Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Higgin's

hornpipe

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on January 27th 2004 by gian marco.

This tune has been added to 36 tunebooks.

Also known as The Cliff, Higgins, Higgins', Higgins's, The Ruby.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

A Date With The Gallowglass Ceili Band by The Gallowglass Ceili Band
A Few More Tunes by John Skelton
A Tribute To Andy McGann by Joe Burke, Brian Conway And Felix Dolan
Blackthorn Ceilidh Band by Blackthorn Ceilidh Band
Buzzin' by Bumblebees
Drops Of Brandy by Sean McAloon And John Rea
Farewell To Ireland CD 3 (Of A Box Set Of 4) by Various Artists
Fiddler's Fancy: The Music Of James Hill by Tom McConville
Give It Shtick by Matt Cranitch
Irish Traditional Music Of County Clare by Bernard O'Sullivan And Tommy McMahon
Leo Rowsome: Classics Of Irish Piping by Leo Rowsome
May Morning Dew by Mick O'Brien
Northumberland Rant by Various Artists
The Celebrated Recordings by John Doherty
The Leitrim Thrush by Neil Mulligan
The Ruby by Aly Bain And Phil Cunningham
The Wansbeck Piper by Pauline Cato
Wooden Flute Obsession: Volume 2, Disc 1 by Various Artists

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Higgins' (hornpipe)

Source: Mick O'Brien - "May Morning Dew"
Transcription: g.m.p.
Notes: with variations

# Posted on January 27th 2004 by gian marco

Is this a Scottish tune?

# Posted on April 21st 2004 by Q

The Cliff

This is the Cliff hornpipe, aka the Ruby, and is supposed to have been composed by James Hill.

# Posted on April 21st 2004 by Dow

Ah, James Hill - the Scottish-born Newcastle fiddler of the mid-19th century... god forbid this is an *English* hornpipe :->

Thanks Dow!

# Posted on April 22nd 2004 by Q

No, it's a *Northumbrian* hornpipe :-) Well, kind of half Scottish I suppose. This tune has been submitted no fewer than 3 times to thesession.org under different names (is that a record). I've cross-referenced them with "Cliff".

# Posted on April 22nd 2004 by Dow

"The Cliff Hornpipe" / "Fred Wilson's Clog"

Submitted on December 4th 2001 by Mad Baloney.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/412

# Posted on June 9th 2006 by ceolachan

"The Old Harvest Home Hornpipe" / "The Cliffs Hornpipe"

Submitted on July 16th 2003 by PCL.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1824

# Posted on June 9th 2006 by ceolachan

"The Harvest Home Hornpipe"

Submitted on May 25th 2001 by Jeremy.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/49

# Posted on June 9th 2006 by ceolachan

DOWdy, Dowdy, Dow, a fiddly dum dee dum dum, dooooo ~

Now, he said it was here '3' times, well, I guess that's true, but he never did get around to 'CROSS-REFERENCING' them under 'The Cliffs', unless of course it's one I'vemissed or that went bye-bye? I've also been waiting for him to give us a Northumbrian slant on this number, a la our beloved hornpipe king James Hill? ~ and his own way with it, but of course, over under the 'Comments' for "The Cliff" of course. Now let's see, he's been working on this since April 2004? I know, I've no room to be talking...

Now will he ever look here? While he's doing that I'll see if the lad with my old American collections from the 1800s can find me a copy of the F Major take on it to add in the same place.

# Posted on June 9th 2006 by ceolachan

The only explanation I can give for not x-referencing them under "Cliffs" is that I'm under the impression that the name of the tune is in the singular - The Cliff Hp.

# Posted on June 10th 2006 by Dow

Sorry, it's my lissp...

# Posted on June 10th 2006 by ceolachan

So, the 's' threw you and you sat on it for how many years? You do know that the tune has acquired many names over time, even the plural of 'Cliff' and also, would you believe it, the possessive of 'Cliff's'... Hmmm, about the hint of procrastination here, that long delay, I hope we're not seeing a pattern here. I wouldn't like to think others suffer from the same misfiring of the brain cells as me...or putting things on hold for less than reasonable excuses? I'll light a candle for you.

# Posted on June 10th 2006 by ceolachan

Hey, you know, you could have done it here under 'Higgins'...
Sorry Dow, it is my suffering, I have to take it out on someone other than my beloved wife... ;-)

# Posted on June 10th 2006 by ceolachan

Now stop changing the subject, I'm still depending on you for that James Hill information and his take on the tune, maybe with a date? Afterall, you started it, let's finish it... I'm short some sources here but I looked online and couldn't find an actual date for his existance other than the general reference of 19th Century musician and composer...

# Posted on June 10th 2006 by ceolachan

I have the dates 1840-1860 in my head for some reason. I think that's when most of his work was composed.

# Posted on June 10th 2006 by Dow

I play this in F. I'll post it another time. Right now I've just got back from a long drive and it's 5.30 am. Bed.

# Posted on June 10th 2006 by Dow

Go to sleep, and goodnight, la, luh, la, laa, luh, la, laa ~

I've got a straight of D Majors against you full house of two F's and 3 D's... I also recollect a few A's knocking about... The earliest variations of D Major I've been able to find all predate those few later collections that give it as being in the key of F. I was going to add and F take on it but I'll leave the F'n about to you this time... :-P

# Posted on June 10th 2006 by ceolachan