The Swallowtail

jig

Key signature: Adorian

Submitted on May 25th 2001 by Jeremy.

This tune has been added to 510 tunebooks.

Also known as The Dancing Master, The Dancingmaster, From The New Country, The Swallow's Nest, Swallow's Tail, Swallow-tail, Swallows Tail, Swallowtail.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• A' Sireadh Spòrs by Dr. Angus MacDonald
• Barghest Sampler by Barghest
• Captain Hopper's Mutiny by Bowi
• Close To The White Bear by Dave Swarbrick And Simon Nicol
• Culann's Hounds by Culann's Hounds
• Early Recordings Of Irish Traditional Dance Music by John Kimmel
• Elftones by The Elftones
• Empty Pockets by Skip Healy
• Finnegan's AWake by Finnegan's AWake
• Gleanntan by Sliabh Notes
• Gracenotes by Buttons And Bows
• Inishkeeragh by Brenda McCann
• Ireland's Best Session Tunes CD 2 by Waltons Recording
• Irish Cream by Irish Cream
• Jack In The Box Irish Session by Tionol
• Josephine Marsh by Josephine Marsh
• Just Me And A Fiddle by The Flyin' Fiddler Wayne Cantwell
• Kids In A Candy Store by Rick May And Gil Yslas
• Kilkenny Road by Kilkenny Road
• Late... In The Night by Christy Barry, Conor McCarthy, Cyril O'Donoghue
• Looking For A Rock by Juniper
• Music In The Glen by Kennedy's Kitchen
• On Fire! by The Cottars
• Party Acadien by Eddy Arsenault Et Famille, Anastasia DesRoches, Louise Arsenault
• Rags, Reels And Airs by Dave Swarbrick
• Raise The Rafters by Molly's Revenge
• Set Dances Of Ireland, Volume IV by Various Artists
• Set The Sails by Bantry Bay
• Sons Of Liberty by Amadan
• Southwind by Glenn Morgan
• Spirit Of The Isles: A Concert For Beltane by Various Artists
• The Bear River Band by Bear River Band
• The Celtic Ray by Marcille Wallis
• The Judique Flyer by Buddy MacMaster
• The Lakes Of Sligo by Carmel Gunning
• The Man Behind The Box by Joe Derrane
• Turn To Me by Bill Jones
• Volume 3: The Rhythm Chapter by Fiddlers 3

X: 1
T: Swallowtail, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Ador
|:cBA eAA|cBA edc|BGG dGG|gfe dcB|
cBA eAA|cBA e2f|gfe dcB|cBA A2d:|
efg a2b|a2b age|efg a2b|age g2d|
efg a2b|a2b age|gfe dcB|cBA A2d:|

This tune has a lot of similarities with the reel of the same name. I wonder which came first.

The tune is fairly straightforward to play, except for the jig equivalent of that tricky G phrase we saw in the reel. Once again, hopping between D and G might cause some problems at first but it's worth practicing because it'll come in handy later. It's all in the wrist.

# Posted on June 2nd 2001 by Jeremy

I play this in Edor, a fourth lower, staring on G rather than c. Also, I play the first phrase of measures 1, 2 and 5 as GEE (here it would be cAA) rather than GFE (cBA) in order to get that ya-da-da, ya-da-da jig feel (we whistlers go slur-tongue-tongue).

I am curious what variations do people use in the second part for the constant e2f, e2f (here it is a2b, a2b)? I don't think rolls work so well and haven't found the perfect notes for turning. Any thoughts?

# Posted on October 25th 2001 by Bloomfield

Here is a slightly different version of the tune from an old New England source. It is in E dorian.

K:Edor
GEE BEE|GEE BAG|FDD ADD|dcd AGF|
GEE BEE|GEG B2c|dcd AGF|GEE E3:|
|:Bcd e2f|e2f edB|Bcd e2f|edB d3|
Bcd e2f|e2f edB|dcd AGF|GEE E3:||

# Posted on November 30th 2002 by lazyhound

T:Dancing Master, The
M:6/8
L:1/8
S:Josephine Marsh
R:jig
Z:g.m.p
K:ADor
B|cAA eAA|cAA e2A|BGG dGG|gfe dcB|
ccA eAA|cAA e2f|gfe dcB|1cAA A2:|2cAA A3|:
efg a2b|a2b age-|efg a2b|age g3|
efg a2b|a2b agf|gfe dcB|Bce A3:|

# Posted on August 23rd 2003 by gian marco

Swallowtail in Edorian

You need to add the "x" and "t" line for it to
translate correctly to a pdf. from the abc file. also I changed one note in the 5th measure. this is a perfect teaching tune. Bobbi
X:1
T: Swallowtail, The
K:Edor
GEE BEE|GEE BAG|FDD ADD|dcd AGF|
GEE BEE|GEE B2c|dcd AGF|GEE E3:|
|:Bcd e2f|e2f edB|Bcd e2f|edB d3|
Bcd e2f|e2f edB|dcd AGF|GEE E3:||

# Posted on April 19th 2007 by bobbi

"From the New Country" jig

Would anyone know an alternative title for this jig? I have found in a set with The Blackthorn Stick and the Irish Washerwoman and would like to listen to midi. Can't find it here or on abacci.com.

# Posted on July 2nd 2007 by P-K

Re: "From the New Country" jig

Is it this one, P-K?
http://thesession.org/tunes/display/106

# Posted on July 2nd 2007 by Laitch

Re: "From the New Country" jig

Hi Chris,

I think this tune also goes by the name of the 'Swallowtail Jig'.

Jon

# Posted on July 2nd 2007 by Jon_bailey

Re: "From the New Country" jig

Exactly the one, guys- many thanks. How do you get to know that extra-curricular kind of stuff?

# Posted on July 2nd 2007 by P-K