The Britches Full Of Stitches

polka

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on October 24th 2002 by Paddy.

This tune has been added to 519 tunebooks.

Also known as The Breeches Full Of Stitches, Britches Full Of Stitches, O The Britches Full Of Stitches, Oh The Breeches Full Of Stitches, Oh! The Breeches Full Of Stitches, Oh! The Britches Full Of Stitches, Witches' Britches.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

Brathar Na NOl by Monks Of The Screw Trio
Dance Music Of Ireland: Volume 3 CD Version by Matt Cunningham
Dance Music Of Ireland: Volume 4 by Matt Cunningham
Dance Music Of Ireland: Volume 6 by Matt Cunningham
Foinn Seisiun 1 by Ceoltóirí Cultúrlainne
Geantrai - Live Session Recordings From The TV Series by Lynn Saoirse
Jackie Daly And Seamus Creagh by Jackie Daly And Seamus Creagh
Kilkenny Road by Kilkenny Road
Learn To Play Irish Fiddle: Polkas, Jigs And Slides ~ DVD 1 by Kevin Burke
Learning Irish Fiddle by Paul McNevin
Live At The Crane by Dusty Banjos
Mind The Dresser: Music For The Sets Volume 2 by Lynn Saoirse
Musical Journey by Cormac Breatnach And Martin Dunlea
My Love Is In America by Shaskeen
Over The Straits by Fiddlehead
Relative Minors by Qristina And Quinn Bachand
Set Dances Of Ireland, Volume III by Lynn Saoirse
The Best Of The Chieftains by The Chieftains
The Chieftains 7 by The Chieftains
The Ragged Rogues by The Ragged Rogues
The Road To Riley by Riley School Of Irish Music
Tripping Down The Stairs by Spiral Seisiún

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

X: 1
T: Britches Full Of Stitches, The
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Dmaj
|:d>e fd|ed fd|d>e fd|edB2|d>e fd|ed fa|d>e dB|BA A2:|
|:~a2af|ed ef|~a2af|edb2|~a2af|ed ef|d>e dB|BA A2:|

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Britches

This is the first polka I learned, and my favorite. I normally play it on the pipes, but it well suits the whistle. The first notes in the |def d| parts sound better played with a hold on the first eighth note and the second one cut. The "~" in the second part is an ornament that can be played on the whistle as two quick hits of the f - finger when on the a. This seperates the two a's in a much more musical way than with the tongue.

# Posted on October 24th 2002 by Paddy

Also available in reel format

here:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/277

# Posted on October 27th 2002 by glauber

Britches full of Stitches

A great polka although at our session it's always played in the key of "G" - we usually follow it with John Ryan's (Armagh Polka) and the Ballydesmond.

# Posted on October 27th 2002 by Bannerman

I have heard it played in "G," easier for the fiddle I believe

# Posted on October 27th 2002 by Paddy

Britches full of Stitches

I learned this polka in A.

# Posted on October 28th 2002 by gian marco

Looks good for beginners

This tune looks like it will be very good for the beginners that I have playing at our dances here in Storrs CT, USA. It was reccommended to me by "Deidre"

# Posted on January 27th 2004 by MickyMan

Britches Polka...most popular Key?

Which key do you think is most popular for this tune at sessions....G.....D....or A?
And which key sounds best on your instrument?
I play Flute and prefer D
Ben

# Posted on April 26th 2004 by BenS

Re: Britches Polka...most popular Key?

From my experience, "G" seems to be most popular followed closely by "A" - I'd prefer "A" on the fiddle as it sounds a lot brighter. The same could be said for Sweeney's Polka which also sounds much better in "A" than in "G".

# Posted on April 26th 2004 by Bannerman

A variation

I first learnt this tune with a nice change, which for the version given here would be: change every "a2" in the B part to "a>b", i.e. 3/8 a followed by 1/8 b.

