The Session >> Tunes >> The Connaughtman's Rambles (jig)

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The Connaughtman's Rambles

jig

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on May 18th 2001 by Jeremy.

This tune has been added to 851 tunebooks.

Also known as Bold Doherty, Connachtman's Rambles, The Connachtman's Rambles, The Connachtmann's Rambles, Connaght Man's Rambles, The Connaught Man's Rambles, Connaughtman's Ramble, The Connaughtman's Ramble, Connaughtman's Rambles, The Duck From Drummock, Gathering Dilisk, Mickey The Mauler, Mickey The Moulder.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

X: 1
T: Connaughtman's Rambles, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmaj
|:FAA dAA|BAA dAG|FAA dfe|dBB BAG|
FAA dAA|BAA def|gfe dfe|1dBB BAG:|2 dBB B3|
K:Bmin
|:fbb faf|fed ede|fbb faf|fed e3|
fbb faf|fed def|gfe dfe|1 dBB B3:|2 dBB BAG|

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments
The Connaughtman's Rambles sheetmusic
Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

I don't think I've ever been to a session where this tune didn't get played. Unlike some of the other staple session tunes, this one never seems to get old.

There are a couple of slightly different versions of this tune floating around. I've heard the second part played with the first two phrases reversed so that the tune stays in D instead of shifting to B minor.

I find the change to B minor very dynamic 'though it can be a bit of a stretch of the fingers for us bouzouki players. Here's a tip for fellow bouzouki/banjo players: play the opening phrase of the second part holding down the F-sharp on the ninth fret of the A string and the B on the seventh fret of the E string.

# Posted on June 1st 2001 by Jeremy

At a local session, we play this preceded by "Health to the Ladies" and follow it with "My Darling Asleep." This is fondly termed The Cheap Jig Set.

# Posted on February 7th 2004 by Paddy

At our sessions it's sandwiched between Geese in the Bog (in C) and Out on the Ocean - its one of those great tunes you could use in many combinations.

# Posted on February 8th 2004 by Bannerman

Try this as a second voice:
G|:FA,A, DA,A,|FA,A, DEG|FA,A, DFE|DB,B, B,A,B,|
FA,A, DA,A,|FA,A, DEG|FA,A, DFE|1DB,B, B,2A,/G/:|2DB,B, B,2||
G|:FBB FAA|FEF DEG|FBB FAA|FED EDE|
FBB FAA|FEF DEF|GFE DFE|DB,B,B,2:|

# Posted on March 30th 2004 by fer

"The Connaughtman's Rambles" ~ Kevin Burke

You can also find Kevin Burke teaching this on his video / DVD, #1 of a pair:

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

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

# Posted on June 21st 2006 by ceolachan

As a beginner on the box I found this tune easy to learn. I've got a ways to go before I'm throwing down in a session, but for now I'm content playing it between Donnybrook Fair and Out on the Ocean with the guy I'm taking lessons from.

# Posted on August 1st 2006 by WaltzingMattilda

Jigs for sean-nós dancers

An anecdote from the dancing side of things!

The Connaughtman's Rambles is the most popular jig among sean-nós dancers in Connemara. If they're going to dance a jig, 9 times out of 10 it'll be this one!

# Posted on November 22nd 2006 by maithcailin

"The Connaughtman's Rambles" ~ 531 tunebooks to date ~ DAMN!

Anyway, here's some 'other ways' with it, a few alternatives:

K: D Major
|: AG |
FAA d2 A | B^AB d=AG | F2 A dfe | dBB BB/A/G |
F2 A dAA | B2 B def | g>fe dfe |1 dBB B :|
|: zg |
f2 b faa | f^ef dgg | fbb faa | ff/e/d e2 g |
fbb f2 a | fed d>ef | gfe d>fe |1 d2 B B :|
2 dB^A B ||

# Posted on November 22nd 2006 by ceolachan

B-part alternate, first measure ~ | faa fbb | ~

It seems a shame, this being such a traveler and so popular and present, that nobody has yet added any variations in the comments for this old standard. I do know that some folks take the first measure of the B-part the other way around, as given in the 'Subject' heading above... I hope some of the rest of you souls out there will consider adding your take on this tune...

This morning, as I was out driving in the heavy traffic, a large four door pickup, impatient on a small back country single lane, when it finally opened up into two lanes, screeched past me full throttle, almost taking off my wing mirror and almost doing a head-on with some ma who had just let her child off at the primary school nearby ~ .... Why did that suddenly remind me of certain folks I've come across in sessions in the past? I was suddenly overcome with the blues seeing how shook up that mother was, the panic and fear on her face...

# Posted on November 22nd 2006 by ceolachan

Alternate seventh measure

In place of |gfe dfe|, try |a3 f2e| for a variation. I've heard Ronan O'Flaherty do that (or something like it).

# Posted on November 22nd 2006 by GaryAMartin

I take it you mean like this:

A-part ~ | FAA dAA | BAA def | a3 f2 e | dBB B :|

B-part ~ | fbb faf | fed def | a3 f2 e | dBB B :|

# Posted on November 22nd 2006 by ceolachan

Yes.

# Posted on November 22nd 2006 by GaryAMartin

I just noticed that Colm Gannon also goes up to the a in the 7th bar of the B part.

# Posted on November 25th 2006 by GaryAMartin

When I came to live in SE Ireland, I found that many of the Wexford Mummers use this tune as the jig part of their set. Once when playing for local Mummers I tried a different jig and was nearly lynched. They also call the jig Mickey the Mauler in these parts.

# Posted on July 2nd 2007 by Free Reed

Here's Mickey the Mauler: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/4020 Not very sure, but I suspect they mixed up the titles of the two tunes.

# Posted on July 3rd 2007 by slainte

Connaughtman's Rambles Take 2

All right C, here's my basic setting, a bit different from Jeremy's. This is still one of my favorite jigs, after 30 years. Part of what makes it tick for me is how the phrasing is almost slide-like--two bars at a time, call and answer. And I love how it ambles between major and minor even within each part.

X: 1
T: Connaughtman's Rambles, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: D
FAA dAA|BAB dAG|FAA def|edB BAG|
FAA dAA|BAB def|gfe dfe|1 dBA BAG:|2 dBA B2 g||
fbb faa|fef deg|fbb faa|fed e2 g|
fbb faa|fef def|gfe dfe|1 dBA B2 g:|2 dBA BAG||

# Posted on November 15th 2007 by Will CPT

Nice one tat!

# Posted on November 15th 2007 by ceolachan

Will's setting is the one Kevin Burke plays on his DVD, I think.

# Posted on March 15th 2008 by Ramiro

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