Important note: If you are reading this in a word processor (e.g. Word, Pages, TextEdit), please scroll down past the file header and the horizontal line to the first “tune”. It’s labeled “X:1: and then “T:How to Use This Document”. It should tell you what you need to know to use this document productively without getting too confused. %abc-2.2 I:abc-charset utf-8 % File Header (including top two lines). This includes information to be used % in all the tunes (fonts, spacing, etc.) % Note: If you take the abc code for one tune and omit this Header, many things will look % very different. % A single percent sign makes everything after it a comment, not used by the software. % Two percent signs causes what’s after it to be a postscript command. % The following defines the fonts to be used in these tunes. %%font Palatino-Roman %%font Palatino-Bold %%font Palatino-Italic %%font Palatino-BoldItalic %%font Arial-bold %%font Cambria % Here we say how much space to use and other related stuff %%topspace .8in %%composerspace 0.4cm %%musicspace .4cm %%staffsep 50pt % Separation between staffs %%maxstaffsep 100pt % (minimum, maximum space allowed) %%scale 0.7 % Overall scale of tunes; smaller for a few tunes %%stretchlast 0.25 % Controls whether last staff is a full or partial line % Now we define which fonts are used for title, composer, chords, etc. %%titleleft 0 %%titlefont Palatino-Bold 20 %%composerfont Palatino-Italic 14 %%tempofont Palatino-Roman 14 %%gchordfont Palatino-Roman 14 %%partsfont Palatino-Italic 14 %%annotationfont Palatino-Roman 14 %%textfont Palatino-Roman 16 % Adds page numbers, defines labels to be used and which fields will print %%footer "$P" % Page number %%shiftunison 0 % One note head for unison drones %%infoname Z "Transcription: " % Defines what label is %%infoname S "Source: " % used for each field %%infoname D "Discography: " %%infoname N % Puts Notes at the end %%infoname N "Notes: " % Restores Label to Notes %%writefields P false %%writefields QSDZN % Which fields to print %%pdfmark 1 % Adds marker for each tune for creating tune list % Defines shortcuts for slides, trills U: s = !slide! U: t = !trill! % ________________________________________________________ X:1 T:How to Use The abc Documents K: %%begintext These tunes are written out in abc notation. This is a way of writing out music as plain text. It can be converted into standard musical notation, and can be played back as well by abc software which is generally free. Here are a few useful things to know about this abc file. 1. Right before this introduction is the file header, a set of commands that set up which font is used for which part of the tune, margins, spacing of tune elements, etc. It might look rather scary, but you can largely ignore it. 2. Important: if you copy one or a couple tunes to a new document, you should copy the file header too. If you don’t it will still work but will look different on screen or printed out. 3. After the file header are the tunes. Each tune contains a tune header, which tells the software the title, meter, key, etc. That is followed by the tune body, which contains the code for the music itself. 