Jig, D, traditional Irish
Fitting its namesake, The Lark in the Morning is a long, cheerful warbling tune.
In Ireland the skylark is the native lark. Skylarks are known for singing continuous songs that typically last for two to four minutes, but sometimes are up to twenty minutes long. The male sings these long songs while ascending and flying high up in the sky, where he just appears as a tiny speck from the ground. The illustration of a skylark in the image above comes from the 1885 book Coloured Figures of the Birds of the British Islands, issued by Lord Lilford.
Recordings
- Audio – Comhaltas: Lark in the Morning – session recording from the album Foinn Seisiún Volume 1
- Video – The Whistler: Lark in the Morning (Jig) – tin whistle solo
- Video – Pat Barton: The Lark in the Morning – Irish traditional jig on button accordion
Sheet Music
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-along Tracks
Sets
Examples of sets that include this tune.
- Piper’s Lark Jig Set: Garrett Barry’s Jig (D Mixolydian) / The Lark in the Morning (D)
- Lark in the Morning / Bill Harte’s
- Coppers and Brass / Lark in the Morning
References and Resources
For those who want to dig deeper, here are some other resources.
- More Recordings
- Audio – Stephen Ducke (Tradschool): The Lark in the Morning (Jig) – from the book Irish Music 400 Traditional Tunes
- Video – Leo Rickard: Garrett Barry’s /The Lark in the Morning – from Céilí House, RTÉ Radio, May 3, 2008
- Books
- Book & Audio – Complete Irish Fiddle Player, by Peter Cooper (Mel Bay Publications)
- Book & Audio – Dave Mallinson: 100 Essential Irish Session Tunes
- Book & Audio – Matt & Shannon Heaton: In Harmony
- Book – Foinn Seisiún, Volume 1 — Published by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
- Book & Audio – Stephen Ducke: Irish Music 400 Traditional Tunes
- Lessons
- Lesson – Irish Tenor Banjo with Enda Scahill: The Lark in the Morning – How To Use Syncopation In An Irish Jig – tenor banjo video lesson. (Enhanced lesson with music notation is available with subscription to Enda Scahill’s Patreon channel.)
- Lesson – Pat Barton Accordion: Learn ‘The Lark in The Morning’, Irish b/c Accordion – jig slow and fast for improving technique – video lesson
- Additional Resources
- Book – Lilford: Coloured Figures of the Birds of the British Islands – Issued in 1885 by Thomas Littleton Powys, Baron (1833-1896). Archive holding institution: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library.