Monday 28 August 2023
Tune of the Day: The Fisherman's Widow
Traditional Irish jig
The first appearance of this jig is in Francis O'Neill's collection Music of Ireland (Chicago, 1903), although the tune bears resemblance to the older “The Rambling Pitchfork”. O'Neill learned the tune from an accomplished West Clare flute player (and Chicago police patrolman) named Patrick “Big Pat” O'Mahony, of whom he wrote: “the ‛swing’ of his execution was perfect, but instead of ‛beating time’ with his foot on the floor like most musicians he was never so much at ease as when seated in a chair tilted back against a wall, while both feet swung rhythmically like a double pendulum”.