4. To use an abc document, just open it in abc software, or paste the contents of the file into a web-based abc reader (see below), and the software will do the rest. If you change the file extension from txt to abc, you can double-click to open it in the abc software. Your computer may give you scary messages about changing the extension. Just ignore them; in this case it’s completely safe. Here are a few links you may find useful. The abc Notation Home Page . Lots of information and links to free abc software. EasyABC. Widely used abc software, available for Mac, Windows, Linux. Go to for lots of information about it from the person who originally wrote it. Go to for the latest version. abcConverter. A web site that lets you paste in abc code and converts it to sheet music or to a playable midi file. Use this if you don’t want to bother with abc software. JC’s ABC Tune Finder. . John Chambers’ tune finder lets you search for abc tunes; it includes nearly all abc tunes on the internet. If the link doesn’t work, try . %%endtext %%newpage % ________________________________________________________ X:410 T:Redwing D:As played by Simon St. Pierre and the Kennebec Valley Boys. Fiddler From Maine, Revonah RS 926, 1977. C:Kerry Mills (American, 1869–1948) N:Simon played a crooked version of the tune. To play it for a polka or a contradance, N:substitute the dance version above for the last two measures. Z:Melody, chords and lots of careful editing by Emeline Dehn-Reynolds and Peter Yarensky. M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G ((3DEF |:\ "G" G2) GG G2 Bc | "G" d2 de {de}dBGB | "C" (cB)ce (ga)ge | "G" d2 de d2Bd | "D7" (cB)cB (AB)cA |"G" (Bc)BA (GA)BG |1 "A7" A(BA)G FD(FG) | "D7" ABAG FDEF :|2 "A7" ABAG "D7" FDEF | "G" G2 || g2f2=f2|\ "C" eece ecef | "C" (gf)ga (ga)ge | "G" d2 dd BGBd | "G" BGBd ggdB | "D7" (cB)AG FADF | "D7" AFAc (fg)fe | "G" d2 dd BGBd | "G" BGBd (ga)gf || "C" e2 ce ecef | "C" (gf)gf ((3gag) ge | "G" d2dd BGBd | "G" BGBd ggdB | "D7" (cB)AG FADF | "D7" AFAc ((3BcB) AF | "G" G2AB cdef | [M:2/4] "G" g2 |] %%vskip 30 "^Introduction"[BG]2[BG][BG] [BG]2[BG][BG] [BG]2[BG][BG] [BG]2 || y60 ||\ "^Dance version of last 2 measures of B part" G2AB cdef | g6 |] X:420 T:Waverly Two Step D:As played by Simon St. Pierre and the Kennebec Valley Boys. Fiddler From Maine, Revonah RS 926, 1977. D:Graham Townsend. Graham Townsend And His Fiddle, Banff SBS 5284, 1967. C:Graham Townsend (Ontario, 1942–1998) N:This tune has a second part which is not often played in New England. Z:Melody, chords and lots of careful editing by Emeline Dehn-Reynolds and