Key signature: Amajor
Submitted on September 12th 2005 by JonB.
This tune has been added to 24 tunebooks.
Also known as Gay Gordon's March, Gei Gordon's, The Gei Gordon's, The Gei Gordons, Gie Gordon's, The Gie Gordon's, Gie Gordons, The Gie Gordons, Gordon Highlanders March, The Gordon Highlanders March.
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: Gay Gordons, The
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Amaj
|:e|A>B cB/A/|d>e fe/d/|1ca cB/A/|cB B:|2ca e/c/d/B/|cA A||
|:c/e/|a>f ed/c/|d>e fe/d/|1ca cB/A/|cB B:|2ca e/c/d/B/|cA A||
The Gay Gordons
This is the Scott Skinner original of the eponymous dance (I believe). There is another tune from Shetland in the database called "Gordon's" but this is not the same or even a variation on it. I think 'Gordons' here is as in 'Gordon Highlanders' (possibly) and is a plural as opposed to the possessive (i.e. Gordon's tune).
I put it down as a Polka to get the right time signature but I think it is technically a March (but there's no option for 'march' when submitting a tune).
It's a well known tune that's fun to play at a good pace.
# Posted on September 12th 2005 by JonB
Gay Gordons
ceolachan posted a lot of good information about "Gay Gordons" in the comments of The Meeting of the Waters http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/4679
# Posted on September 12th 2005 by RogueFiddler
"Gordon's Mixer" ~ gin and what else?
Here follow, eventually, a couple of alternates to the Nigel Gatherer ABCs copied here, though that notation has the parts repeating. To give further credit, Nigel gives as his source "The Master Method for Highland Bagpipe", 1953, with the composer for this number given as Mr. James Scott Skinner? ~ or in 'letters' and complete:
X:237
T:Gay Gordons, The
C:James Scott Skinner
B:Master Method for Highland Bagpipe (1953)
Z:Nigel Gatherer
M:2/4
R:March
L:1/8
K:A
e|A>B cB/A/|d>e fe/d/|ca cB/A/|cB Be|
A>B cB/A/|d>e fe/d/|ca e/c/d/B/|cA A:|]
c/e/|a>f ed/c/|d>e fe/d/|ca cB/A/|cB Bc/e/|
a>f ed/c/|d>e fe/d/|ca e/c/d/B/|cA A:|]
http://www.nigelgatherer.com/tunes/abc/abc3/gaygor.abc
Anyway, here are the promised others,
notated for a pronounced 4 count march:
M: 4/4
R: march / dance
L:1/8
K: A Major
|: e2 |
A3 B c2 BA | d3 e f2 ed | c2 a2 cB AB |c2 B2 B3 e |
A2 AB c2 BA | d3 e f2 ed | c2 a2 ec AB |c2 A2 A2 :|
|: ce |
a3 f e2 dc | d3 e f2 ed | c2 a2 c2 BA |c2 B2 B3 e |
a2 af ef/e/ dc | d3 e f3 d | c2 a2 ec AB |c2 A2 A2 :|
K: G Major
|: D2 |
G3 A B3 G | c2 d2 e4 | B2 g2 d2 BG | B2 A2 A4 |
G3 A B2 AG | c2 d2 e2 dc | B2 d2 de dc | B2 G2 G2 :|
|: d2 |
g2 ge d2 cB | cB cd ef/e/ dc | B2 g2 G3 A | B2 A2 A4 |
ga ge d4 | c2 cd e4 | B2 g2 A2 cA | B2 G2 G2 :|
or if you prefer it the other way, 2/4:
|: e |
A>B cB/A/ | d>e fe/d/ | ca c/B/A/B/|cB B>e |
AA/B/ cB/A/ | d>e fe/d/ | ca e/c/A/B/|cA A :|
|: c/e/ |
a>f ed/c/ | d>e fe/d/ | ca cB/A/|cB B>e |
aa/f/ ef/4e/4d/c/ | d>e f>d | ca e/c/A/B/ |cA A :|
K: G Major
|: D |
G>A B>G | cd e2 | Bg dB/G/ | BA A2 |
G>A BA/G/ | cd ed/c/ | Bd d/e/d/c/ | BG G2 :|
gg/e/ dc/B/ | c/B/c/d/ ef/4e/4d/c/ | Bg G>A | BA A2 |
g/a/g/e/ d2 | cc/d/ e2 | Bg Ac/A/ | BG G :|
# Posted on October 7th 2005 by ceolachan
Now for a little dancin' ~
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/musicscotland/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/musicscotland/celticroots/index.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/musicscotland/celticroots/standard/hoolie/index.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/musicscotland/celticroots/standard/dancing/dancing_feet.shtml
As mentioned elsewhere, the Irish take on this, or even the Scottish country ceilidh, is not so mincing as this video gives or as the RSCDS ('Royal' Scottish Dance Society) would have us believe... Just be sure to have a dram or two of a lovely single malt and care nae more...
