<![CDATA[The Séamus Connolly Collection of Irish Music]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Fiddle+tunes--Ireland&output=rss2 Thu, 28 Mar 2024 17:21:35 -0700 burnsref@bc.edu (The Séamus Connolly Collection of Irish Music) Boston College Libraries Zend_Feed http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <![CDATA[Old Torn Petticoat ]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/572

Story

I believe it is important to feature master fiddle player Julia Clifford and her son Billy playing the first dance tune in this collection. It was the first reel that they recorded for me that night in Tralee over fifty years ago, when Julia invited me to record herself and Billy playing tunes she thought I might not have. When they played a tune I admitted to never having heard, she would ask me in surprise, 'You don't have it, do you?'

As I look back now, I realise that it was an act of musical generosity to a young musician, which perhaps contained within it the inspiration not only for this project, but also for how I, throughout my life as a musician and teacher, have been driven and encouraged to do my utmost in passing along to others this incredible and astonishing oral and aural tradition. For that I say, 'Thank you, Julia; thank you, Billy'. Little did you both realise fifty years ago when you made that tape for me how much influence your music would have on today's musicians and students alike.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
01-02_Old_Torn_Petticoat-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:17 -0800
<![CDATA[Planting Stick, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/453

Story

'The Planting Stick' is a variant of the venerable jig 'Bryan O'Lynn', a tune I first learned from my grandmother, Elizabeth Collins (née Rochford). A number of versions of 'Bryan O'Lynn' are to be found in this collection. The tune appears in Patrick W. Joyce's collection Ancient Irish Music as 'The Planting Stick'. However, the first time I heard the version which Maeve Donnelly plays for us on this track was on a cassette tape recorded in New York in the 1950s, played by an unknown fiddle player. Paddy Canny from Tulla in County Clare was in the company in New York that same evening, and he played yet another version of 'Bryan O'Lynn'.

 

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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01-03_The_Planting_Stick-Jig.pdf
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<![CDATA[Is It Any Good, Séamus?]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/456

Story

Fiddle player, accordionist, and composer Eddie Kelly played this tune for me and asked, 'Is it any good, Séamus?' I recorded Eddie playing it in a session on the street at an All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil around 1990. The title somehow suggests that it is a composition of Eddie Kelly, but I'm not certain. I am honoured to have Manus McGuire associated with this collection, and here he gives us his interpretation of this grand jig.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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01-06_Is_It_Any_Good_Seamus-Jig.pdf
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<![CDATA[Humours of Castlelyons]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/458

Story

I am joined on this track by my friends Kathleen Lawrie from Birmingham, England, and Kevin McElroy from Freeport, Maine. Kevin played banjo and Kathleen played piano. I first heard this tune played by musicians from Ballinakill, County Galway on an old 78 RPM recording.

(More on Kathleen on the tunes 'Kathleen Lawrie's' and 'The Fiddler Around the Faerie Tree'.)

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
01-11_Humours_of_Castlelyons-Jig.pdf
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<![CDATA[Gearóid Ó Laidhigh's]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/420

Story

Fiddle player Gearóid Ó Laidhigh and flute player John Darcy recorded this tune, a composition of Mr. Ó Laidhigh's, for Ciarán Mac Mathúna. Ciarán traveled throughout Ireland recording musicians and singers, and later presented them on his weekly radio programmes, Ceolta Tire and A Job of Journeywork. On this recording, the tune is played on fiddle by my dear friend, colleague, and musical collaborator Laurel Martin.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
01-12_Gearoid_OLaidhighs-Hornpipe.pdf
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<![CDATA[Corney Drew's]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/421

Story

This hornpipe as played on this recording comes to us courtesy of fiddle player Liz Knowles. The original sources for the tune, Denis Murphy and Charlie Mulvihill (fiddle and accordion, respectively), recorded it for Ciarán Mac Mathúna's American Journeywork programme in 1963. I gave this recording to Liz and she graciously played Denis's and Charlie's version for this project. A different version may be found in Captain Francis O'Neill's 1001 Gems collection of music.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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01-14_Corney_Drews-Hornpipe.pdf
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<![CDATA[Liam Rowsome's]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/459

