Key signature: Gmajor
Submitted on August 28th 2002 by Ptarmigan.
This tune has been added to 29 tunebooks.
Also known as The Hangman's Noose.
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: Hangman's Rope, The
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: hornpipe
K: Gmaj
|:(3DEF|G2BG DGBd| g2fg d3e| f2fg fdcB| c2cd cAFA|
G2BG DGBd| g2fg d3e|fefg fdAc| B2G2 G2:|
|:Bc|dg~g2 dgBg| dg~g2 a2ga| bgaf gdBd| cBAG A2Bc|
dg~g2 dgBg| dg~g2 a2ga| bgag ABcd|1 B2G2 G2:|2 B2G2 G4||
Hangman's Rope or Hangman's Noose
This tune was composed by the late Frank McCollam, of Ballycastle, Co. Antrim. It is often played, although is not nearly so popular, after one of Frank's other Hornpipes, The Home Ruler.
Frank had John McNaughton in mind when he named this tune, for John, a Bushmills man, was found guilty in 1761, of murdering his lover, and sentenced to hang. However, when they carried out the sentence the rope snapped, so they had to hang him again. Legend has it that he was offered a free pardon, but refused it, saying he could not go through life being known as ‘Half hanged McNaughton’.
Personally speaking you can call me anything you like, just don’t stretch my neck!
To find more on Frank, check my article in the IMM of June 2002.
# Posted on August 28th 2002 by Ptarmigan
We play this one with f naturals in the A part. Makes a nice set with Chief O'Neill's Favorite, then Hangman's Noose.
# Posted on August 29th 2002 by Will CPT
Hangman's Rope
Yes Will, I actually learned the tune from Aberdeen Flute/Whistle player Kenny Hadden in the 1970's & he played f naturals too, but then I moved to Ballycastle area of Antrim myself & heard it played here with f sharps by Chris McCormick who was taught to play the Fiddle by Frank McCollam, the tune's composer, so I now play f sharps.
But hey, if you like the natural sound, go for it - keep music alive!!!
# Posted on August 9th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Hangman's Rope
The version with the f naturals came from a recording of a session by Belfast musicians, including Nigel & Diana Boullier, [ in Fahy's Bar - which still seems to be popular - ] at the Willie Clancy week in the early 1980s. Congratulations on your result last week-end "Ptarmigan", and my best wishes to the missus.
# Posted on August 9th 2005 by Kenny
Thanks Ptar and Kenny, I like having such an enriched background on the tune. And I love how Ptarmigan just picked up the conversation 3 years later as though we've been chatting all along.
# Posted on August 9th 2005 by Will CPT
F naturals
Brendan Mulvihill plays with F naturals on the Steeplechase, where I learned it...lots of differences in the second part as well.
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by dfay
Change the part endings to cAFA G.. and it'd be a reel.
# Posted on May 9th 2007 by Dow