Key signature: Gmajor
Submitted on January 20th 2009 by wichitafiddler.
This tune has been added to 17 tunebooks.
Also known as Sios Le Bruac Na Amne.
X: 1
T: Down By The River Side
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
R: waltz
K: Gmaj
dc | "G" B2G2G2 | "D" F2G2A2 | "Em" B2G2B2 | "C" c4Bc | "G" d2g2g2 | "F" d2e2=f2 |"D" A2F2A2 | c4dc |
"G" B2G2G2 |"D" F2G2A2 | "Em" B2G2B2 | "C" c4Bc | "G" d2g2g2 | "F" d2e2=f2 | "G" A2G2G2 |G4Bc ||
"G" d2g2f2 | g2a2g2 | "F" =f2d2e2 | =f2z2 d2 | "G" g2f2d2 | "C" c2d2c2 |"G" d2B2G2 | "D" F4dc |
"G" B2G2G2 | "D" F2G2A2 |"Em" B2G2B2 | "C" c4Bc | "G" d2g2g2 | "F" d2e2=f2 |"G"A2G2G2 |G6||
I did the abc's straight from O'Neills ... I think.
I had intentions of changing them, because it was notated so simply, but the tune works as is and I found little to change with it. Usually that's not the case when learning directly from the dots.
I don't remember if it was supposed to be played as an air, but I sort of like it as a waltz.
For those who don't like chords in the abc's forgive me. They can be ignored but were my choices.
# Posted on January 20th 2009 by wichitafiddler
I very much like the tune, wichitafiddler. I didn't know it, and a result of your posting, I mean to learn it!
The title fooled me initially, as when I first saw it I thought that it was going to me the melody of the song of that same name! I'm glad that it wasn't.
I liked your chord settings also - although personally I would have used "G" where you used "Em".
# Posted on January 21st 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Waltz?
Which O'Neill''s did you take this from? It sounds more like a jig or 6/8 march - Scottish sounding with the flattened seventh - if all values were halved. I find it difficult to play slowly. If it's from the repro edition, perhaps it's another one of those weird O'Neill's transcriptions, taken down all wonky?
# Posted on January 22nd 2009 by gravelwalks
Flattenend Sevenths
Gravelwalks - I also noticed the flattened sevenths. As posted, the tune has more of a G-Mix than a G-Maj feel to it - although some of the Fs are natural ...
# Posted on January 22nd 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Really dont remember where I got it. Just remembr taking it down "as is.." I don;t think any of the notes are a mistake, even from the original transcription (Im aware of oneill's wacky transcriptions)... it's nice as is to my ears and have no problem playing it slowly. It was in 3/4 and I know many airs are taken down in 3/4 but this tune doesn't work as an air for me.
# Posted on January 22nd 2009 by wichitafiddler
Here it be: http://www.oldmusicproject.com/AA3Sheet/Sheet-0001-100/0045-DownByRiverside.gif
# Posted on January 22nd 2009 by wichitafiddler
Misunderstanding - the sevenths are fine
I didn't mean the notes were a mistake - that particular breed of "mistranscribed" animal common to the early editions is almost always unplayable as printed on the page.
I meant "wonky" in that I was wondering if it were another, known jig (sounds Scottish or other __ ) and was transcribed by O'Neill or someone else in 3/4 time to denote a march cadence rather than the bounce of a jig. Transcription of aural tradition is something of a lost art. He often transcribed in different meters for this purpose. A good example I think is to look at certain passages in the old editions with long slurs and eighth notes barred together, six or seven to a group but the meter stays the same and the bar doesn't move. I could be wrong here, but that was my understanding of transcription where in the absence of a tape recorder, when the whole job is left up to the guy with the pencil.
# Posted on January 23rd 2009 by gravelwalks
Thanks for clarifying gravelwalks... Im with you 100% on transcriptions!
# Posted on January 23rd 2009 by wichitafiddler
Hmmm..
I agree..
I like the quirky flatened 7ths
but it definitely has a jig feel.
I
# Posted on January 26th 2009 by paulflute
Sorry
got cut off in the middle....
i was saying if i'd written this tune
i would have put it in 6/8
not a waltz feel at all
but very nice
# Posted on January 26th 2009 by paulflute
Sure, it makes a lovely waltz
I also found this melody by browsing in O'Neill (The first book with all the song airs) and used to play it often twenty years ago. I took to it especially because of its similarities to "The trip we took over the mountain," another song air that can be played as a waltz. I learned the latter from Tommy McCarthy Sen. (RIP) and it was one of his lovely concertina tunes (also recorded by his daughter Jacqueline). I think Willie Clancy played the latter tune very slowly, but Seamus Ennis and others played it more as a waltz, and I don't see why "Down By the River Side" shouldn't be played that way also.
# Posted on February 21st 2009 by Paul Groff