The Session >> Tunes >> The Lark In The Morning (jig)

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

The Lark In The Morning

jig

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on May 25th 2001 by Jeremy.

This tune has been added to 584 tunebooks.

Also known as Fr. Kelly's, Ha'penny Bridge, Lark In The Morning, The Lark On The Strand.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

X: 1
T: Lark In The Morning, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmaj
|:AFA AFA|BGB BdB|AFA AFA|fed BdB|
AFA AFA|BGB BdB|def afe|dBB BdB:|
|:def afe| bff afe|def afe|dBB BdB|
def afe|bff afe|g2e f2d|edB BdB:|
|:dff fef|fef fef|dff fef|edB BdB|
dff fef|fef def|g2e f2d|edB BdB:|
|:Add fdd|edd fdd|Add fdd|edB BdB|
Add fdd|edB def| g2e f2d|edB BdB:|

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments
The Lark In The Morning sheetmusic
Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

The length of this tune may appear daunting at first, but a lot of phrases simply repeat themselves, making it easier to play. In fact, the last two parts are more like variations than actual seperate bits of the tune.

The long G and F which come at the end of all but the first part can be rolled to produce a nice effect. Alternatively, on the fiddle try double-stopping the G with a B and the D with an open A string.

This tune would seem to be a pipe tune so it probably lends itself to the whistle more than the fiddle.

# Posted on June 2nd 2001 by Jeremy

The Lark in the Morning

This tune appears in The Cumann na bPiobairi Collection of Pipe-Friendly Tunes by John B. Walsh and Mel Bay's Complete Irish Fiddle Player by Peter Cooper.

Peter Cooper relates a story associated with this tune about two fiddlers who had a contest to see who could be the best fiddle player. The fiddlers played all night until dawn broke and they could play no more and still it could not be decided who was the better player. In the silence of the morning, they heard a morning lark. Both fiddlers agreed that it wasn't either of them that had the sweetest music, but "The Lark in the Morning".

Cooper suggests using turns on the consecutive G and F in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th part.

# Posted on October 13th 2003 by Boomerang263

Lark in the Morning

Are you sure that it was this one they heard and not the "Morning Lark" ? See also http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/2060 - only joking!!

# Posted on October 13th 2003 by Bannerman

The Goat's Horns

The lastr part of this one is nearly note for note with one called "The Goat's Horns" in O'Neill's Eighteen Hundred and Fifty Melodies.

# Posted on January 30th 2004 by gravelwalks

Lark in the Morning

Also known as the Lark on the Strand? That's very weird.

Link to the Old Lark in the Morning: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1578

# Posted on March 8th 2006 by slainte

The "Lark on the Strand" as played by Dervish is a very different tune from this. It is a jig but it's two parts and none are similiar to this. It's on Noel Hill's "Irish Concertina" CD as "The Morning Lark" but again, that's a different tune.

However, it's on "Champions of Ireland: Flute" as "The Ha'Penny Bridge". Maybe it's another misprint but if someone can back me up on this, then go ahead and stick it in as that name.

# Posted on April 3rd 2006 by PaddyCmusic

Lark set

Anyone know of a tune that works well before the lark in the morning (the popular 4 part one), preferably in a different key. Cheers

# Posted on November 12th 2006 by copo24

Re: Lark set

The Two and Sixpenny Girl http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1715
is a nice 4-parter that would, in my opinion, go well with it. However, it's not as universally known as 'Lark', so you might be met with blank looks (and, let us hope, open ears). But learn it anyway.

# Posted on November 12th 2006 by granama

Re: Lark set

The Battering Ram after Lark works well.

# Posted on November 12th 2006 by Jayhawk

Re: Lark set

Natalie MacMaster plays an a minor jig before it and I have always liked the change. I think it's the Rakes of Kildare.

# Posted on November 12th 2006 by anastasiadesroches

Re: Lark set

I play it in a set starting with a Welsh tune called ap Shenkin, then Haste to the Wedding, then the Lark. This is one of our most popular sets with audiences.

PS I've just looked and I was surprised to find that Ap Shenkin is on here! Didn't think it would be, 'cos it's Welsh ... But I play it in D, rather than the G it's shown as here.

# Posted on November 12th 2006 by benhall.1

Lark in the Morning

An alternate tune, going by the name ‘Lark in the Morning’, I heard many years ago played by Robin Williamson when I was visiting California. I went home with the tune in my ‘ol’ noggin’ and learned what I thought was the right melody - which I still play today. Some time later, I was given a copy of a book of tunes by Williamson only to learn that I inadvertently substituted several notes in the (A) part and slightly shifted the accents on the original phrasing. One of these days I’d like to meet Mr. Williamson and thank him for the years of pleasure I’ve had from playing this and numerous other Williamson versions. In the above mentioned book of fiddle tunes – he indicates the tunes ‘Apples in Winter’ and ‘Sunday was My Wedding Day’ are good compliments. I play one or the other as a set and like them on the slower side giving emphasis to the minor quality of the tunes. As with the ‘Lark’ tune, I use somewhat different ornaments – I tend to use triplets when I play the tunes on the mandolin and play a lot more ‘squawks’ when I play the fiddle. Hope this is of some interest – Regards to all.
PrairieDawg

# Posted on February 11th 2007 by PrairieDawg

Variations

i am preparing for the fleadh cheoil on banjo and im lookin for some helpful variations on this jig or some tips. I was also wondering whether i should play this tune or Wandering Minstrel. As well to 'slainte' i play a jig called 'Lark on the Strand' which is totally different to this tune

# Posted on June 27th 2007 by banjo-craze

Set

Gerry's Beaver Hat & The Lark in the Morning.

# Posted on June 28th 2007 by dinn2

The Lark in the morn

Probably the first four part jig I ever learnt in the fifties. It was still called The Lark in the Morn then. Its only five or six years ago that I first heard the jig named on here as The Morning Lark and I thought when I heard it that, it was a slight variation on a cut down version of the Lark in the Morning.

# Posted on July 8th 2007 by Free Reed

Dusty Windowsills (Ador) / Lark in the Morning (D) / Cliffs of Moher (Ador) is a good set

# Posted on July 10th 2007 by fidkid

Story...

"Peter Cooper relates a story associated with this tune about two fiddlers who had a contest to see who could be the best fiddle player. The fiddlers played all night until dawn broke and they could play no more and still it could not be decided who was the better player. In the silence of the morning, they heard a morning lark. Both fiddlers agreed that it wasn't either of them that had the sweetest music, but "The Lark in the Morning"."

Sounds awful similar to a story that uilleann piper Seamus Ennis told on track 15 of Fourty Years of Irish Piping. Only difference is, the two fiddlers as it were, were pipers, and the tune was an older version of The Lark in the Morning, and it was called The Lark's March.

# Posted on January 12th 2008 by tin_whistler

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