Peter Yarensky. M:2/4 L:1/8 K:D D FG |\ "D" A>A A/B/A/F/ | "D" DD FG | "D" A>A A/B/A/F/ | "D" DF A/A/d |\ "D" [fd]2 [fd]>g | "D" tfd ed | "A7" [ce]2 [ce]>f | "A7" [ce]z EF | "A7" G>(F G/F/)G/F/ | "A7" EC E/E/F | "A7" G>(F G/F/)G/F/ | "A7" EC Ed | "A7" ctB A[GB] | "D" ([GB][FA]) [FA]>[BG] | "D" [FA]F G/G/^G | "D" A>A A/B/A/F/ | "D" DD FG | "D" A>A A/B/A/F/ | "D" DF A/A/d |\ "D" f2 f>g | "D" atf ed | "G" g2 g>a | "G" tg(d/=c/) (B/c/d/)e/ | "G" g2 g>a | "G" tgd eg | "D" tfA BA | "A7" e2 e>(f |\ "A7" e)c B/B/A | "D" [fd]2 [fd]>g | "D" f |] %%vskip 25 "^Ending (replaces last 4 measures of the tune)"e2e>f | gg fe | dd/B/ A/G/F/E/ | DF [Fd]2 |] X:430 T:Joe King's Hornpipe D:As played by Simon St. Pierre and the Kennebec Valley Boys. Fiddler From Maine, Revonah RS 926, 1977. D:Graham Townsend And His Backwoodsmen. By The Fireside, Point Records PS-372, 1972. N:All A naturals on the E string are played low. The G naturals marked with arrows are played nearly as G#. N:The names of Joe King's Hornpipe and Busy Fingers were reversed on the record. The names N:are listed correctly here. Z:Melody, chords and lots of careful editing by Emeline Dehn-Reynolds and Peter Yarensky. M:4/4 L:1/8 K:D FE |\ "D" (DF)AF dFAF | "G" (DG)BG dGBG | "A7" (AB)cd (ef)ec | "D" dfaf gfeF | "D" (DF)AF dFAF | "G" (DG)BG dGBG | "A7" (AB)cd (ef)ec | "D" dfaf d2 :| |: de |\ "D" f2ef "G" g2fg | "D" (ab)a"^↑"g fdfd | "A7" (Ac)ef ggfg | "D" aba"^↑"g f(dAd) | "D" f(dAd) "G" g(dAd) | "D" gba"^↑"g fdfd | "A7" (Ac)eg fece | "D" d2[fd][fd] [fd]2 :| %%vskip 25 "^Introduction" [DA]2[DA][DA] [DA]2[DA][DA] | [DA]2[DA][DA] [DA]2 || y60 ||\ "@0,12 Ending" dddA ((3BcB) AG | FDEC D2 |] X:440 T:Busy Fingers C:Graham Townsend (Ontario, 1942–1998) D:As played by Simon St. Pierre and the Kennebec Valley Boys. Fiddler From Maine, Revonah RS 926, 1977. D:Graham Townsend. North American Fiddle Champion …, Arc Records AS 817. Z:Melody, chords and lots of careful editing by Emeline Dehn-Reynolds and Peter Yarensky. N:The names of Joe King's Hornpipe and Busy Fingers were reversed on the record. The names N:are listed correctly here. M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G "G" [Bg]3[Bg] [Bg]2gg | "G" bagb age2 | "C" ([c3e3]d) c2cc | [M:2/4] "C" (dc/d/ c2) | [M:4/4]"D7" DFA^c (dc)de | "D7" fg(fe) d(=cBA) |1 "D7" GFGA BdeB | "G" [Bg]3[Bg] [Bg]2 z2 :|2\ "D7" GBAG FDEF | "G" [GB]2[GB][GB] [GB]2 || K:D |: (GE) |\ "D" DDFA dfed | "Em" (cB)BB B2cB | "A7" Acef gece | "D" (ba)fd AF D2 | "D" DDFA dfed | "Em" (cB)BB B2cB | "A7" Acef gece |1 "D" {d}[df]2 [df][df] [df]2 :|2\ "D" {d}[df]2 [df][df] [df]2z2 |][K:G =c] %%vskip 30 "^Ending - replaces last 2 mm. after one A part"GBAG FDEF | GGBd [Bg]2 z2 |] X:450 T:Uncle Henry's Reel D:As played by Simon St. Pierre and the Kennebec Valley Boys. Fiddler From Maine, Revonah RS 926, 1977. D:Don Messer. Down East Dancing Vol. 2, Apex AL 1602, 1952. As YouTube