This notation is pretty simple; dark circles mean covered holes; empty circles mean uncovered holes; a '+' below means to blow harder to get the upper octave; a '#' below means this note is too low for the whistle chosen and you'll have to fake it :) The author of this program always plays accidentals by closing holes, so you'll never see half-covered holes.
When I was starting, I found notation like this to be very helpful, and I know plenty of people who have trouble reading music who find this notation easier. Good luck!
![[GIF Score]](/wscores/BOLDARCH-D.gif)
(This score available as
ABC,
SongWright,
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(Choose a whistle key:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
Ab
Bb
Cb
Db
Eb
Fb
Gb
A#
B#
C#
D#
E#
F#
G#)
Dulcimer tab
for this song is also available
Bold Archie "Come, come," Bold Archie he cried "Come and speak a word with me For I've a brother in yonder prison Who is condemned and this day must dee" "Oh no, oh no," the other he said "Oh no, that never can be For I have ten men as good as myself We will go and set the poor prisoner free" So they mounted their horses and away rode they Who but they so merrily Until they came to the prison gate There they all dismounted most sorrowfully "Bold Dickie, Bold Dickie," Bold Archie he cried "Come and speak a word with me For I have come with full forty men And I am determined to set thee free "Oh no, oh no," Bold Dickie he cried "Oh no, that never can be For I've full forty weight of good Spanish iron Betwixt my anklebone and my knee" But they broke bolts and they broke bars And they broke whatever came in their way And they took the poor prisoner under his arms And they marched him out courageously So they mounted their horses and away rode they Who but they so merrily Until they came to the riverside Where they all dismounted sorrowfully "Bold Archie, Bold Archie," Bold Dickie he cried "Come and speak a word with me My horse is lame and he cannot swim And oh, I fear this day I dee" "Oh no, oh no," Bold Archie he cried "Oh no, that never can be My horse is strong and I know he swims He will take us both over most joyfully" So they mounted their horses and away rode they Who but they so merrily Until they came to the other side Where they all dismounted most sorrowfully "Bold Archie, Bold Archie," the sheriff he cried "Come and speak a word with me If you'll bring back the iron that you carried off I am sure we will set the poor prisoner free." "Oh no, oh no," Bold Archie he cried "Oh no, that never can be Well the iron will serve to shoe our horses And a blacksmith he rides in our company" So they mounted their horses and away rode they Who but they so merrily Until they came to the tavern gate Where they all dismounted most joyfully They hired a fiddle, they hired a room Who but they so merrily And one of the best dancers that was in the room Was this poor prisoner just set free From the Frank Warner collection Child #187 and/or Child #188 This seems to be assumed to be local on both sides of the Atlantic. Recorded by Tony Rose play.exe BOLDARCH.1 SOF
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!
