<![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=Folk+dance+music--Ireland&page=5&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CIdentifier&sort_dir=d&output=rss2 Thu, 28 Mar 2024 03:07:30 -0700 burnsref@bc.edu (The Séamus Connolly Collection of Irish Music) Boston College Libraries Zend_Feed http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <![CDATA[Queen of the Faeries]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/695

Story

I learned this set dance from the playing of Larry Redican. Its first few measures seem to be related to the melody of an old tune – also a set dance – called 'The King of the Fairies'. And so, 'here's me' (an old Irish expression) playing 'Queen of the Faeries'.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
08-07_Queen_of_the_Faeries-Set_Dance.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:22 -0800
<![CDATA[Kilfenora Barndance, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/412

Story

This tune was one of the ones that I did not know on that tape sent to me over fifty years ago by Kitty Linnane, then leader of the famous Kilfenora Céilí Band (see 'Come to the Fair'). Indeed, many of the tunes on that tape were new to me. I had my work cut out for me, having to learn all of them for our upcoming tour of England. I am delighted that Tara Lynch (of the famed Kilfenora name) joined me on this track. It felt like home having Tara play with me. Thank you, my friend.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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08-06_The_Kilfenora_Barndance.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:10 -0800
<![CDATA[Frank Neylon's]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/656

Story

Flute player Frank Neylon lived in Boston when I arrived there in 1977. I loved listening to his beautiful, distinctive North Clare style of playing, and to the unusual tunes that he had brought with him to America. This is another of the tunes that he recorded for me on the long-playing record that I produced in Boston in 1981 (see 'Leamanagh Castle'). I played Frank's recording for Nicole Rabata, from Portland, Maine. She listened a few times and played along with Frank, capturing elements of his style, and said, 'Do you want me to record it for the book?' I'm glad I said yes. Enjoy Nicole's playing.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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08-05_Frank_Neylons-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:21 -0800
<![CDATA[Willie Week]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/447

Story

The memory of legendary piper Willie Clancy from County Clare continues to be immortalised with this fine hornpipe. A composition of County Tyrone's All-Ireland champion fiddle player Jimmy McHugh, the tune is played here for us by Jimmy's son Benny. Benny kindly recorded a number of his father's compositions for me in Donegal in 2009. The Willie Clancy Summer School, affectionately known as 'Willie Week', has special memories for me and for thousands of musicians and music lovers from around the world.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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08-04_Willie_Week-Hornpipe.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:11 -0800
<![CDATA[Go Easy, Young Hag]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/516

Story

The fiddle playing of Devin Shepherd from Chicago is heard once again on this track, playing one of his own compositions. He is joined by Marta Cook, who plays the harp. A lovely tune, Devin, thanks for sending it along. Thank you too, Marta, for helping with the recording.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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08-03_Go_Easy_Young_Hag-Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:15 -0800
<![CDATA[Paddy the Piper]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/655

Story

Brendan Bulger plays a lovely version of 'Paddy the Piper' on this track. Another version may be found in Ryan's Mammoth Collection. I first heard the tune played by Paddy Cronin, who loved playing tunes from that wonderful nineteenth century collection.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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08-02_Paddy_the_Piper-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:21 -0800
<![CDATA[Road to Athens, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/654

Story

The wise man of traditional Irish music, Paddy O'Brien from County Offaly, composed this tune and graciously recorded it for me for inclusion in this collection. The Athens mentioned in the title is in southeastern Ohio, along the Hocking River. Athens is home to the University of Ohio. Paddy has fond memories of visiting Athens. Perhaps when he writes his autobiography he will reveal to us what went on down that road.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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08-01_The_Road_to_Athens-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:21 -0800
<![CDATA[Gaelic Roots]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/653

Story

The New England fiddle player Rodney Miller composed 'Gaelic Roots' at Boston College during one of the University's weeks of Irish music, song, and dance, when he was a special guest and visiting professor. Rodney honours us on this track with his beautiful music and sweet tone. He performed this tune on one of his own handmade instruments.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-36_Gaelic_Roots-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:21 -0800
<![CDATA[Larry's Strange Jig]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/515