D:video, . D:Graham Townsend. I Like Don Messer, Banff SBS 5306, 1969. N:Simon played the beginning of the second A part with a double stop, continuing the pattern of the N:previous measure. One time he played the A2 ending differently, adding an extra beat between N:the A and B parts. Both of these are shown at the end. Z:Melody, chords and lots of careful editing by Emeline Dehn-Reynolds and Peter Yarensky. M:4/4 L:1/8 K:A "A" A2 ([ce][Ae]) Aece | "A" aeg(e (3fgf) ec | "A" A2 ([ce][Ae]) Aece | "E7" dcBA GBEG | "A" A2 ([ce][Ae]) Aece | "A" aeg(e (3fgf) ec | "D" defg a("^↓"ba)f |1 "E7" edcB "A" [Ae]2[Ae][Ae] :|2 "E7" edcB "A" AF {EF}ED || [M:4/4] |: "E7" E2 (GE) EBGB | "A" A2 (cA) eAce | "B7" BB^df Bfdf | "E7" e("^↓"bg)e ("^↓"bg)ee | "A" agae (fg)ec | "D" defg a"^↓"b(af) | "A" eag(f "E7" e)dcB |1 "A" [Ae]2[Ae][Ae] [Ae]2 ED :|2 "A" [Ae]2[Ae][Ae] [Ae]2z2|] %%vskip 30 "^Introduction" [Ae]3[Ae] [Ae]2[Ae][Ae] | [Ae]2[Ae][Ae] [Ae]2[Ae][Ae] || y60 ||1\ "^Ending, 1st A part …" edcB [Ae]2[Ae][Ae] :|"^… beginning, 2nd A part" [Ae]2 ([ce][Ae]) Aece || |2 "^A part second ending, variation:" edcB [Ae]2[Ae][Ae] |[M:2/4] [Ae]2 ED ||y60 ||"^Final Ending"[M:5/4]Aece a2[ca]4 |] X:460 T:Run Johnny Run D:As played by Simon St. Pierre and the Kennebec Valley Boys. Fiddler From Maine, Revonah RS 926, 1977. N:The alternate chords in the B part (top line) fit the melody better and are commonly played. N:Simon plays this mostly as a 28 bar tune, leaving out 4 bar sections in a seemingly random fashion. N:The tune ends after a 16 bar A part. This is not recommended for playing this tune at a dance, as the N:dancers will trip and you will not be rehired. Z:Melody, chords and lots of careful editing by Emeline Dehn-Reynolds and Peter Yarensky. M:2/4 L:1/16 K:D "D" (AB)AG (FD)DF | "D" (ED)EF D2DD | "D" (AB)AG (FE)DF | "A7" (ED)CE "D" D2AA | "D" (AB)AG (FE)DF | "D" (ED)ED (FD)DA | "D" (AB)AG (FE)DF |1 "A7" (ED)CE "D" D2AA :|2 "A7" ED)CE "D" D2A2 || |: "D" DFAc d2dd | "A7;D" (cd)ec "D;" (dc)d2 | "D" DDFA dede | "A7" fdec "D" d2d2 | "D" D2Ac d2dd | "A7;D" (cd)ec "D;" (dc)d2 | "D" DDFA d2de |1 "A7" fdec "D" d2d2 :|2 "A7" fdec "D" d2dd |] %%vskip 30 "^Introduction"[DA]3[DA] [DA]2[DA][DA] | [DA]2[DA][DA] [DA]2[DA][DA] | [DA]2[DA][DA] [DA]2AA || y60||\ "^Ending" dddA ((3BcB) AG | FDEC D2 |] X:470 %%scale .65 T:Kiss Me Waltz D:As played by Simon St. Pierre and the Kennebec Valley Boys. Fiddler From Maine, Revonah RS 926, 1977. N:This tune is often attributed to Bill Monroe or Kenny Baker, but there are recordings predating both of N:them so it’s best considered traditional. N:You'd do better to listen to the recording than try to play this from the page! Take a look N:at the simplified version to understand where the melody is headed. Note that in places N:like measure 4, the pitch with the arrow is significantly higher than the "same" pitch in beat 1. N:Also note that Simon