C-Part A-Part B-Part. WALTZES & AIRS
Give Me Your Hand
G G “ive Me Your Hand” is a stunningly beautiful melody. Some choose to play it at a lively tempo, but I play it as a waltz or slow air. There are several interesting stories about how and why it was written. All seem to agree that the composer was Rory Dall O'Cahan, a blind harper and celebrated composer who was born in Ireland c. 1580 and died in Scotland c. 1653. The tune took on special meaning for Molly Mason and me when it was played for her bridal processional at our wedding.
This arrangement is based on our recording from our album, The Lovers' Waltz. It starts as a simple fiddle and piano duet. My improvised harmony fiddle enters from below as the melody begins for the second time. It then crosses above the melody, then below again, finally ending with a parallel harmony a third above the melody.
Traditional tunes are typically made up of two 16 bar parts totaling 32 bars, or three parts totaling 48 bars. “Give Me Your Hand” is unusual at 52 bars with a structure that can be hard to wrap your head around. Here's how I see it.
As notated here, the first three lines can be seen as a 20 bar comprised of 5 four bar phrases. The following rhythmic motif is established in the first two bars and is heard throughout the tune.
I see lines 4 and 5 as a 16 bar Interestingly, line 4 is a reprise of bars 5 through 12 of the A-part but ending an octave higher. Line 5 then ascends for eight bars reaching the B above the staff, the melodic pinnacle of the tune.
Line 6 starts the repeating that high B four times. It then descends artfully to the tonic G in the first note of line 7, which starts an ascending G arpeggio (G, B, D) that leads to the magical F-natural in the next bar. Wow, transpose G, B, D, F to the key of D, and you have bars 25 and 26 of “Ashokan Farewell.” Deep gratitude to Rory Dall O'Cahan! “Give Me Your Hand” ends with a tag, or coda, that reprises the last eight bars of the A-part (line 3).
I've included some of my typical bowings and ornaments (grace notes, slides) as a reference or guide. I hope you'll try them and then go on to explore your own journey with this truly lovely and ancient tune.
You can hear Jay Ungar and Molly Mason on Wednesdays for an evening of music and storytelling. Join them at 8pm on Facebook Live at The Quiet Room.
Jay Ungar has been performing, recording and teaching fiddle since the 1960s. Best known for his tune “Ashokan Farewell,” Jay's music can be heard in numerous films. Jay founded Ashokan Music & Dance Camps in 1980 and still runs them with his wife and musical partner, Molly Mason. For more information, visit jayandmolly.com.