Story

The name Rowsome is ubiquitous in the world of Irish music. Down through the years I have had the honour of playing music with the piping master Leo Rowsome and with his children, Leon, Liam, and Helena. Fiddle player Liam Rowsome composed this tune in the key of A major. It is recorded here by fiddle player Brendan Bulger, All-Ireland fiddle champion from Boston. Brendan chose to play it in a different key. He told me he had fun doing so. Well done, Brendan.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
01-18_Liam_Rowsomes-Jig.pdf
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<![CDATA[Come to the Fair]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/725

Story

'Come to the Fair' was a very popular waltz/song played by The Kilfenora Céilí Band in the 1960s. I have always enjoyed listening to the band's singer Mary Higgins performing the song on a recording made at a céilí in Ennis in 1960. The recording of all of the tunes and songs played on that night was given to me to learn when I was invited to join The Kilfenora and embark on my first 'big' tour of England. What a thrill and an honour for me! The tune is performed here on this track by Tara Lynch (daughter of Jerry Lynch, the accordionist with the band in the 1950s) and myself. The track was enhanced by the musicianship of Gabriel Donohue on piano and keyboards.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
01-19_Come_to_the_Fair-Waltz.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:24 -0800
<![CDATA[Lynches and Wards of Clogher, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/422

Story

Throughout its illustrious career, the celebrated Kilfenora Céilí Band from north County Clare has had various band members with the surnames Lynch and Ward, including P.J. Lynch, Tom Ward, and Jimmy Ward. This composition by the extraordinary Tommy Peoples – who was himself a member of that great band – gives well-deserved honour to the Lynch and Ward families for their great contributions to Irish music.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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01-20_The_Lynches_and_Wards_of_Clogher-Hornpipe.pdf
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<![CDATA[Flowery Hills of Scotland, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/576

Story

According to Nicky McAuliffe, Michael Coleman and James 'Lad' O'Beirne, master fiddle players from County Sligo, recorded this reel on a 78 RPM recording machine in Mr. O'Beirne's home on November 5, 1941. I have not had the opportunity to hear that old recording, but Brendan Bulger's playing on this track reminds me of the lilt and swing of yet another County Sligo man's music, that of flute player Eugene Preston, from whom I learned the tune.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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01-22_The_Flowery_Hills_of_Scotland-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:17 -0800
<![CDATA[Visit to Chicago, A]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/578

Story

Johnny McGreevy had an amazing repertoire of Irish music. He kept so many tunes circulating in his native city, and he was always generous in passing them along. The prolific composer, fiddle player, and pianist Josephine Keegan graciously recorded this tune for the collection, and I was delighted when she also included it on her 2011 recording, A Few Tunes, Now and Then, where she named it in Johnny's honour.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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01-25_A_Visit_to_Chicago-Reel.pdf
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<![CDATA[Jenny Dang the Weaver]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/579

Story

This tune is also known as 'Tom Fitzgerald's'. A version may also be found in O'Neill's Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody. Thanks to Johnny McGreevy, who introduced this tune to me, and thanks to one of America's wonderful young musicians, Tina Lech, for playing it for this project.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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01-28_Jenny_Dang_the_Weaver-Reel.pdf
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<![CDATA[Mrs. Galvin's Barndance]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/407

Story

The fiddle playing of Mrs. Ellen Galvin, who was born in the 1880s, certainly did sound as though it were from an earlier time in history. I remember seeing her perform in a concert in West Clare in the late 1950s. I was enthralled with her music then, and I still am. The tune transcribed here was recorded and collected from Mrs. Galvin, and a copy of the tape was passed along to me by accordion master Tony MacMahon. Thanks, Tony! My friends Barbara MacDonald Magone and Kevin McElroy helped out on the recording you are about to hear.

