MAPLE SUGAR
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Time signature: Either 2/4
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Ward Allen
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Maple Sugar, by Canadian Ward Allen, is a universal favorite among fiddle players. Listen to it in its original form, played by Ward Allen in the embedded youTube video at right. The keys are A and E.
There are many fiddle, guitar and accordion performances of this tune on youTube, but very few, if any, accordion videos have melodies that are identical to the original, or even to each other. There are also a number of different versions of sheet music for this tune. The notation below is transposed to accordion notation from an online source of sheet music |
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Accordion Notation - Adapted from Arnold Kennedy's version (in 2/4 time)
Beats per bar = 2 Dots (or equivalent) per beat = 1
Part A Often played in the key of D (inside row on an A-D accordion) or C (inside row on an G-C accordion)
If playing on lower register (or octave), use lines of Buttons 2 to 5 shown in black;
If playing on higher register (or octave), use lines of Buttons 6 to 8 shown in red.
"4 "4* | .5 "'5 '5* | "5 "4* "4 "3* | .4 "'4 '4* | "4 "3
"7 "8* | .8 "'8 '9* | "8 "8* "7 "7* | .7 "'7 '8* | "7 "6
"4* "4 | "4 "3* "3* "4 | .4* "'3* '4 | "4* "4 '4 '3* '4 '4* | "4 "3
"8* "7 | "7 "7* "7* "7 | .8* "'7* '7 | "8* "7 '7 '7* '7 '8* | "7 "6
"4 "4* | .5 "'5 '5* | "5 "4* "4 "3* | .4 "'4 '4* | "4 3"
"7 "8* | .8 "'8 '9* | "8 "8* "7 "7* | .7 "'7 '8* | "7 6"
"4* "4 | "4 "3* "3* "4 | .4* "'4 '3* | .3 "'3 '3* | .3 "2* "3 |
"8* "7 | "7 "7* "7* "7 | .8* "'7 '7* | .6 "'6 '7* | .6 "6* "6 |
Part B (Often played in the key of A (outside row on an A-D accordion) or G (outside on an G-C accordion)
.5 "'5 '5* | "5 "4 "5 "6 | .7 "'7 '7* | "6 .5 "6 | .7*
'"7* '7 | "7* "5 "5* "6* | "6 '7* '6 "6* "5* |
"5 "4 '4* '5 "5* | .5 "'5 '5* | "5 "4 "5 "6 | .7
"'7 '7* | "6 .5 "6 | .7* '"7* '7 | "7* "5 "5* "6* | .6 "'6 '7* |
Part C (mostly repeat of, and on same row as, part A)
"5 "4* "4 "4* | .5 "'5 '5* | "5 "4* "4 "3* | .4 "'4 '4* | "4 "3
"8 "8* "7 "8* | .8 "'8 '9* | "8 "8* "7 "7* | .7 "'7 '8* | "7 "6
"4* "4 | "4 "3* "3* "4 | .4* "'3* '4 | "4* "4 '4 '3* '4 '4* | "4 "3
"8* "7 | "7 "7* "7* "7 | .8* "'7* '7 | "8* "7 '7 '7* '7 '8* | "7 "6
"4 "4* | .5 "'5 '5* | "5 "4* "4 "3* | .4 "'4 '4* | "4 3"
"7 "8* | .8 "'8 '9* | "8 "8* "7 "7* | .7 "'7 '8* | "7 6"
"4* "4 | "4 "3* "3* "4 | .4* "'4 '3* | .3 "'3 '3* | .3 "2* "3 |
"8* "7 | "7 "7* "7* "7 | .8* "'7 '7* | .6 "'6 '7* | .6 "6* "6 |
Heads-Up: Accordion players tend to do their own thing with this tune (as with many others). Many players do Part A on the outside row and Part B on the inside row. Some players will do part A twice, then part B twice, returning to part A to finish. Some, playing three-row accordions, will start on the outside row, then do the middle row, and end on the inside row (or come back to the middle and end there). So, it seems to be whatever feels right. Yes, it's OK to be creative.
If playing on lower register (or octave), use lines of Buttons 2 to 5 shown in black;
If playing on higher register (or octave), use lines of Buttons 6 to 8 shown in red.
