The Session >> Tunes >> The Pinch Of Snuff (reel)

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

The Pinch Of Snuff

reel

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on March 14th 2002 by Josh Kane.

This tune has been added to 181 tunebooks.

Also known as The Four Seasons, The Wise Maid.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

X: 1
T: Pinch Of Snuff, The
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Dmaj
|: F2DF EFDE | F2DF EFGE | F2DF EFDF | G2BG EFGE :|
|: DFAF BFAF | DFAF EA,CE | DFAF BFAF |1 GABG EA,CE :|2 GABG EFGA ||
K:G
|: B2GB ABGA | B2GB ABcA | B2GB ABGB | cdec ABcA :|
|: GBdB eBdB | GBdB ADFA | GBdB eBdB |1 cdec ADFA :|2 cdec ABcd ||
K:A
|: c2Ac BcAB | c2Ac BcdB | c2Ac BcAB |1 defd BcdB :|2 defd BE^GB ||
|: Acec fcec | Acec BEGB | Acec fcec | defd BcdB :|

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments
The Pinch Of Snuff sheetmusic
Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

The tune itself

Ok...when I play up in Fall River, Massachusetts, this is how I play the tune. First in D, then G, then A (obviously). I figured I'd spread the trend and put all three versions on here.

# Posted on March 14th 2002 by Josh Kane

Playing in all those different keys isn't an unusual way of playing this tune. In fact, I've never heard it played any other way *except* with all those key changes.

The only thing is; I'm sure there's another part to this tune at the very end that sort of brings it back around to the first part.

# Posted on March 14th 2002 by Jeremy

The Sniff of Punch

Yes, Jeremy. After being played in A, it usually goes back to D, but in the higher octave, then there is a bridging part which brings it back to low D, and it starts all over again.

In my experience, this version tends to be frowned ujpon by the more traditional of traditional musicians. I have a strong suspicion it was originally learned from a commercial recording. Can anyone shed any light on this?

There are a number of two- and three- part settings, one of which features in Kevin Burke's monster 20-tune set on his 1978 album, 'If the Cap Fits'.

# Posted on March 15th 2002 by OrganicPeatCreature

Pinch of snuff

I first came across the 9-part version - that's "low" D - G - A -"high" D and an extra part bringing it back to "low" D - played by Seamus Tansey(flute) and Andrew Davey(fiddle) on the "Music From The Coleman County" LP recorded in1972. I had assumed it was a Sligo version of a reel more commonly associated with Co.Donegal.
The "big" version is not nearly as common these days as it was in the 80s (at least in Scotland), and it's years since I heard this version played in Ireland.

# Posted on March 16th 2002 by Kenny

Missing part

I found the missing part, which you tag onto the last "D" part. Here's how it goes:
|: fgfe dcdB | AFDF AFD=c | BGBd =cBcG |1 ED=CD EFGe :|2 E=CEF GBAG ||

# Posted on August 22nd 2002 by Josh Kane

I always put this tune and The Star of Munster together, its a great little set.

Johnathan

# Posted on January 1st 2004 by Harper_Lad

Donegal and Sligo

I identified this tune as a piece of sheet music a friend had given me, in a packet of tunes a friend had transcribed from Donegal seisiuns. While Burke and a lot of other people do seem to play the "extended version", I had to argue with my friend about it. The Donegal sheet music just had it in D: the A and B parts (with a typical recurring Donegal sharp in the B part), then Josh Kane's "missing part" as the C part. The A part up an octave was listed as an optional variation.

I sent my friend the link to this discussion, so that argument's settled. Just thought y'all'd be interested in the stylistic discrepancy, in case anyone tries to give you the old "it's not played that way" line.

In sum: It's played both ways. Donegal version is 3 parts in D, Sligo goes into all the other keys.

Whew.

# Posted on January 8th 2004 by JHowley

Different fifth part

I have picked up by ear a different fifth part which is probably the one mention by quirl as "frowned on". It goes something like:

K:Em
|: f6 e2 | d6 B2 | A6 F2 | D2F2 A2F2 | D2F2 A2B2 | c6 A2 | G2E2E4 | c2E2G2E2 :|

Sounds like Jimmy Shand to me. is it Jimmy Shand? I like it.

# Posted on June 9th 2005 by LowProfile

5th part

I think Gallopede's is the commonly used one, except it's twice that speed ie |: f3e d3B | A3F DFAF | etc

# Posted on December 11th 2006 by benhall.1

There's an other version at;

http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2610

+Check out the Crickard brothers's version in the recordings section.

# Posted on June 7th 2007 by birlibirdie

Who called this "The Wise Maid"? Come on, own up!! If I ever find you then you better run!! >:-(

BTW - that is an angry smiley - not someone wearing a christmas hat the wrong way up! :-)

There is another tune on this site called "The Wise Maid" and it is still not the one I am after. This is what happens when you revisit music you printed out a few years ago and assigned to the "be able to play when you are old and grey" pile. You find out the reason you couldn't play it is that it is the wrong bloody tune. The piper playing the tune is not so full of magic that it sounds completely different from the dots - it is just it is a different bl**dy tune and I was too rubbish to reaise.

Never mind - I have the real "The Wise Maid" now and I may post it on here to prove a point and confuse other beginners even more!! :-D (better do a proper check first though to make sure no one has posted it under another random name like "The Stupid Butler"!!!!

# Posted on June 10th 2007 by No Cause For Alarm

Actually, as it has changed the right hand side into a smiley it looks more like an unhappy guy being stabbed in the ear - that'll do nicely!!

:-D

# Posted on June 10th 2007 by No Cause For Alarm

The Wise Maid

While I agree that the tune commonly known as the Wise Maid is a different one, i have at least one recording that names this tune "The Wise Maid". For anyone who is searching the usual Wise Maid, which is also known as Doherty's, here's the link:

The Wise Maid: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/118

# Posted on April 13th 2008 by TMB

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