# Posted on June 9th 2004 by sixholes

A variation

Sorry - I meant 3/16 a followed by 1/16 b, of course.

# Posted on June 9th 2004 by sixholes

this is a GREAT tune for beginners...i love this tune!!
i play it in the key of G though ;)

# Posted on September 11th 2005 by CELTICCHEF83

Chieftains' version of 'The breeches full of stiches'

In 'The Best of Chieftains' they play a set of polkas with this name, but the real 'the breeches full of stiches' polka is the second one in the set. Does anyone know the name of the first and the third ones? I love them, too, and I would like to look for the tunes separatedly to learn them.

Thanks!

# Posted on December 4th 2005 by Indariel

"The Britches Full Of Stitches" ~ keys & ways ~

You can also find Kevin Burke teaching it in the key of A on DVD #1 of a pair:

"Learn to Play Irish Fiddle: Polkas, Jigs & Slides" ~ 90 minutes
Homespun Videos / DVDs
ISBN: 1-932964-44-4

# Posted on June 21st 2006 by ceolachan

http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/2060

# Posted on June 21st 2006 by ceolachan

~ e2 ec | BA B2 | AA/B/ A/G/F | FE E |] ~ ( not ~ | FE E :| )

The B-part of the A Major version just above does not repeat!

# Posted on June 10th 2007 by ceolachan

is it just me or does this sound like nancy whiskey?

# Posted on September 12th 2007 by PittsburghPiper

The Britches Full of Stitches reccomended version

I would just like to recommend that you musicians who don't like the little tune "Britches Full of Stitches" have a listen to Martin Hayes' version on his first, self-titled solo album. I read the note that had to go with it stating basically that a whistle player, Joe Bane, would wait all week to play this tune in the local session. Martin's interpretation, in my opinion, is very moving, and gave me a lump in my throat.

I'm just kind of surprised that he can convey such feelings through a tune like The Britches. I mean, I've gotten many different feelings from this music, but nothing in this context. I'd be happy if even ONE person could see where I'm coming from and tell me that I haven't lost it!

# Posted on March 6th 2008 by 52Paddy

Re: The Britches Full of Stitches reccomended version

http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/157
Thanks Paddy C. I will give it a listen. I have not listened to the CD in years. I did learn 'Morning Star' (& others) from Martin''s recording.

# Posted on March 6th 2008 by Random_notes

Re: The Britches Full of Stitches reccomended version

I haven't heard Martin Hayes play the Britches Full of Stitches but I think I know what you mean. With me it was hearing the late Clare concertina player, Gerdie Commane play the Irish Washerwoman (a much abused jig by various orchestras and Hollywood movie producers looking for Leprachaun music) who transformed the tune. The notes may have been the same but the delivery through phrasing and lift transformed the tune completely into as good a jig as you'd hear anywhere.

# Posted on March 7th 2008 by Bannerman

Re: The Britches Full of Stitches reccomended version

Well, I have that album, and frankly I don't care much for that track. To each his own, I guess. It's too sentimental for me, and it doesn't get my foot tapping.

I learned this tune from Kevin Burke's videos, and I like the way that he plays it...but I guess that's the way you don't like to hear it as it's usually played like that.

Oh well, like I said, to each his (or her) own. I've always liked the tune myself, though it does gets kind of old.

# Posted on March 7th 2008 by Marklar

Re: The Britches Full of Stitches reccomended version

Though who don't like it probably aren't playing it right - get your polka rhythm down and try again. Then crosstune and play all around and about. Then learn a new instrument and play it. Then teach it to somebody in a different key and punch them in the face with a quiche made of sheep.

--DtM

# Posted on March 7th 2008 by Dan the Man

Martin Hayes version

It's a love or loathe thing with Martin's version I think. It's the same with his playing. I like his playing despite it's 'acquired taste.' I suppose I can see through a barrier many can't and into his version of this tune. Yeah, each to his own I suppose.

# Posted on March 7th 2008 by 52Paddy