABC/arr. BB
Y:"long dance"
N:[BB] For Séamus McIntyre (RIP)
Q:130
L:1/8
M:6/8
R:jig
K:G
F|DGG GFG|A/B/AG FGA|BAB GAB|d/f/de fef|
d2e c2d|BAG FGA|BAF DEF|G3 G2 :|
B|dgg gfg|a/b/ag f2a|g/a/gf d2e|f/g/fe c2e|
d/e/dc A2c|B/c/BA G2d|A/B/AG F2G|A/B/AF GFE|
DGG GFG|A/B/AG FGA|BAB GAB|d/f/de fef|
d2e c2d|BAG FGA|BAF DEF|G3 G2 :|

%%%

X:59211
T:IF I WERE A BLACKBIRD
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:160
L:1/4
M:3/4
R:waltz
K:G
D|B>^AB|DGA|Bed|A2d|d^cd|ecA|GcB|A2D|
B>^AB|DGA|Bed|A2d|d^cd|ecA|DEF|G3|]

%%%

X:59212
T:IN THE VALLEY NEAR SLIEVENAMON
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:160
L:1/4
M:3/4
R:waltz
K:G
B/c/|d3|e2d|G3|D2G|B3|c2d|E3|A2G|
GF2-|F2_F|^FB2-|B2A|G3-|G3-|G3-|G2:|
G|A3|A2B|c3-|c2d|B3|B2c|d3-|d2d|
^c3|^c2B|A3|B2^c|d3-|d3-|d3-|d2B/d/|
e2d|e2d|G3|D2G|B3|c2d|E3|A2G|
GF2-|F2_F|^FB2-|B2A|G3-|G3-|G3-|G3|]

%%%

X:59213
T:JOCKEY to the FAIR, The
C:ABC/arr. BB
Y:"long dance"
Q:130
L:1/8
M:6/8
R:jig
K:G
D|G2A B2c|d2g d2c|BdB GFG|cBc A2c|
d^cd efg|a2f d2g|fed AB^c|d3-d2 :|
f/g/|afd afd|c2c B2c|dgd dgd|c2c B2d|
e2f gfe|d2c B2d|edc B2A|B2G E2F|
G2G GBd|e2f g2e|dBG A2B|E2F G2A|
B2gB2A|G3-G2 :|

%%%

X:59214
T:KID on the MOUNTAIN, The
Y:"long dance"
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:130
L:1/8
M:9/8
R:jig
K:Em
EFE FED G2F|EFE cBA BGE|EFE FED G2G/A/|BAG FAG FED :|
BGB AFA G2D|GAB dee dBA|BGB AFA G2A|BAG FAG FED :|
gfg efe e2e/f/|gfg efg afd|gfg efe e2g/a/|bag fag fed :|
eBB e2f g2f|eBB efg afd|eBB e2f g2g/a/|bag fag fed:|
edB dBA G2A|GAB dee dBA|edB dBA G2A|1BAG FAG FED :|2BAG FAG FED|\
"final"E6z3|]

%%%

X:59215
T:MAID of the SWEET BROWN KNOWE, The 
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:1/4=150
L:1/8
M:6/8
R:jig
K:G
d/c/|BAB GAB|c2E F2G|ABA G2G|G3-G2B|
d2d e2f|g2B c2d|e2e f2e|d3-d2B|
d2d e2f|g2B c2d|e2e f2e|d3-d2c|
BAB GAB|c2E F2G|ABA G2G|G3-G3 |]

%%%

X:59216
T:NOREEN BAWN 
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:160
L:1/4
M:3/4
R:waltz
K:C
EF|G2G|A2G|EG2-|Gcd|e2e|d2c|A3-|AEF|
G2G|A2G|EG2-|GBc|d2^c|d2e|d3-|dEF|
G2G|A2G|EG2-|Gcd|e2e|d2c|A3-|Ade|
f2A|d2f|e2G|c2e|d2^c|d2e|c3-|c3|]

%%%

X:59217
T:O'BRIEN HAS NO PLACE TO GO
Y:"air"
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:200
R:waltz
L:1/4
M:3/4
K:G
BGE|DB,D|BGE|DB,D|EAG|FEF|G3-|G2E|
DEF|GFG|EAB|c2A/B/|cAF|1 EAF|D3-|D3:|
[2 "14a"DEF|G3-|G3||
D2B,|DGA|B2c|B3|AGE|AGE|E3|D3|
E2F|GFE|D2G|B3|BGD|B,DG|B3|A3|
D2B,|DGA|B2c|B3|AGE|AGE|D3-|D2^D|
E^DE|GFE|DGA|B2A/B/|cAF|DEF|G3-|G3|]