We shall hear Barbara play some of her own compositions (‘Ashcraft-Fraser House’, ‘The Reel Bus’, and ‘A Riverview Cabin’) as we venture through this collection.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
01-29_Mrs_Galvins_Barndance.pdf
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<![CDATA[Whistler and His Dog, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/580

Story

Rose Murphy, a sister of accordionist Peter 'P.J.' Conlon, recorded this reel for fiddle player Paddy Ryan from County Roscommon. Kevin Burke, my good friend and wonderful fiddle player, plays the tune on this recording with his lovely swing and lift. Thank you, Kevin.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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01-30_The_Whistler_and_His_Dog-Reel.pdf
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<![CDATA[Polka for Matt, A]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/555

Story

Matt Cranitch, the well-known fiddle player and scholar from County Cork, came to visit Sandy and me in Maine a few years ago. Matt loves to play polkas, so I composed this three-part tune for him. I play it here with my friends Kevin McElroy on bodhrán, Barbara MacDonald Magone on the piano and, on the fiddle, Meghan Mette, who at the time of recording was a young and enthusiastic sixteen-year-old.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
01-33_A_Polka_for_Matt-Polka.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:16 -0800
<![CDATA[Mountain Pathway, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/556

Story

Kevin McElroy, Barbara MacDonald Magone, and I came together to record this tune, which we learned from the cassette tape of fiddle player Mrs. Ellen Galvin that was given to me by Tony MacMahon. A version of this tune was recorded by the great Sligo fiddle master, James Morrison.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
01-35_The_Mountain_Pathway-Polka.pdf
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<![CDATA[Tom Turkington's in C Major]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/581

Story

I met Tom Turkington, a fiddle player from Cookstown, County Tyrone, only once. It was at the beginning of the 1960s at a County Clare Fleadh Cheoil, when he performed at a celebrity concert with his son David on the piano. Musicians love talking about and trying one another's instruments, and on that occasion Tom played a number of tunes – none of which I knew at the time – on my fiddle. This experience reinforced a fascination I have always had with regional styles of music.

Knowing the close connection the music of Northern Ireland has with Scottish music and the music of Cape Breton Island, I asked Kimberley Fraser, the great young fiddle player from Cape Breton, to give her interpretation of this and some of the other tunes that Tom Turkington played that night. Kimberley's remarkable blending of her own Cape Breton style with a Northern Ireland fiddle style on these recordings produces powerful, driving, and rhythmic music much in the spirit of the way Tom Turkington himself played. Thanks, Kimberley, for your splendid fiddle playing.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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02-02_Tom_Turkingtons_in_C_Major-Reel.pdf
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<![CDATA[Kathleen Lawrie's]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/582

Story

Kathleen Lawrie, Bobbie's sister, recorded this reel for me when she visited me in Limerick in the early '70s. When Kathleen and her husband Tommy Boyle visited Sandy and me in Maine just a few years ago, I played the tune for her on the fiddle and asked her if she had any idea where it came from. To my surprise, she told me that she had never heard it before, so to remind her I played that old tape back to her.

We all had a big laugh when Kathleen discovered herself playing the reel on her accordion! That was my way of reminding her that she did indeed know the tune. I was thrilled to have Kathleen perform it with me for this collection, even though she had not played the piano for thirty-five years. She practiced for two days on a piano we borrowed from Kevin McElroy and his wife Kate Butler in order to give us this performance. I was delighted to have a chance to play with her, and I am happy to say that she has returned to the music and once again plays her beloved piano.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
02-04_Kathleen_Lawries-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:18 -0800
<![CDATA[Larry Redican's in F Major]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/583

Story

I am delighted to feature the fiddle playing of composer Larry Redican, who lived in New York City. This music comes to us from a recording he made for his friend Roger Casey, an Irish dancer from New York. Both of these gentleman would get together and Larry would play his fiddle as Roger danced and practiced his steps. Roger is now an Irish dance adjudicator, and during the years that I played for the feiseanna, Roger kindly gave me the recordings that he had of Larry Redican. It seems likely that Larry composed this tune, as I have never heard anybody else play it.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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02-07_Larry_Redicans_in_F_Major-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:18 -0800
<![CDATA[Jimmy Hogan's (Number One)]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/463

Story

Jimmy Hogan from Liscannor in County Clare loved to play his whistle and batter out the County Clare set dances on the floor. Jimmy was an icon in Boston and he was loved by everyone who met him. This tune from north County Clare was one of his favourites. It is recorded here for us by Josephine Keegan from County Armagh.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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02-09_Jimmy_Hogans_Number_One-Single_Jig.pdf
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