How Did A Butterfly Inspire An Irish Fiddle Tune?

Описание: Variations of this tune are known by other names such as 'Barney’s Goat', 'The Bug', and 'Kick The Peeler'.

Composition and naming of this version, called the 'The Butterfly', is credited to fiddler Tommy Potts (1912-1988).

The story goes that Potts was working in his garden one day when he noticed the erratic flight of a butterfly flitting about.

Creating original phrases, and combining them with melodies passed down from his father, a Uilleann piper, Potts tried to mimic the rhythm of the insect while he continued to work in the garden.

The song’s final rhythm took the form of a slip jig in 9/8 time, a traditional dance step used almost exclusively for soft shoe.

Our family learned this tune many years ago, from musicians at the Glen Innes Celtic Festival.

Geordie McKernan - Fiddle
Murray McKernan - Guitar
Johann Bazeley - Double Bass

Why 'The Rainy Sunday Session?':

About 15 years ago on a soaking wet weekend at Danthonia, my parents, two brothers, and my future brother-in-law, took shelter in a leaky trailer with some acoustic instruments and a portable audio recorder. They spent their Sunday afternoon making music together.

Geordie was playing on his great-grandfather's fiddle, a beloved old instrument that sounded best when high humidity swelled the cracks together. Murray and Johann traded off playing our 'home-made' (from a Martin kit) guitar and a double bass. My mom Nancy pulled out her Irish whistle for several of the tunes, while my dad kept himself busy suggesting titles and pushing down the record button.

These fiddle tunes spring from Appalachian, Cajun, and Celtic roots, including several 17th century Irish compositions from the blind harpist Turlough O’Carolan. May they lift your spirits, as they did ours, on that ‘Rainy Sunday’.

We will be posting them here over the next few weeks. If you want to not miss any, you know what to do!

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