%%%

X:59218
T:OVER THE WAVES
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:160
L:1/4
M:3/4
R:waltz
K:G
B,3|^A,B,D|G3-|GFG|AGF|GB,D|F3-|Fzz|
C3|B,CD|F3-|F^EF|GF^E|FCF|B,3|D^C=C|
B,3|^A,B,D|G3-|GFG|AGF|GB,D|E3-|Ezz|
E3|Ace|d3-|dcB|AGF|EFA|G3-|Gzz||
B^AB|gf>e|g3-|gfe|B^AB|ed>c|F3-|Fzz|
F^EF|ed^c|e3-|edc|F^EF|cB>A|G3-|Gzz|
B^AB|gf>e|g3-|gfe|B^AB|ed>c|E3-|Ezz|
E^DE|cBA|G3-|GF^E|FAc|e2d|G3-|G3|]

%%%

X:59219
T:PAT MALONE
Y:"air"
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:300
R:march
L:1/8
M:6/8
K:G
dB|G2G G2A|B3 d2B|G2A G2F|E3-E2G|
A2A A2B|A2G F2E|D6-|D3d2B|
G2G G2A|B3 d2B|G2A G2F|E3 A2B|
c2B c2A|F2D E2F|G6-|G3z2||
D|G2F G2A|B2A B2c|d6-|d3z2D|
G2G F2G|A2G F2E|D6-|D3 d2B|
G2G G2A|B3 d2B|G2A G2F|E3 A2B|
c2B c2A|F2D E2F|G6-|G3z3|]

%%%

X:59220
T:PULL DOWN the SHADE
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:160
L:1/4
M:3/4
R:waltz
K:D
DFA|A2B|Ade|f2g|agf|ede|fdB|AFE|
DFA|A2B|Ade|f2g|agf|edB|Afe|d3||
fdf|ece|dcB|AFA|B3|c3|edB|AFA|
fdf|ece|dcB|AFA|B3|c2B|Afe|d3|]

%%%

X:59221
T:RAMBLING IRISHMAN, The
C:ABC/arr. BB
N:Better known as "Spancil Hill"
Q:160
L:1/4
M:3/4
R:waltz
K:G
"^A dorian"
gf|e2A|e^de|d2B|G2A|BdB|A2A|A3-|A2d|
e2a|a2b|a2g|e2f|g2a|gfe|d3-|dBd|
e2a|a2b|a2g|e2f|g2a|gfe|d3|g2f|
e2A|e^de|d2B|G2A|BdB|A2A|A3-|A3|]

%%%

X:59222
T:SAINT PATRICK'S DAY
Y:"long dance"
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:130
L:1/8
M:6/8
R:jig
K:G
D|GAG GAB|ded dBG|AGA BGD|EFE E2E|
GAG GAB|dge dBG|AGA BGD|E2F G2 :|
B|def g2e|fed edB|def g2e|fed e2B|
def gag|fed efg|GAG GAB|ded dBG|
AGA BGD|EFE E2D|GAG GAB|dge dBG|
AGA BGD|E2F G2 :|

%%% 

X:59223
T:SHALL MY SOUL PASS THRO' OLD IRELAND
C:ABC/arr. BB
N:This is the melody of the ballad "Kevin Barry".
Q:160
L:1/4
M:3/4
R:waltz
K:D
DF|A2A|^G2A|BA2-|AFA|f2d|A2F|E3-|Ecd|
e2d|c2G|BA2-|A^GA|c2B|G2A|F3-|FDF|
A2A|^G2A|BA2-|AFA|f2d|A2F|E3-|Ecd|
e2d|c2G|BA2-|A^GA|c2c|G2E|D3-|D3|]