# Posted on October 7th 2005 by ceolachan
All Star Ceili Band version
X:10
T:The Gay Gordons
C:As played by All Star Ceili Band (transcribed by Anna Nemeth)
M:4/4
L:1/8
Q:1/4=100
K:Amaj
e |{c}A>c ec/A/ d/c/d/e/ fe/d/|c/A/e/A/ c/A/e/A/ c/B/B/A/ B>{ce}z |A>c ec/A/ d/c/d/e/ fe/d/|c/e/a/e/ c/e/d/B/ cA A :|
(3e/f/g/|a/>g/a/>f/ ec/A/ d/c/d/e/ fe/d/|c/A/e/A/ c/A/e/A/ c/B/B/A/ B(3e/f/g/ |a/>g/a/>f/ ec/A/ d/c/d/e/ fe/d/|c/e/a/e/ c/e/d/B/ cA A :|
The All Star Ceili Band has become my favorite band since I got their casette http://www.regorecords.com/allstarceilb.html
They play Gay Gordons as a hornpipe/barndance with an exceptional swing.
# Posted on November 22nd 2005 by nemethmik
"Gay Gordons" ~ The Fiddler's Companion by Andrew Kuntz
http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/index.html
http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/GAMB_GAY.htm
GAY GORDONS [1]. AKA and see “The Gordon Highlanders’ March.” AKA "Gie Gordans." Scottish (originally), New England; Country Dance Tune (cut time) or March. A Major. Standard. AB (Miller & Perron, Sweet): AABBCCDD (Cranford/Fitzgerald). This tune was included in J. Scott Skinner's 1921 concert set romantically entitled "Spey's Fury's” and was composed in 1915 by the great strathspey artist The original title was “The Gordon Highlanders March” but came to be called “The Gay Gordons” through association with the famous Scottish country dance. The 'Gay Gordons' remains a popular couple dance, still occasionally to be found at New England contra dances, for example, and at Scottish dancing events, where it has been over time one of the most popular Scottish Country Dances. The origins of the dance are unclear, and may not have anything to do with Scotland! One story goes that it was a Continental dance from sometime in the 19th century. Others theorize that it was a turn of the 20th century member of a group of military-style dances, including such as the Military Two-Step, the Canadian Barn Dance and others. Perhaps the earliest reference to the dance dates to the year 1915, although Christine Martin (2002) says there was a previous reference to a Gay Gordons dance in 1907.
***
The title refers to the Gordon Highlanders, a Scottish unit in the British army first raised in 1794 as the 92nd Regiment. The word ‘gay, sometimes spelled ‘gie’ (as in Jimmy Shand’s 1942 recording) or ‘gey’, perhaps to preclude modern associations of ‘gay’ with homosexuality, in this context means ‘handsome in appearance’ or ‘decked out’ (as in formal kilted dress). The dance is performed to many tunes, however, usually a march followed by a jig, and not simply the tune given below. “Scotland the Brave” followed by “Highland Laddie,” for example, is cited as one typical medley vehicle for the steps. The famous Scottish bandleader and accordionist Jimmy Shand recorded a “Gay Gordons” medley in the 1950’s with Skinner’s tune as the lead-off piece.
***
It has been speculated that the original epithet 'Gay Gordon' referred to the courtly Continental manners of the original Norman members of the clan who relocated to the remote North East of Scotland. One famous Gay Gordon was doubtless Lord Strathven, says Emmerson (1972), who danced with Marie Antoinette and became a favorite at the court of Louis XVI for his "agreeable personality and admirable skill in dancing." Source for notated version: Winston Fitzgerald (1914-1987, Cape Breton) [Cranford]. Cranford (Winston Fitzgerald), 1997; No. 76, pg. 34. Miller & Perron (New England Fiddlers Repertoire), 1983; No. 166. Sweet (Fifer's Delight); No. or pg. 27 (has an alternate 'B' part). Alcazar Dance Series FR 204, "New England Chestnuts 2" (1981). Folkways FW8827, Arbuckle, Mikkelson & Clifton - "Old Time Couple Dances" (1961). Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent – “Grandfather Mountain Gala.”
# Posted on July 20th 2007 by ceolachan