Key signature: Dmajor
Submitted on July 17th 2005 by ceolachan.
This tune has been added to 9 tunebooks.
Also known as Antigonish Polka #2, The Antigonish Polka 2, The Favourite Polka.
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: Antigonish Polka, The
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: barndance
K: Dmaj
|: de |
fgab a2 d2 | d2 c2 cB c2 | a2 c2 cBcb | a2 d2 dcde |
fgab a2 d2 | d2 c2 cB c2 | aAcb agfe |1 d2 c2 d2 :|
2 d2 =c2 B2 A2 ||
K: G Major
Bc^cd e2 B2 | d2 c2 cBcd | e2 c2 f2 c2 | e2 d2 d^cdf |
(3gag fg a2 g2 | g2 c2 cBcd | e2 e2 f2 e2 | e2 d2 dcBA |
Bc^cd e2 B2 | d2 c2 cB c2 | e2 ce f2 cf | e2 d2 d^c d2 |
B2 g2 gf g^g | a2 e2 e2 ^de | ^cdfe d=cBA | (3GAG F2 G2 ||
"Antigonish Polka #2"
This is another case of accepting a pre-existing name for a 'Gan Ainm', believing it is better to have something than nothing, and this is a name some know it by. You can pretty well be sure that most tune names that come numbered were (are) gan ainms. These two 'ballroom' style polkas have become known as "The Antigonish Polkas" in Cape Breton and Nova Scotia, Canada, as played by Winston "Scotty" Fitzgerald for dances in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. They have come to be called "#1" & "#2", this is the second of the set. "Antigonish Polka #1" can be found here:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/4739
I've come across these two melodies elsewhere but am not sure whether that was in early printed sources, from recordings or from an acquaintance ~ or 'all of the above'. I'm damned sure I've also heard them played 'old time', and suspect it's that string to Winston's playing and experience these two were drawn from. It would be great to have someone contribute names and history for these two...
Tunes like these can be found written out in 2/4 or 4/4. They are also nice given a 'swing', if you choose to take them that way. A transcription in 2/4 can be found in the following recommended collection:
"Winston Fitzgerald: A Collection of Fiddle Tunes"
"The Angigonish Polkas #1 & #2" ~ page 82
Compiled and edited by Paul Cranford
Cranford Publications, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, 1997
http://www.cranfordpub.com/
ISBN: 0-9691181-7-1
# Posted on July 17th 2005 by ceolachan
Another way with the last 5 bars:
~ | ~ ~ ~| ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~ ~ ~ ~ | e2 d2 d^cd=c |
B2 g2 gf g2 | A2 e2 e2 ^de | ^cdfe d=cBA | G4 ||
# Posted on July 17th 2005 by ceolachan