Story

Ted McGraw has an amazing collection of music in his library. He sent me this recording of Larry Redican and suggested that it was 'a strange jig'. Ted doesn't know where the recording took place, and he has little or no information about the tune. My own intuition seems to suggest that the jig may be of Canadian origin. Thank you, Ted, for bringing the tune to light once more.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-35_Larrys_Strange_Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:15 -0800
<![CDATA[Bill Sullivan's Jig]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/514

Story

Accordion player William Sullivan immigrated from Clifden, Ireland, to New York City in the 1920s, later settling in Parlin, New Jersey. He recorded this tune on Sampler Records in the late 1980s in a duo with Mitzie Collins, a hammered dulcimer and piano player. Bill Sullivan was a friend of the 1920s accordion player Peter 'P.J.' Conlon, and they often played music together. My friend Ted McGraw from Rochester told me that both these accordionists appeared on a 78 RPM recording on the Clarion label, with Peter Conlon on one side of the record and Bill Sullivan on the other. The jig is played on this track by my nephew Damien Connolly on melodeon. The title that I gave to the jig is 'Bill Sullivan's'. Names change from time to time: Bill Sullivan had named it for Mr. Conlon.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-34_Bill_Sullivans_Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:14 -0800
<![CDATA[My Meitheal Class]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/513

Story

A week-long Irish music school known as Meitheal is held every year in Limerick. The five-day immersion in Irish music is directed by flute player Garry Shannon. As a teacher at the summer school, I had an assignment to work with a group of students who were interested in learning how to make up tunes. The music of composers Liz Carroll, Josephine Keegan, and Phil Cunningham from Scotland were used as examples. Students were asked to study the approach and methods used by these well-known composers. 'I'm not too sure where this is going to go', I said to myself. 'Music, I believe, happens when one is least thinking about it." However, after much listening, discussion, agreement, and collaborating, the students composed this tune. A talented group of young musicians – concertina players, accordionists, and other instruments all performing together – a wonderful sight to hear and behold! I have no fear for the future of Irish music. Nicole Rabata, a young flute player from Portland, Maine, joins me on this track. Listen and enjoy.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
07-33_My_Meitheal_Class-Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:14 -0800
<![CDATA[Great Composer, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/512

Story

A prolific composer in the world of Irish music was master fiddle player Larry Redican. I didn't have a name for this jig, hence the title 'The Great Composer' came to mind. Larry plays the fiddle on this tune, which was a favourite of his friend Mr. Roger Casey, an Irish dance adjudicator. Roger kindly gave me all the recordings of Larry Redican which are featured in this collection, with the exception of the recording of 'Larry's Strange Jig'.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-32_The_Great_Composer-Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:14 -0800
<![CDATA[Bríd Donnelly's]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/652

Story

I first heard this reel played by Bríd Donnelly, a fine flute player with The Pride of Erin Céilí Band from County Fermanagh. My friend Nicky McAuliffe calls it 'The West Clare', but I'm sure the musicians in West Clare would be pleased with the title I have given it here, just as they would have been delighted with Bríd's playing of it. Catherine McEvoy plays the reel on this track, with her nephew Paddy McEvoy on the piano. The music lives on.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
07-30_Brid_Donnellys-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:21 -0800
<![CDATA[Con's Return]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/651

Story

This reel is another composition of the talented Eamon Flynn from County Limerick. Eamon's brother Con was not heard from for many years and when he suddenly returned home there was rejoicing all around the neighbourhood. Eamon celebrated his brother's return with this reel. The track here was taken from an old cassette tape of Eamon. Thanks to Gabriel Donohue for cleaning it up for me in his studio for all to hear.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-27_Cons_Return-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:20 -0800
<![CDATA[Thomas Power's Jig]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/511

Story

This jig, played here for us by Josephine Keegan from South Armagh, was learned from the cassette tape that Michael Power sent me of the playing of his father, Thomas Power, a lovely fiddle player from Doonbeg in west County Clare (see 'Thomas Power's Polka').