seems to take great pleasure in the tension between an even 1-2-3 beat and N:one where the first and last beat receive more time than beat 2. Z:Melody, chords and lots of careful editing by Emeline Dehn-Reynolds and Peter Yarensky. M:3/4 L:1/8 K:G DG |\ "G" B3A Bc | "G" {Bc}B2A2(G=F) | "C" E2c3d | "C" {cd}c2 (3:2:3B-B"^↑"c-c2 |\ "D7" d3(^c d)d | "D7" d2(3:2:3e-ef-f2 | "G" (f. D:Graham Townsend. North American Fiddle Champion …, Arc Records AS 817. C:John Durocher (Ontario, 1934–1989) N:The notes in parentheses are ghost notes: notes that are really there, but barely N:audible, generally played with minimal bow movement and light bow pressure. N:Some of you may remember this tune as Century Reel on Greg Boardman's N:1990s recording of the same name (Simon probably misremembered the name N:at the time Greg learned it.) It was made popular on the Don Messer Show. Z:Melody, chords and lots of careful editing by Emeline Dehn-Reynolds and Peter Yarensky. M:4/4 L:1/8 K:A AA |\ "A" EAAc {Bc}B2AF | "A" E(CB,C) A,"<("">)"A,A,B, | "A" CEEF {EF}E2AB | "E7" cABc {Bc}B2 AA | "A" EAAc {Bc}B2AF | "A" E(CB,C) A,"<("">)"A,A,B, | "A" CEEF "D" {EF}E2AB | "E7" cA ((3BcB) "A" A2 :| |: AB |\ "A" ceef e(cA)c | "D" dffg {f^g}f2 ((3efg) | "A" (aga)f eg ((3fgf) | "E7" ebgb e2 fg | "A" (ag)(af) (efe)c | "D" dcBA G(FED) | "E7" CDEF {EF}E2(AB) | "E7" cA ((3BcB) "A" A2 :| %%vskip 30 "Ending (after a B part)" aaae ((3fgf) ed | cABG | A4 |] X:500 %%scale .6 %%topspace .65in T:Lighthouse Keeper D:As played by Simon St. Pierre and the Kennebec Valley Boys. Fiddler From Maine, Revonah RS 926, 1977. D:Graham Townsend. Graham Townsend And His Fiddle, Banff SBS 5284, 1967. D:Patti Kusturok. YouTube video, . C:Graham Townsend (Ontario, 1942–1998) N:End on an A major chord (C# & A) after a final A part. N:Measures A12–13 were played two different ways; the alternate is shown at the end. N:Also a common bass line for measures A7–8 is shown at the end. Z:Melody, chords and lots of careful editing by Emeline Dehn-Reynolds and Peter Yarensky. M:4/4 L:1/8 K:A AB |\ "A" [ce]2[ce][ce] ([ce]A)Bc | "D" d2.[fd]2.[fd]3 (e | "A" f)fef e2c2 | "A" A4- AGAB |\ "E7" c2Bc BBG2 | "E7" E4-EEFG | "A" {Bc}B2AB A2F2 | "A" {EF}E6 AB | "A" [ce]2[ce][ce] ([ce]A)Bc | "D" d2.[fd]2.[fd]3 (e | "A" f)fef e2c2 | "A" e4 a2-a>(a |\ "E7" g2-g)>(g (3fgf) ec | "E7" d2 ((3cBc {Bc}B)AGA | "A" B2 A3G AB | "A" A6 || E2 |\ "A" A,3A, C2E2 | "A" A4-AcBA | "A" E2E2 A2c2 | "A" e3c tB2 A2 |\ "E7" E3E GAB2 | "E7" g4-gABc | "E7" dcde (f/g/f e2) | "A" c4-cB A2 | "A" A,3A, C2E2 | "A" A4-AcBA | "A" E2E2 AAc2 | "A" e3c tB2 A2 |\ "E7" E3E GAB2 | "E7" g4-gABc | "E7" dcde (f/g/f) e2 | "A" A6 |] %%vskip 30 "^Alternate for measures A12–13"e4 a2-a>(a |{ga}g4) ((3fgf) ec ||y60||y1 \ K:clef=bass octave=-2 "^Bass line for measures A7–8" y a2 f2 e2 c2 | A2 c2 e2 f2 || X:501 %%scale .6 %%topspace .65in T:Lighthouse Keeper (core version) D:As