The Session >> Tunes >> Fisher's (hornpipe)

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Fisher's

hornpipe

Key signature: Gmajor

Submitted on August 4th 2002 by Doc Lawlor.

This tune has been added to 201 tunebooks.

Also known as The Blacksmith's , The Fisher's, The Fisher, Fisherman's, The Fisherman's Lilt, The Fisherman's.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

X: 1
T: Fisher's
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: hornpipe
K: Gmaj
(3def|:gdBd cedc|BGBd cedc|BGBd Bedc|
BdcB AB (3def|gdBd cedc|BGBd cedc|
defg agfa|1 g2 b2 g2 (3def:|2 g2 b2 g2 fg||
|:afdg afdg |bgdg bgdg|afdf ad'_d'b|
agfe dg=fg|ecGc egfe |dBGB dgfe|
defg fgaf|1 g2 b2 g2 fg:|2 g2 b2 g2||

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments
Fisher's sheetmusic
Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Source

Found this among some sheet music I purchased from Waltons Ltd. in Ireland while I was there. It was originally recorded by Jim Kelly, a 5-string banjo player. Several typos (or perhaps better, notos) had to be corrected. In the original music, the pickup measure was not written as a triplet but it was played as such by Kelly in concert.

# Posted on August 4th 2002 by Doc Lawlor

Think I'll give it a try.

I remember this piece being played in A Major. I'm not surprised that a Five string Banjo player would put it in G. Nonetheless, I think I'll give this version a pop.

Mark

# Posted on August 7th 2002 by Mark Cordova

Fisher's Hornpipe

There's a version in the New England Fiddler's Repertoire and it's in F, which is considered by some old-time contra dance musicians THE key to play it in (the other, frowned-upon option being D). This is the first time I've heard of versions in G and A. Interesting!

To hear it in F (and to hear an INCREDIBLE banjo version), go to http://www.sls.hawaii.edu/bley-vroman/contra/dances/fisher.html.
They've got ABCs and midi files and dance calls for a bunch of contra dance chestnuts. See http://www.sls.hawaii.edu/bley-vroman/contra/dances/

# Posted on August 10th 2002 by mvhplank

This is the version in F from the New England Fiddler's Repertoire.
K:Fmaj
c2|fcAc BdcB|AcAc BdcB|AcFc BdGd|AcFA G2 (3cde|
fcAc BdcB|AcFc BdcB|ABcd efge|f2a2 f2:|
|:ef|gece gebg|afcf afba|gece gaba|gfed c2Bc|
dBFB dBfd|cAFA cAfc|dfed cBAG|F2A2 F2:||

trevor

# Posted on December 8th 2002 by lazyhound

In the Key of F

F major is the common key that it is played by Texas fiddlers as well.

# Posted on January 20th 2003 by txfiddler

Also known as?

Sharon Shannon's liner notes for the album Out the Gap suggests that this tune is called The Fisherman's Lilt. On TheSession, there is a tune by that name whose principal listing is The Kerryman's Daughter, and which is not this tune. (Is that clear?!)

---Michael B.

# Posted on July 2nd 2003 by MichaelBolton

& it repeats itself, "burp!"

http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/1322

http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/3232

# Posted on June 4th 2005 by ceolachan

Fisher's

I heard this hornpipe played at an English session by a box player who came across an F-major version of it as an untitled tune in the William Winter Tune Book, which is a private compilation of tunes that William Winter collected in the 19th century. It apparently contains tunes from several sources - English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh.

Here is it's ABC
R:hornpipe
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:F
c2|fcAd BdcB|AFAc BdcB|AFAF BGBG|AFAF G3d|
fcAd BdcB|AFAF BdcB|Acfa bgeg|f2f2 f2:|
|:ef|gece gebe|gece g2ga|gfed c2 ^c2|dBFB dBfd|
cAFA cAfc|dfed cBAG|F2f2 f2:||

An unusual feature of this version is that the 2nd part has only 7 bars. It "could" be an error in the tune book, but it makes quite good musical sense as it stands, so I doubt it if it is an error. Perhaps it was intended for a particular form of dance.

# Posted on September 6th 2006 by lazyhound

Sounds like an error to me and makes no musical sense at all. Add |afcf a2af| or similar as bar 2 of the B-part and then it starts to sound like a proper tune.