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-26_Thomas_Powers_Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:14 -0800
<![CDATA[Shandon Bells]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/510

Story

Having lived in the beautiful and historic city of Cork in the 1960s, I often think back to the happy times I had while beginning to find my feet in the big world of city life. The clock tower of St. Anne's Church has special meaning for me because the Bells of Shandon often chimed as I walked past the church. Whenever I hear the wonderful poem 'The Bells of Shandon', penned by Francis Sylvester Mahony, it is with deep affection and recollection that I think of the Shandon Bells. Mahony's words are very meaningful to me, and I quote from his poem here for all to read:

'With deep affection
And recollection
I often think of
Those Shandon Bells
Whose sounds so wild would,
In the days of childhood,
Fling round my cradle
Their magic spells.
On this I ponder
Where'er I wander,
And thus grow fonder,
Sweet Cork, of thee.
With thy bells of Shandon,
That sound so grand on
The pleasant waters
Of the river Lee.'

The grand old jig 'Shandon Bells', the first in O'Neill's The Dance Music of Ireland, 1001 Gems, is played on this track by Nicole Rabata on flute and myself on fiddle. We play it as a four-part tune. I played it many times as a two-part jig in the city by the River Lee. I first heard the two extra parts played by David Curry and his orchestra. They are two parts well worth hearing and preserving for posterity.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
07-24_Shandon_Bells-Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:14 -0800
<![CDATA[Man at the Helm]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/650

Story

I made this tune to honour the late Larry Reynolds of Galway, my friend for many years. Larry took me under his wing when I arrived in Boston in the 1970s. As president of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in Boston, he guided the organisation from strength to strength. Larry always gave a great welcome to any musician young or old who came to visit or live in Boston.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-23_Man_at_the_Helm-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:20 -0800
<![CDATA[Charlie Mulvihill's Jig in A]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/509

Story

Accordionist, concertina player, and composer Charlie Mulvihill from New York composed this tune. Charlie was very friendly with the great Paddy Killoran, master fiddle player from County Sligo. When Paddy Killoran died, his wife Betty gave Charlie the 78 RPM recordings that Paddy had recorded in the 1930s and '40s. Charlie transferred the records to tape for Mrs. Killoran to enjoy once again. Along with the Killoran recordings, Charlie gave her a tape of his own compositions which includes this jig cleverly structured around the recurrence of the note 'A'. He plays it on this track with his daughter Geraldine on piano and son Tommy on fiddle. I am grateful to Tommy Mulvihill for giving me permission to feature the track with this collection.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
07-20_Charlie_Mulvihills_Jig_in_A.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:14 -0800
<![CDATA[O'Reilly's Fancy]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/648

Story

My friend in Tulla, Larry Gavin, sent me this reel thirty-five years ago. I love Larry's accordion playing and I am grateful to him for supplying many wonderful tunes to me during all the years that I have lived in America. Larry, as they say, you 'kept me at it'. The reel is played on this track by Joanie Madden.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
07-19_OReillys_Fancy-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:20 -0800
<![CDATA[Tóstal, An]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/647

Story

Leo Rowsome, known as 'The King of the Pipers', wrote this lovely reel. It is played on this track by fiddle player John Daly. 'An Tóstal', according to my good friend Helena Rowsome, Leo's daughter, means 'a pageant or assembly of ordinary people'. Here Helena describes 'An Tóstal' in her own words. Thank you, dear friend.

'I well remember when An Tóstal was held in Dublin. The entire city was cleaned up and flower baskets, flags and bunting of all colours placed on O'Connell Bridge. I recall thinking that Dublin must be the best place on earth. It provided a great incentive to tidy the city and instill civic pride again in its people. It was from An Tóstal that the current well-known 'Tidy Towns' competition came.

On one designated Sunday during An Tóstal (which would last for a couple of weeks), the GPO would be decorated with more flags than usual and a big platform placed outside for dignitaries of the State... I recall seeing the President, Seán T. O'Kelly, on the platform addressing the people during his presidency in 1954. I was eight then and daddy lifted me up to see the goings on...

Dad played at many events during An Tóstal, including a Céilí at the Mansion House. He composed the reel for obvious reasons: his celebration of a great festival. An Tóstal lasted from 1953 into the 1960s when it sort of phased out.'

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
07-18_An_Tostal-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:20 -0800