played by Simon St. Pierre and the Kennebec Valley Boys. Fiddler From Maine, Revonah RS 926, 1977. D:Graham Townsend. Graham Townsend And His Fiddle, Banff SBS 5284, 1967. % D:Patti Kusturok. YouTube video, . C:Graham Townsend (Ontario, 1942–1998) N:End on an A major chord (C# & A) after a final A part. Z:Melody, chords and lots of careful editing by Emeline Dehn-Reynolds and Peter Yarensky. M:4/4 L:1/8 K:A AB |\ "A" c2cc c2Bc | "D" d2.f2.f3 (e | "A" f2) e2e2c2 | "A" A6B2 |\ "E7" c2B2 B2G2 | "E7" E6G2 | "A" B2A2 A2F2 | "A" E6 A2 | "A" c2cc c2Bc | "D" d2.f2.f3 (e | "A" f2)e2 e2c2 | "A" e4 a4 |\ "E7" g4f2e2 | "E7" d4 B2GA | "A" B2 A3G AB | "A" A6 || E2 |\ "A" A,3A, C2E2 | "A" A6 F2 | "A" E2E2 A2c2 | "A" e6 A2 |\ "E7" E2E2 G2B2 | "E7" g6B2 | "E7" d2e2 f2e2 | "A" c6 A2 | "A" A,3A, C2E2 | "A" A6F2 | "A" E2E2 A2c2 | "A" e6 A2 |\ "E7" E2E2 G2B2 | "E7" g6B2 | "E7" d2e2 f2e2 | "A" A6 |] X:510 T:Nova Scotia Hop %%staffsep 50pt %%maxstaffsep 70pt D:As played by Simon St. Pierre and the Kennebec Valley Boys. Fiddler From Maine, Revonah RS 926, 1977. D:Graham Townsend. Graham Townsend Salutes Canada's Centennial, Banff RBS 1258, 1967. Z:Melody, chords and lots of careful editing by Emeline Dehn-Reynolds and Peter Yarensky. M:4/4 L:1/8 K:D FG |\ "D" ABA(F DF)Ad | "G" c2B2 B2EF | ("A7" GA)GF EFGA | "D" (B/c/B) A2 FFFG | "D" ABA(F DF)Ad | "G" c2B2e3d | "A7" (cd)cB AGFE | "D" [DA]2[DA][DA] [DA]2 :| DE |\ "D" F2AA AGAB | "G" A2G2 G2EF | "A7" G2B2 BABc | "D" {Bc}B2A2 F3G | "D" A2B2 c2d2 | "G" d2c2 cBcd | "A7" {cd}c2B2 BABc | "D" {Bc}B2A2 AGFE || "D" D2F2 AFAB | "G" A2G2 GGEF |"A7" G2B2 BABc | "D" {Bc}B2A2 F3G | "D" A2B2 c2d2 | "G" c2B2 e3d | "A7" (cd)cB AGFE | "D" D2DD D2 |] %%vskip 30 "^Introduction"[DA]2[DA][DA] [DA]2[DA][DA] | [DA]2[DA][DA] [DA]2 || y60||\ %%vskip20 "^Ending, replaces last 2 mm. of a single A part" c2cB Acec | d2 [fd]2 [fd]2 |] X:520 T:Grandfather's Reel T:Reel du grandpère D:As played by Simon St. Pierre and the Kennebec Valley Boys. Fiddler From Maine, Revonah RS 926, 1977. D:Don Messer. YouTube video, . D:Gerry Robichaud. Fancy Fiddlin', Banff RBS 1222, 1965. C:John Durocher (Ontario, 1934–1989) N:The bass player played an implied C chord reliably where noted, but others stay on the G chord. Z:Melody, chords and lots of careful editing by Emeline Dehn-Reynolds and Peter Yarensky. M:4/4 L:1/8 K:C ((3G,A,B, |\ "C" C2)B,C A,CG,G, | "C" CDEF G2GG | "F" ABcA GECD | "G7" ECD(E D2) ((3G,A,B, | "C" C2)B,C A,CG,G, | "C" CDEF G2GG | "F" ABcA "C" GECD | "G7" ECDB, "C" C2 :| [K:G] |: CC |\ "G" D2DD DEDC | "G" B,DGA "C;G" B2 (B/c/B) | "D7" AFAc BAFD | "G" GAGF (E/F/E) D2 | "G" s(& D2 & D2 &) [] DD DEDC | "G" B,DGA "C;G" B2 (B/c/B) | "D7" AFAc BAFA | "G" [GB]2[GB][GB] [GB]2 :| %%vskip 30 [K:C] "^Intro - replaces pickup".[Gc]z .[Gc]z .[Gc]z .[Gc]>G, || y60 ||\ %%vskip20 "^Ending"((3G,A,B, | C2)B,C A,CG,G, | CDEF G2GG | ABcA GECD | ECDB, !accent!C2 |]