"4 "4* | .5 "'5 '5* | "5 "4* "4 "3* | .4 "'4 '4* | "4 "3
"7 "8* | .8 "'8 '9* | "8 "8* "7 "7* | .7 "'7 '8* | "7 "6
"4* "4 | "4 "3* "3* "4 | .4* "'3* '4 | "4* "4 '4 '3* '4 '4* | "4 "3
"8* "7 | "7 "7* "7* "7 | .8* "'7* '7 | "8* "7 '7 '7* '7 '8* | "7 "6
"4 "4* | .5 "'5 '5* | "5 "4* "4 "3* | .4 "'4 '4* | "4 3"
"7 "8* | .8 "'8 '9* | "8 "8* "7 "7* | .7 "'7 '8* | "7 6"
"4* "4 | "4 "3* "3* "4 | .4* "'4 '3* | .3 "'3 '3* | .3 "2* "3 |
"8* "7 | "7 "7* "7* "7 | .8* "'7 '7* | .6 "'6 '7* | .6 "6* "6 |
Part B (Often played in the key of A (outside row on an A-D accordion) or G (outside on an G-C accordion)
.5 "'5 '5* | "5 "4 "5 "6 | .7 "'7 '7* | "6 .5 "6 | .7*
'"7* '7 | "7* "5 "5* "6* | "6 '7* '6 "6* "5* |
"5 "4 '4* '5 "5* | .5 "'5 '5* | "5 "4 "5 "6 | .7
"'7 '7* | "6 .5 "6 | .7* '"7* '7 | "7* "5 "5* "6* | .6 "'6 '7* |
Part C (mostly repeat of, and on same row as, part A)
"5 "4* "4 "4* | .5 "'5 '5* | "5 "4* "4 "3* | .4 "'4 '4* | "4 "3
"8 "8* "7 "8* | .8 "'8 '9* | "8 "8* "7 "7* | .7 "'7 '8* | "7 "6
"4* "4 | "4 "3* "3* "4 | .4* "'3* '4 | "4* "4 '4 '3* '4 '4* | "4 "3
"8* "7 | "7 "7* "7* "7 | .8* "'7* '7 | "8* "7 '7 '7* '7 '8* | "7 "6
"4 "4* | .5 "'5 '5* | "5 "4* "4 "3* | .4 "'4 '4* | "4 3"
"7 "8* | .8 "'8 '9* | "8 "8* "7 "7* | .7 "'7 '8* | "7 6"
"4* "4 | "4 "3* "3* "4 | .4* "'4 '3* | .3 "'3 '3* | .3 "2* "3 |
"8* "7 | "7 "7* "7* "7 | .8* "'7 '7* | .6 "'6 '7* | .6 "6* "6 |
Heads-Up: Accordion players tend to do their own thing with this tune (as with many others). Many players do Part A on the outside row and Part B on the inside row. Some players will do part A twice, then part B twice, returning to part A to finish. Some, playing three-row accordions, will start on the outside row, then do the middle row, and end on the inside row (or come back to the middle and end there). So, it seems to be whatever feels right. Yes, it's OK to be creative.
Accordion Notation - Based on Greg Brown's variation
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The notation below is matched fairly closely to the youTube accordion tutorial video at right, featuring Greg Brown playing an A-D button accordion.
Greg starts on the outer row, playing part A on buttons 6 to 9* rather slowly, and then at an intermediate pace, with left-hand accompaniment. Then he moves to the inner row for part B, again playing rather slowly, followed by an intermediate pace. Then he plays the whole thing quickly. |
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Part A Greg plays this on the outside row (key of A on his accordion) and uses the higher octave (shown in red):
"4 "4* | .5 "'5 '5* | "5 "4* "4 "3* | .4 "'4 '4* | "4 "3
"7 "8* | .8 "'8 '9* | "8 "8* "7 "7* | .7 "'7 '8* | "7 "6
"4* "4 | "4 "3* "3* "4 | .4* "'4 '3* | "4* "4 "4 "3* | "4 "3
"8* "7 | "7 "7* "7* "7 | .8* "'7 '7* | "8* "7 "7 "7* | "7 "6
"4 "4* | .5 "'5 '5* | "5 "4* "4 "3* | .4 "'4 '4* | "4 "3
"7 "8* | .8 "'8 '9* | "8 "8* "7 "7* | .7 "'7 '8* | "7 "6
"4* "4 | "4 "3* "3* "4 | .4* "'4 '3* | .3* "3 "3 | "2* "3
"8* "7 | "7 "7* "7* "7 | .8* "'7 '7* | .7* "6 "6 | "6* "6
Part B Greg plays this on the inside row (Key of D on his accordion).
