Jig, D, Traditional Irish
Also known as: Munster Buttermilk
This cheerful three-part jig is fun to play and hear. It is relatively easy to learn too, due to its use of repeated phrases. While it is sometimes called Munster Buttermilk, there is a distinctly different two-part jig in G that goes by that name. Playing the tune without repeating its second and third parts makes it suitable for contra dance too (as has been done by Rodney Miller and perhaps others — see the References and Resources section below).
The illustration for this tune shows Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, Oregon. Cannon Beach is about 80 miles west of Portland, Oregon.
Recordings
- Video – Sarah Loughran: Behind The Haystack (Irish Jig) – played on fiddle
- Audio – Comhaltas: Behind the Haystack – from the album Foinn Seisiún Volume 2
- Video – Tunes from Doolin: Behind the Haystack (Jig) – played on concertina
Dots (Music Notation)
As always for traditional tunes, the musical notation and chords do not indicate the “right” way to play the tune, but are a useful reference.
Play from the Dots
Sets
Examples of sets that include this tune.
- Blarney Pilgrim / Behind the Haystack / Connaughtman’s Rambles
- Blarney Pilgrim / Jimmy Ward’s / Behind the Haystack
References and Resources
For those who want to dig deeper, here are some other resources.
- More Recordings
- Video – Andy Irvine, Donal Lunny & Paul Brady: Behind the Haystack – played on bouzouki in the key of G. (Live at The Embankment 1976. Posted by Mick Connell.)
- Audio – Rodney Miller: Behind The Haystack / Darla’s Jig / Myra’s Jig – played on fiddle. From the album Airdance: New England Contra Music. For the sake of making this tune work for contra dance, Rodney Miller’s arrangement does not repeat the second and third parts of the tune.
- Audio – The Barn Owl Band: Behind the Haystack / Banish Misfortune / Cooley’s – from the album The Barn Owls Live.
- Books
- Book – Dave Mallinson: 100 Essential Irish Session Tunes (Mally Productions). With accompanying audio tracks.
- Book – Comhaltas: Foinn Seisiún Volume 2
- Lessons
- Lesson – Mandolessons: Behind the Haystack – mandolin lesson by Baron Collins-Hill. With audio tracks, video, and sheet music.
- Lesson – Paul Conlon: Behind the Haystack – played on tenor banjo at slow and medium tempo
- Lesson – Duncan Cameron Music: Behind the Haystack or Munster Buttermilk – played on fiddle at medium and slow temp
- About Haystacks
- Other Resources
- Webpage – The Session: Behind the Haystack (Jig) – crowdsourced sheet music, comments, and other information