Key signature: Adorian
Submitted on January 14th 2003 by gian marco.
This tune has been added to 56 tunebooks.
Also known as My Father's Story, The Pikeman's March, The Pikeman, Sgéal M'Athar.
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: Halting March, The
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Ador
A2 B/c/d|e e2 d|e>d ef|ec A2|G2 Bc|d d2 e|dB GB|d2 cB|
A2 B/c/d|e e2 d|e>d ef|ec A2|a g2 e|d c2 B|A>B AG|1 A2E2:|2 A2z2||
a a2 g|e d2 e|g>a ge|dB G2|a a2 g|e d2 e|g>a ge|g2 a/g/e/g/|
a a2 g|e d2 e|g>a ge|dB G2|A>B cd|e2 dB|A>B cd|e2 e2|
a a2 g|e d2 e|g>a ge|dB G2|A>B cd|e2 dB|A>B AG|A2E2||
March
Rhythm: 2/4 MARCH ( not a polka! !)
Source: The Boys of the Lough: 1973 second album
Transcription: Gian Marco Pietrasanta (craniota)
# Posted on January 14th 2003 by gian marco
Nice post, craniota! I learned this tune donkey's years ago but not many people know it these days.
I would prefer to see this notated in 4/4. Also the final E in the first-time bar and at the end of the tune should IMHO be placed at the beginning of the tune as the upbeat (anacrusis, pick-up bar) where it belongs. The tune cannot end on an E as implied but must end on an A. In the B music when a quaver (1/8 note) is followed by a crotchet(1/4 note) on the same note (a), the "halting" effect is introduced by playing the quarter note very stacatto. This effect was meant to represent the thrust of the pike (hopefully into the practice dummy!).
# Posted on January 15th 2003 by milesnagopaleen
Halting March
Do you really thinkthatthisisapolka?
Its a military drill march,sometimes called the Pikeman's March. Does anyone knowmore about its origin.
Noel Jackson
Angels of the North
# Posted on January 19th 2003 by noelbats
POLKA??? !!!
It's a march. And yes, it's sometimes called the Pikeman which waht I know it as.
The Thatch Ceildh Band play this...FAST! Does that make it a polka?
# Posted on January 26th 2003 by Susie-Lee
Another transcription can be found here, in 4/4:
tune 38, page 15
"Irish Traditional Music: Session Tunes Book 3"
Anthony Sullivan - Halshaw Music
http://www.halshawmusic.co.uk/
# Posted on October 7th 2004 by ceolachan
Nice tune
mayo trad group ceide have recorded this march but their cd has not been released yet
# Posted on June 2nd 2005 by fused
Origin of
This march was published in the Gems of Melody (Seóda Ceóil) books published by Pigott& Co Ltd Dublin as an original song called Sgéal M'Athar (My Fathers Story) with poetry by P.T, Mc Ginley (my grandfather) and music by Carl G Hardebeck .These two men men knew each other in Belfast in Gaelic League circles circa 1908-1912.
There are words in Irish and Englishi n the published version and we have another verse or two in Irish in the family.
# Posted on September 18th 2005 by eannadoah
Halting march origin
The band I play in does a great version of this tune as a military march. From what I understand it's origins are with the pikemen of northern Ireland and it was used a training tool. The ordered set of breaks in it are indicitive of the insertion and removal of the pike. The cadence is definitely military. In general the feeling of the tune is one of the various military parades that were used to train with the various weapons.
# Posted on November 20th 2005 by newfie percussionist
Discussion: Name that March ! ~
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/14506
# Posted on July 19th 2007 by Bannerman
ComhaltasLive #218 - 4: Ceoltóirí na Mainistreach - 2 Marches:
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_218_4_ceoltoiri_na_mainistreach_march/
Two marches played beautifully by "Ceoltóirí na Mainistreach" from Ennis, County Clare, recorded at the Senior Céilí Band competition, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2006, Letterkenny, County Donegal...
1.) "The Pikeman's March" / "The Halting March"
2.) "John O'Shea's March"
Key signature: G, A & D Major
Submitted on July 24th 2005 by ceolachan.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/4770
# Posted on July 20th 2007 by ceolachan