Key signature: Gmajor
Submitted on January 2nd 2003 by Bernie.
This tune has been added to 44 tunebooks.
Also known as Big John McNeil, Big John McNeil's, Big John McNeill, Big John Mcneill's, Big John NcNeill, Lord Ramsey's.
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: Lord Ramsey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Gmaj
G,2B,D EDB,D|GDB,D EDB,D|G,2B,D EDB,D|EB,DB, A,CB,A,|
G,2B,D EDB,D|GDB,D EDB,D|C2EC B,CDB,|1 A,G,F,G, A,B,CA,:|2 A,G,F,G, A,2Bc||
|:dG~G2 dGeG|dG~G2 defg|dG~G2 gfed|cA=FA cFAc|
dG~G2 dGeG|dG~G2 defg|gfed edcB|1 AGFG A2Bc:|2 AGFE DCB,A,||
Would normally be played in A major but played in G by the kilfenora céilí band
# Posted on January 2nd 2003 by Bernie
Lord Ramsey
Far and away the best known name for this tune is Big John McNeill's, certainly in Scotland, and I'm pretty sure it is Scottish in origin. There is another quite different tune called "Lord Ramsey's" - I think Joannie Madden might have recorded it. Scottish fiddlers would usually play it in A with all the G notes sharp. I've heard a version of it in Ireland in A but with the Gs natural - the Dubliners used to play it that way, and possibly De Danann. First time I've encountered it in G.
# Posted on January 2nd 2003 by Kenny
I'm pretty sure Big John's is a Canadian tune. I will make an effort to back myself up with some solid facts and get back to you...
# Posted on June 1st 2004 by Kerri Brown
This is almost identical to John McNeill's reel (Big John McNeill) but, as Kenny says, the key is different. I've always believed this to be a Scottish tune composed by Peter Milne who certainly usually gets the credit for it back home.
John
# Posted on June 1st 2004 by Johannes J
"Big John McNeil"
Big John McNeil
Key signature: A Major
Submitted on October 1st 2002 by MichaelBolton.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1002
# Posted on May 13th 2006 by ceolachan
Lord Ramsey/Big Joe McNeill's
I learnt this reel at the Fleadh Cheoil in Listowel, Co. Kerry. in 1981 from a Canadian fiddler who called it Big Joe McNeill's, so I've always thought it is from Canada. But the version I was taught has an A minor first part that must be played twice, and a A major second part that must be played only once. There were other two people with me, Massimo Greco, a banjo player from Rome, and an English fiddler named Dominick something who then lived in Milan, but I met him again in Umbria last summer (2006). Massimo, this Dominick and me were the ones who spread this tune in Italy, so if you hear this version in Italy put the blame on us.
# Posted on January 21st 2007 by Luigi Giuliani
Fiddlers!
Hi, all fiddlers:
Do any of you have a particular fingering for playing the B part of this tune, especially the first phrase (I play a triplet instead of the roll, incidentally)? Do you slide up to third position? Or do you just bend or flatten your third finger down from the G to the d and use your pinky for the e? Include the bowing, too, if it's relevent.
If you respond, email me to let me know that you did.
Thanks!
# Posted on May 30th 2007 by grymater