Key signature: Dmajor
Submitted on November 7th 2008 by ceolachan.
This tune has been added to 10 tunebooks.
Also known as Miners Of Wicklow, Wicklow Miners, The Wicklow Miners.
X: 1
T: Miners Of Wicklow, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmaj
|: G | F2 A AB=c | B^AB G2 =A | BGE EE/F/G | AFD D2 G |
FAA AA/B/=c | B^AB G2 =A | Bcd ecA | d3 d2 :|
|: g | fdf fdf | ece ece | fdf fd/e/f | a^ga ba=g |
fdf f2 f | ece e2 A | BB/c/d ecA | d3 d2 :|
"The Miners of Wicklow" ~ before someone shouts 'duplication'
Yes, I know, but ~ it is a difficult decision whether or not a tune is significantly different enough to deserve a placement of its own, up front rather than in the 'comments'. I have been weighing that up and have decided to give this a go. Why? Well, it has, in my mind, significant difference to the other version given here on site:
"The Miners Of Wicklow"
Key signature: D Major
Submitted on December 11th 2006 by the wounded hussar.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/6497
Though it is closer to Will CPT's setting in the comments:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/6497/comments
I first learned this version from the McCusker Brothers, John in particular. I thought it might also be interesting to see how it has changed over time, if not by much. So, thanks to a generous friend, I recieved a copy of their early commercial recording of this, a set of jigs:
"Miners of Wicklow" / "Fasten the Leg" / "Old Man's Delight"
Here's a transcription from that recording to compare with my take on it:
X: 2
T: Miners of Wicklow
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: D
|: G |\
F2 A AB=c | BAB G2 A | BGE EFG | AFD D2 G |
FAA AB=c | BAB G2 A | Bcd ecA | d3 d2 :|
|: g |\
fdf fdf | ece ece | fdf fdf | aba a2 g |
fdf fdf | ece ecA | Bcd ecA | d3 d2 :|
# Posted on November 7th 2008 by ceolachan
I sometimes throw in a second ending for the B-part ~
[1 d3 d2 :|[2 d2 c B2 G |]
~ or ~ |[2 d2 c BAG |] ~ or ~ |[2 d2 c B2 A |]
# Posted on November 7th 2008 by ceolachan
"The Miners of Wicklow" ~ a few other possibilities
I sometimes slip into a more bouncy way with this, more single jig, and with that treatment in the lead-ins and final measures, or ~
|: B2 A | ~ | d2 A :| & |: B2 g | ~ | d2 A :|
Here's that with a few other possibilities ~
X: 3
T: Miners Of Wicklow, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmaj
|: B2 A |\
F2 A AB=c | B^AB G3 | BGE E2 G | AFD D2 G |
FAA AA/B/=c | B^AB G2 =A | Bcd e2 A | d2 A :|
|: B2 g |\
f2 d fdf | e2 c ec/d/e | f2 d fd/e/f | a^ga b2 =g |
fdf f2 A | ece e2 A | BB/c/d e2 A | d3 :|
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by ceolachan
Well, sounds like a bit of different setting to me. All I can add is that the original version posted http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/6497
is what is played locally as far as I can see these days and I practically live in Wicklow.
# Posted on November 11th 2008 by the wounded hussar
The McCusker Brothers lived up north of you...
# Posted on November 11th 2008 by ceolachan
I did catch the occassional session in Wicklow, enjoying escaping there for a walk and contemplation, and some pub where they aged the bottled Guinness... But, I don't remember ever playing this one there. As said, I learned this take on it elsewhere and was interested in and enjoyed the differences between the two...
# Posted on November 11th 2008 by ceolachan
Oops! ~ says something for my fried brain, I forgot to add a link. Thanks for the reminder WH...
# Posted on November 11th 2008 by ceolachan
It is not a duplication
They have the same name & I get dizzy!
Something like this could happen with any number of tunes.
[That is not a suggestion c.]
I would prefer different versions be added in the comments.
# Posted on November 16th 2008 by Random_notes
Dear WH, by a tune's name, say "The Dublin Reel", I'm generally no more or less interested in a take from a Dubliner than from a French speaking Accadian from Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, or a Metis fiddler, or so-and-so from Astoria, Washington in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S.A.... The differences would especially light my passion and interest...
Mostly, or at least as often as I've contributed something like this on its own, I add 'alternate takes' in the 'comments' to the earliest contribution of a tune. Several such contributions have been made over the last few days, other tunes from the McCuskers. I gave this, "The Miners of Wicklow", some thought, playing both tunes, this and your contribution, before submitting it seperately. If it had gone "Poof!", well, I'd have had to add it and the notes to the 'comments' for your contribution. Adding this here was not meant as a slur on your efforts, with respect. I am interested in both and think both are different enough to warrant a seperate place on their own, whether or not they originate from the place name in the title... In the end it is left to the spirit of this site, Jeremy's decision...
The McCusker recording of this would have also been distributed and well known in North America, the U.S. & Canada, as well as Ireland, it got a lot of air time as the McCusker Ceili Band did a lot of gigs, played for a lot of dancing, being much more than just recording artists...
# Posted on November 17th 2008 by ceolachan
At least you did not call it The Wicklow
A tune is no less a tune because of where one finds it.
How many "Wicklow's"? Yesterday, merely by chance I was searching for the "Wicklow Hornpipe" (aka Delahunty's) Guess what I got in the results.
# Posted on November 17th 2008 by Random_notes