# Posted on September 6th 2006 by Dow

i'm aghast that this page doesn't mention the recording of this tune on Star Above the Garter. it's a kind of light, leisurely romp through the tune with some nice variation and descending crossbowing bits. beautiful, of course.

--DtM

# Posted on January 10th 2007 by Dan the Man

It does now 'Dan the Man'...

# Posted on January 10th 2007 by ceolachan

Fisher's is played in Cape Breton in F - or at least Howie MacDonald plays it in that key on Live from West Mabou.
Here is his setting:
X: 1
T: Fisher’s Hornpipe
M: C|
L: 1/8
Q: 1/2=112
K: F
fe|:fcAc BdcB|AFcF BdcB|AFcF BABG|AGAF G2fe|
fcAc BdcB|AFcF BdcB|ABcd ebge|[1 f2fe fgfe:|[2 f2fe f2ef|
gece gebg|afcf afef|gece geba|gfed c2(3ABc|
dBFB defd|cAFA cAec|dfed cBAG|F2f2 (3fgf ef|
gece gebg|afcf afef|gece g^fga|gfed c2fe|
dBFB defd|cAFA cAec|dfed cBAG| F2fe fgfe||

# Posted on January 16th 2007 by DonaldK

My favorite version so far

I play it in D since I don't have nice enough F whistle to play on.

This version slightly modified by me is the best one I've come across so far.

(3ABc|:"D"dAFD "G"GBAG|"D"FEDF "G"GBAG|"D"FDFD "A7"GBAG|"D"FGAF "A7"E2(3ABc|
"D"dAFD "G"GBAG|"D"FEDF "G"GBAG|"D"FGAd "A7"cdec|1"D"(3dcB AF D2 (3ABc:|2"D"(3dcB AF D2 cd|
"A7"ecAc egfe|"D"fdAd fagf|"A"ecAc egfe|"E7"d2 B2 A2 A_B|
"G"BGDG BdcB|"D"AFDF A2 _B2|"G"BGBd "A7"cdec||1"D"(3dcB AF D2 cd:|2"D"(3dcB AF D2 ||

# Posted on March 5th 2007 by MrSporre

D is most popular around here

In the NE United States, I have never heard anyone play this in a key other than D, except of course, Bflat fifers, whose sheet music shows it in D, but it comes out as Bflat.

# Posted on April 25th 2007 by AlBrown

http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/10667/comments#comment220357

# Posted on May 10th 2007 by Carabus

Hornpipe?

Does anyone know why this is a hornpipe? every time I have heard others play this tune it has not been ether slow or syncopated (the usual trade marks of a hornpipe). Just for the record I have never heard it played in anything but F.

# Posted on August 24th 2007 by Nopstavon

Fisherman's Lilt a la Liam O Floinn

This should be close to enough to the hornpipe "Fisherman's Lilt" as recorded by Planxty on "Well Below the Valley"
K:Dmaj
|:(3ABc|dAFD GBAG|FEFA dFGE|FAdc dcBA|BGEF GABc|
|dAFD GBAG|FEFA dFGE|FA (3def gecd|eddc d2:|
|:dg|fAdc dfaf|ed (3Bcd efge|fAdc dfaf|(3gfe (3dcB ADFA|
|BG~G2 BG (3Bcd|AF (3ABc defd|(3ABA fd Bgec|eddc d2:|

# Posted on August 14th 2008 by LongNote

Pat Costello uses this tune (on banjo) for the theme music on his
Clare FM Friday show "Wheels Of The World" -- is it the
Gerry O'Connor recording? Anyway, it's a nice version - a bit different
from the one posted here.

# Posted on August 19th 2008 by Hup

Norman and Nancy Blake do a lovely version of this tune on his 'Blackberry Blossom'album on fiddle and cello. It's the last tune played as part of a set on the track 'D Medley', but there's a few lovely tunes played just before it that i'd love to get the name of in anybody knows them?

# Posted on September 9th 2008 by Beanstalk

Fisher´s hornpipe

Hup, I´ve only seen your posting above because I was on holiday at the time.
The recording of Fisher´s hornpipe as a signature tune for his programme is by Pat himself. . Although he only played guitar and occasionally sang when he
was with Shaskeen CB, he is in fact a very accomplished banjo and mandolin player.

# Posted on September 9th 2008 by murfbox

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