The Sally Gardens

'The Sally Gardens' is a lively Irish reel, intended for playing at traditional music sessions. It is unrelated to the William Butler Yeats poem and song "Down by the Sally Gardens."

Musical Characteristics:

• The tune has two parts. The second part has a noticeable "ascending" feel.
• A chord sequence of G, Am, Bm, C, D, and back to G can enhance this ascending quality.
• Some players suggest the last two notes in certain bars (1st, 3rd, and 5th) can be played as triplets, creating a flowing, "chirrup" sound.
• Ornamentation varies from county to county.
• A version based on Paddy O’Brien’s (Co. Tipperary) 1954 recording may be the earliest known.

Possible Connections & Variations:

• The tune's name may derive from "sally garden," an old term for a willow plantation.
• Some people associate it with the Yeats poem due to the tune's slower, sadder sound, though it transforms into a more cheerful feel when played faster.
• There is speculation that some versions may be influenced by banjo players.

Note: There have been changes to the tune's designation online, initially changing from "reel" to "barn dance," but that has been corrected.