Tonight we held the Magnolia Music Studio Winter Fiddle Recital, and a number of my students got up on stage and put on a great show for their parents and friends.
At the end of the recital, I thought it was fitting to have them join me for a Fiddle Tune a Day. I didn’t have anything specific in mind, so I asked my students, and one of them suggested Tobin’s Favorite.
Not all of us had played it before (myself included), so we worked it up quickly and gave it a go. I think you will enjoy it.
Tobin’s Jig (AKA Tobin’s Favorite) according to Fiddler’s Companion
TOBIN’S JIG (Roga Sant-Aubin). AKA ‑ “Tobin’s Favorite,” “Tobin’s Fancy.” Irish, Double Jig. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The title probably refers to one Adam Tobin, a native of Kilkenny, by way of Chicago fiddler James Kennedy, who gave the tune to O’Neill. The tune is often called “Tobin’s Favorite” these days. Jackie Small, editor of Breathnach’s CRÉ V (1999), says the titles “Pretty Young Girls for Sale” and “Girls for Sale—the Old Way” are associated with the tune. Sources for notated versions: Michael Coleman (County Sligo, Ire./New York) [Brody]; Fennig’s All Stars (N.Y.) [Spandaro]; set dance music recorded live at Na Píobairí Uilleann, mid-1980’s [Taylor]; New Jersey flute player Mike Rafferty, born in Ballinakill, Co. Galway, in 1926, who had it from Aggie Whyte [Harker]. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; p. 277. Cotter (Traditional Irish Tin Whistle Tutor), 1989; 51. Harker (300 Tunes from Mike Rafferty), 2005; No. 219, p. 67. S. Johnson (The Kitchen Musician No. 6: Jigs), 1982 (revised 1989, 2001); p. 8. Mallinson (Enduring), 1995; No. 31, p. 13 (appears as “Tobin’s Favourite”). O’Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 22. O’Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 775, p. 144. O’Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 52, p. 25 (appears as “Tobin’s Favorite”). Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 2, 1995; p. 382. Spandaro (10 Cents a Dance), 1980; p. 23. Sweet (Fifer’s Delight), 1965/1981; pg. 38.Taylor (Music for the Sets: Yellow Book), 1995; p. 25. Front Hall 05, Fennigs All Stars‑ “Saturday Night in the Provinces.” GN1, Joe Thoma ‑ “Up the Track: Traditional Music from Kenmare.” Kicking Mule 216, Strathspey‑ “New England Contra Dance Music.” Shanachie 33002, Michael Coleman‑ “The Legend of Michael Coleman.”]
Lovely musical performance by the kids playing on their violins!