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The Fairhaired Boy sheet music

The Fairhaired Boy appears here as three short scores in 6/8 time. No composer is named for any of them, and the scores are credited only to 'Misc tunes'. Two versions open with a key signature of three sharps, normally A major, while the third opens with one sharp. Their note counts range from 180 to 230, and the listed durations are roughly 24 to 30 seconds. These details describe the available notation rather than a verified history or a definitive edition.

Scores 1–20 of 26

Sheet music

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Reading the 6/8 notation

All three versions are notated in 6/8, a compound duple metre with two main beats per bar, each normally divided into three eighth notes. That gives the music a broad, triple feel rather than a simple two- or four-beat pulse. Two scores begin with three sharps, which normally indicates A major; one begins with a single sharp, which could indicate G major or E minor. Check the first bars and any accidentals in each score before deciding which version to read.

Comparing the available versions

The three scores are not identical copies. Two open in A major with three sharps and one opens with a one-sharp signature. Their note counts also differ: 180, 184 and 230 notes. Those differences may reflect different settings, different numbers of repeats, or different transcription choices, but the available information does not identify their sources. Choose a version by its key and length first, then compare the opening bars to see which melodic shape you prefer.

What the title does not settle

The title 'The Fairhaired Boy' can refer to more than one traditional tune, and the scores here do not include a composer, source note or genre description. The 6/8 metre is often associated with jigs and other triple-time dance tunes, but no score labels the piece as a jig. Treat any claim about its origin, composer or instrument as unconfirmed unless you can check it against a separate authoritative source.

Scores to open first

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Common questions

Who composed The Fairhaired Boy?

The scores available here name no composer and are credited to 'Misc tunes'. The composer and origin of this particular setting therefore cannot be confirmed from the available information.

What time signature is The Fairhaired Boy in?

All three scores listed here use 6/8 time. In 6/8 there are two main beats per bar, each normally divided into three eighth notes, giving a compound duple feel.

What key is The Fairhaired Boy in?

Two of the three scores open with a key signature of three sharps, which normally indicates A major. The third opens with one sharp, a signature that usually indicates G major or E minor, so its key is not certain from the signature alone.

Are the available versions of The Fairhaired Boy the same arrangement?

The three scores differ: two are in A major with three sharps, one has a one-sharp signature, and their note counts are 180, 184 and 230. Those differences show that they are not identical copies, but the available information does not identify their sources or explain how they relate.

Is The Fairhaired Boy a jig?

The scores are in 6/8, the compound metre often associated with jigs and other triple-time dance tunes. None of the available scores labels the piece as a jig, however, so that classification remains an inference rather than a confirmed fact.

What instrument is The Fairhaired Boy written for?

The available scores do not name an instrument. They are listed under 'Misc tunes' with no composer or instrumentation credited, so a specific instrument cannot be confirmed from this information.

How long is The Fairhaired Boy?

The listed durations for the three scores are between about 24 and 30 seconds, with 180 to 230 notes per score. These figures describe the individual versions and should not be treated as a definitive performing length.