%%%

X:59194
T:SHOWMAN'S FANCY (hornpipe), The
C:ABC/arr. BB
N:1:O'Brien's florid setting, which is probably where Joe Derrane (a 
pupil of O'Brien's) got his own. I reproduce it exactly as it appears 
in the book (but see N:2 below), knowing full well that 99.9% of the 
visitors to webABC will never be interested in playing the tune in 
this setting. It makes me wonder why O'Brien bothered to include it 
like this, but occasionally box players who produce tune books get a bit
carried away with their own capabilities. Fortunately there are several 
"user-friendly" versions of this tune in the ITTL, e.g. in "Allan's 
Irish Fiddler (tunefolder 11).
N:2:As usual with O'Brien's hornpipes, this appears with cut time 
throughout. Since reproducing all the cuts would add to the work of 
transcribing this piece (and completely foul up the playback), I have 
omitted them.
Q:150
M:C|
R:hornpipe
K:D
FG|A^GAB Adfd|Bdgf edcB|A^GAB AFDA|BAGF EFGB|
A^GAB Adfd|Bdgf edcB|A^GAB AFDA|E/F/E/D/ EF D2 :|
(3Bcd|edef gece|dcde fdAf|(3gag (3fgf (3efe (3ded|(3cec (3BcB (3ABA FG|
A^GAB Adfd|Bdgf edcB|A^GAB AFDA|E/F/E/D/ EF D2 :|
FG|(3A^GA dA GAB^A|(3A^GA dA GAB^A|ABcB AGFG|AGFG E2FG|
(3A^GA dA GAB^A|(3A^GA dA GAB^A|ABcB AGFE|(3DFA (3dAF D2 :|
dc|Bcde fB^AB|gfeg fB^AB|(3cec F2 (3cec F^G|^AFAc fedc|
Bcde fB^AB|gfeg fB^AB|(3cec Fc _BFBc|fedc B2 :|
AG|FAfe dcBA|GBef gfed|cec'b agfe|(3ded (3cdc (3BcB (3ABA|
FAfe dcBA|GBef gfed|cec'b agfe|dd'af d2 :|
A2|(3d'f'd' (3aba (3fgf (3ded|(3bc'b (3gag (3efe (3cdc|
a^g=ge cABc|da^ga baga|(3d'f'd' (3aba (3fgf (3ded|(3bc'b (3gag (3efe (3cec|
a^g=ge cABc|(3dd'a (3baf d2 :|

%%%

X:59225
T:SILVER and GOLD
Y:"polka"
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:220
L:1/4
M:C|
R:polka
K:D
fg|a2fd|A2df|ag2f|g2ef|
g2ec|A2ce|ba2^g|a2fg|
a2fd|A2df|ag2f|g2ef|
g2ec|ABce|d2d2|d2FG||
AfAf|Aff>d|fee^d|e2-e2|
GeGe|Gee>c|eddc|d2FG|
AfAf|Aff>^g|ag2e|B2cd|
fe2c|ABce|d2d2|d4|]

%%%

X:59226
T:SOLDIER'S FAREWELL, The
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:160
L:1/4
M:3/4
R:waltz
K:G
D|B2F/A/|G2B,/D/|F/E2^D/|E2A/B/|cBA|EF>E|D3-|D2D|
B2F/A/|G2B,/D/|F/E2^D/|E2A/B/|cBA|EF>D|G3-|G3|]

%%%

X:59227
T:STAR of DONEGAL, The
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:140
L:1/4
M:3/4
R:waltz
K:C
G|cBc|FEF|G2G|EDC|EDE|C2C|C3-|C2E|
G2G|c2d|e2e|fed|c2c|BGA|G3-|G2E|
G2G|c2d|e2e|fed|c2c|BGA|G3-|G2G|
cde|c2E|FGA|GEC|EDE|C2C|C3-|C3|]

%%%

X:59228
T:STEVE O'DONNELL
Y:"air"
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:200
R:march
L:1/8
M:C|
K:G
dd|gggg|gdBc|dedB|d3d|
gggg|gefg|f4-|f3d|
ggga|gdBc|dedB|d2Bc|
ddde|dcBA|G4-G2:|
dc|BG2A|BG2d|gggf|
edBd|g2g2|gde=f|^f4-|
f2dd|ggga|gdcd|eeee|
eefe|dddd|d^def|g4-|g2z2|]

%%%

X:59229
T:TAKE THIS MESSAGE TO MY MOTHER
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:160
L:1/4
M:3/4
R:waltz
K:G
G2E|D2E|G2A|Bd2|e2g|d2B|G2B|A3|
G2E|D2E|G2A|Bd2|e2g|d2B|A2B|G3|
e2d|e2g|e2d|BG2|c2e|d2B|G2B|A3|
G2E|D2E|G2A|Bd2|e2g|d2B|A2B|G3|]

%%%

X:59230
T:TOWN of GALWAY, The
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:160
L:1/4
M:3/4
R:waltz
K:G
B,C|D3|E2F|G3|A2B|A3|G2E|D3-|DB,C|
D3|E2F|G3-|GAB|B3|E2B|A3-|ABc|
d3|e2d|B3|A2G|E3|G2E|D3-|DB,C|
D3|E2F|G3|c2B|A3|G2A|G3-|G3|]

%%%

X:59231
T:WILD COLONIAL BOY, The 
C:ABC/arr. BB
Q:160
L:1/4
M:3/4
R:waltz
K:G
D|G2B|d2^d|e2c|A2G|F2D|B2A|G3-|GBc|
d2g|g2f|f2e|A2B|c2d|f2e|d3-|dBc|
d2g|g2f|f2e|A2B|c2d|f2e|d3-|dcA|
G2B|d2^d|e2c|A2G|F2D|B2A|G3-|G3|]