"4 "4* | .5 "'5 '5* | "5 "4 "5 "6 | .7 "'7 '7* | "6 "5 "5* "5 | .7
'"7* '7 | "7* "6* "5* "6* | .6 "6* "5* | 5" "4* "4 "5* | .5
"'5 '5* | "5 "4 "5 "6 | .7 "'7 '7* | "6 "5 "5* "5 | .7*
'"7* '7 | "7* "6* "5* "6* | .6 "'6* '7* | .6
"4 "4* | .5 "'5 '5* | "5 "4* "4 "3* | .4 "'4 '4* | "4 "3
"7 "8* | .8 "'8 '9* | "8 "8* "7 "7* | .7 "'7 '8* | "7 "6
"4* "4 | "4 "3* "3* "4 | .4* "'4 '3* | "4* "4 "4 "3* | "4 "3
"8* "7 | "7 "7* "7* "7 | .8* "'7 '7* | "8* "7 "7 "7* | "7 "6
"4 "4* | .5 "'5 '5* | "5 "4* "4 "3* | .4 "'4 '4* | "4 "3
"7 "8* | .8 "'8 '9* | "8 "8* "7 "7* | .7 "'7 '8* | "7 "6
"4* "4 | "4 "3* "3* "4 | .4* "'4 '3* | .3* "3 "3 | "2* "3
"8* "7 | "7 "7* "7* "7 | .8* "'7 '7* | .7* "6 "6 | "6* "6
Part B Greg plays this on the inside row (Key of D on his accordion).
"4 "4* | .5 "'5 '5* | "5 "4 "5 "6 | .7 "'7 '7* | "6 "5 "5* "5 | .7
'"7* '7 | "7* "6* "5* "6* | .6 "6* "5* | 5" "4* "4 "5* | .5
"'5 '5* | "5 "4 "5 "6 | .7 "'7 '7* | "6 "5 "5* "5 | .7*
'"7* '7 | "7* "6* "5* "6* | .6 "'6* '7* | .6
Embedded youTube Videos
Although these videos do not exactly match either of the two versions above, they may be close enough for you to play along with (at least in part), once you have mastered Greg Brown's version and youTube video (above).
Although these videos do not exactly match either of the two versions above, they may be close enough for you to play along with (at least in part), once you have mastered Greg Brown's version and youTube video (above).
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Keys: D and A (also E)
Guitarists: Marcel Doiron et Claude Kilganon Posted by: raglan765 |
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Key: G
Accordionist: Bob (a talented Australian) Posted by: bertosvids Bob is playing the Slim Dusty version of Ward Allen's tune. |
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Keys: E, A and D
Player: Poss Slaney Posted by: Newfieposs |
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Keys: A and E
Player: Andy ? (from New Brunswick?) Posted by: Rod Legge |
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Keys: G, C and F
Player: Bob ? Posted by: newfiebob2 |
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Keys: A and E
Singer: Jack Adams Fiddle Player: Ward Allen Posted by: Jack Adams The lyrics are given below. |
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Background Materials and Links
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Lyrics:
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Maple Sugar Sweetheart - Hank LaRiviere, sung to Ward Allen's Maple Sugar tune.
Now I left her in the mountains in the golden summertime And I told her not to worry little darling girl of mine I told her that I loved her and always would be true When the moon comes o'er the mountain, I'll be waitin' here for you She's my darling my sweetheart, she's the only one for me With a heart as pure as gold and in dreams her face I see For soon I'll be returning and the wedding bells will chime I'll make her mine forever when it's maple sugar time [Instrumental] When Ward Allen plays the fiddle, folks will come from far away To the maple sugar hoedown, on our happy wedding day I'll feel like a country king, we'll paint a lovely scene I'll kiss her smiling ruby lips, she'll be my pretty queen [Instrumental] She's my darling, my sweetheart, she's the only one for me With a heart as pure as gold and in dreams her face I see For soon I'll be returning and the wedding bells will chime I'll make her mine forever when it's maple sugar time. |
Composer: |
Ward Allen - Check here for a brief biography of this talented Canadian.
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Copyright:
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This page, including the lyrics and music, is protected by copyright law.
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