The Broken Pledge
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Mandolin Tablature
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Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
"The Broken Pledge", in Gaelic "An geall briste" is an Irish reel in D Dorian<br> (Flaherty, Taylor/Tweed), D Mixolydian (O'Neill/Krassen, Williamson),<br> D Mixolydian/Dorian (Cranitch) or D Major (O'Neill/1850 & 1001).<br> The parts are played AABB. There are several possibilities for the origin of the title.<br> One is that the pledge refers to a love pledge, in which a young couple, soon to be<br> parted due to sea or military service, pledge their affection for one another and<br> promise to remain faithful during the interim. It is also said the title refers to a<br> failed temperance pledge, from the days of the temperance movement. A related Irish<br> tradition says that the Church asks children at the age of 11 or 12 to promise not<br> to drink before they reach the age of twenty. <br> Occasionally the tune is played in the key of E Minor.<br> The 'F' notes are usually played natural, but pipers often play the tune with<br> 'F' sharps, and occasionally the sharp and natural notes were alternated in the tune<br> It was printed in Cranitch's Irish Fiddle Book (1996),<br> Cranitch's Irish Session Tunes: Red Book (2000),<br> Flaherty's Trip to Sligo (1990),<br> O'Malley's Luke O'Malley's Collection of Irish Music, vol. 1 (1976),<br> O'Neill (Krassen) (1976),<br> O'Neill's Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies (1903),<br> O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems (1907),<br> Taylor's Traditional Irish Music: Karen Tweed's Irish Choice (1994) and<br> Williamson's English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish Fiddle Tunes (1976).<br> It was recorded by Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill on The Lonesome Touch (1997),<br> Leo Rowsome on Sunshine (1944),<br> De Danann on Selected Jigs, Reels and Songs (1976),<br> Séamus Ennis on Forty Years of Irish Piping (1977),<br> Jimmy O'Brien-Moran on Seán Reid's Favourite (1996) and<br> Andy McGann, Joe Burke, Felix Dolan on A Tribute to Michael Coleman (1965). <br>
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