An Suisin Ban

reel

Key signature: Gmajor

Submitted on May 17th 2003 by Tommy McCarty.

This tune has been added to 27 tunebooks.

Also known as An Súisín Bán, An Suisin Ban (The White Blanket), Suisin Ban, The White Blanket.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• An Irish Evening by The Chieftains
• Castle Ceili Band by Castle Ceili Band
• Ceol Agus Foinn : Music And Songs From The Willie Clancy Summer School by Various Artists
• Folk Music And Dances Of Ireland by Various Artists
• Irish Dancer by Larry McKee And The Shandonairs
• Pride Of The West by John Wynne And John McEvoy
• Reunion Concert: Fleadh Nua 2001 by All-Ireland Céilí Band Champions
• The Chieftains 4 by The Chieftains

X: 1
T: An Suisin Ban
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Gmaj
(3GAB|cEED EFGE|DE (3GAB c3A|BAGE D2EG|
A2AB ADGA|BAGE DEDE|G2GA G2:|
Bd|e2ed efge|dB (3GAB c3A|BAGE D2EG
|A2AB ADGA|BAGE DEDE|G2GA G2:|

An Suisin Ban

And here's another tune I transcribed from the playing of The Chieftains. The title means "The White Blanket" in Gaelic. This one came off An Irish Evening, where it was played more or less exactly like I've transcribed it except with the usual ornamentation The Chieftains include in their work. It was also played second in a set on The Chieftains 4, and there the key was F major, and I'm not sure which I like better. An Suisin Ban was classified as a set dance, but since a set dance could have any of a number of time signatures, I made it into a reel. The tune can also be played as a hornpipe instead of a reel, and you can play it whichever way fits your tastes.

# Posted on May 17th 2003 by Tommy McCarty

I learnt this tune from Michael Falsey at the Willie Clancy Week. He referred to it as a set dance (having, as it does, 6 bars to each measure, excluding repeats, instead of 4 or 8) and played it in 'hornpipe' time (i.e. with a 'swung' rhythm). He also pointed out that it is a metrical setting of the slow air, Casadh an tSúgan (The Twisting of the Hayrope), and played the set dance after the air.

The story of the song, as told by Michal Falsey goes something like this:

A young farm boy is trying to impress a girl, by displaying his prowess at twisting rope out of hay. He takes up the hay from the haystack and begins twisting it, walking backwards away from the haystack as he twists. Eventually, he walks into the barn, at which point the girl, who fails to be impressed, shuts the door on him.

Short but poignant.

# Posted on May 21st 2003 by granama

"An Súisín Bán" ~ a duplication that has persisted

Key signature: G Major
Submitted on June 10th 2005 by dubhghaill.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/4581

# Posted on October 5th 2007 by ceolachan