<![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&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CTitle&page=3&output=rss2 Fri, 29 Mar 2024 05:03:49 -0700 burnsref@bc.edu (The Séamus Connolly Collection of Irish Music) Boston College Libraries Zend_Feed http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <![CDATA[Clare Glens, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/557

Story

If ever you get a chance to visit The Clare Glens you will not be disappointed. They are a beautiful wooded area, very picturesque, with walkways on both sides of the Clare River. The Glens are very close to Newport, County Tipperary, and are only seven or eight miles from where I grew up. There are a number of swimming areas and a waterfall. Standing under the falls with the cold mountain water flowing over you is most invigorating.

Not having a name for this polka, I thought, why not call it 'The Clare Glens'? I was honoured to get the opportunity to play it on my fiddle with Monsignor Charlie Coen on concertina. The tune originally came to us from another recording that Ciarán Mac Mathúna made of concertina player Paddy Neil from around that same area of Newport, County Tipperary, a place well-known for its polkas.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
02-35_The_Clare_Glens-Polka.pdf
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:16 -0800
<![CDATA[Cloonlish House]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/431

Story

'Cloonlish House' was played for me years ago by its composer, Eddie Kelly. This hornpipe is played creatively and wonderfully here by Liz Carroll. Liz's masterful interpretation seems to slowly open the doors of Cloonlish House, inviting all of us in.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

View all items by

03-09_Cloonlish_House-Hornpipe.pdf
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:11 -0800
<![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
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:24 -0800
<![CDATA[Con Cassidy's]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/700

Story

This tune bears the name of noted fiddle player Con Cassidy, and it may well have been played as a single jig in his native County Donegal. There was no doubt about West Limerick accordion player Donie Nolan's interpretation of it as a slide. He played it throughout Australia in 1994 when he and another group of artists, including 'Mé Féin', toured that amazing continent. For this collection, Donie took the time to meet me and Sandy at Peadar's Bar in Ardagh, County Limerick, and over the humming of the fridge, he recorded Con Cassidy's slide.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

View all items by

04-22_Con_Cassidys-Slide.pdf
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:23 -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

View all items by

07-27_Cons_Return-Reel.pdf
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:20 -0800
<![CDATA[Connolly's Chair]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/478

Story

Multi-instrumentalist Brian Hebert from the Boston area conferred on me special recognition by composing and playing this slip jig. The chair mentioned in the tune's title is my endowed position as Sullivan Artist in Residence at The Center for Irish Programs at Boston College.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

View all items by

03-29_Connollys_Chair-Slip_Jig.pdf
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:13 -0800
<![CDATA[Cornboy, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/608

Story

When we were traveling throughout America on the first Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann tour of champion musicians, singers, and dancers in 1972, I had the great pleasure of playing this reel with fiddle player Paddy Glackin. Paddy and I played it again in the Raidió Teilifís Éireann studios for this collection. Thanks to Peter Browne for his assistance in making this recording.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
04-21_The_Cornboy-Reel.pdf
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:19 -0800
<![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

View all items by

01-14_Corney_Drews-Hornpipe.pdf
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:10 -0800
<![CDATA[Crooked Hurricane, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/525

Story

My good friend Cindy Polo made this tune and dedicated it to another friend, Randy Bridgman. I enjoyed playing this tune with Cindy and Gabriel Donohue. In Cindy's own words, she tells us about 'The Crooked Hurricane':

'What else to do while the power is out in the middle of a hurricane? Fiddle and fiddle! I composed this tune as Hurricane Irene battered eastern North Carolina in 2011. The hurricane did not travel as expected. Its unusual pattern of travel was described as crooked. The tune too is crooked in the style of some Canadian fiddle tunes. I dedicate the jig to my friend Randy Bridgman, a native of Newfoundland. This tune is also crooked, somewhat like the shape of many of the trees in my garden when the storm subsided.'

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
08-34_The_Crooked_Hurricane-Jig.pdf
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:15 -0800
<![CDATA[Cruca Glás na hÉireann]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/727

Story

The music lives and breathes in the soul of Tara Lynch. Tara, daughter of Jerry Lynch (accordionist in the 1950s with the celebrated three-time All-Ireland champion Kilfenora Céilí Band), was born in New York. She learned her music from her father, and her style is steeped in the tradition of the old Kilfenora Band. The tune she plays on this track was part of the repertoire of the band in the 1960s and '70s, of which I was so honoured to be a member. I am also honoured to have Tara playing it for us: an unbroken link.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

View all items by

03-06_Cruca_Glas_na_hEireann-Waltz.pdf
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:24 -0800
<![CDATA[Crystal Schottische]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/692

Story

Here is another tune from the playing of Leizime Brusoe. Paul Wells provided the name 'Crystal Schottische'. I sent the tape over to Séamus and Manus McGuire, two wonderful fiddle players, who gave graciously of their time to learn and perform it for this collection. Beautifully played, lads.

A book I have called Mellie Dunham's 50 Fiddlin' Dance Tunes, published by Carl Fischer in 1926, happens to include another version of this tune, called 'Old Times'. It was taken from the playing of Mellie Dunham, a fiddle player born in 1853 who lived in Norway, Maine.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
03-12_Crystal_Schottische.pdf
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:22 -0800
<![CDATA[Dan Gurney's]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/620

Story

The rock-solid accordion music of Dan Gurney is heard on this track. When I asked Dan if he composed any music he was very humble as he answered, 'I did but it's not much good'. I'm sure that those who listen to this track will love your tune, Dan, and sing your praises. It's a lovely composition and you play it beautifully. Thanks for being so gracious.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

View all items by

05-13_Dan_Gurneys-Reel.pdf
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:19 -0800
<![CDATA[Dan Sullivan's]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/461

Story

Another tune recorded by Dan Sullivan and his band, it is played on this recording by Billy McComiskey (accordion), Laura Byrne (flute), and Donna Long (piano). Their relaxed style brings out the beauty of the melody.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
01-31_Dan_Sullivans-Jig.pdf
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:12 -0800
<![CDATA[Dan Sullivan's]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/601

Story

America's foremost uilleann piper, Jerry O'Sullivan, learned this and a number of other tunes from recordings of Dan Sullivan and his band that I sent to him. Jerry recorded the tunes with the engineering expertise of Gabriel Donohue, himself an amazing musician, singer, and a man of many talents. The tune here is played by Jerry as a highland but it could also be played as a reel.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

View all items by

04-03_Dan_Sullivans-Highland-Reel.pdf
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:18 -0800
<![CDATA[Dan Sullivan's Favourite]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/438

Story

Uilleann piper Jerry O'Sullivan recorded this hornpipe for the collection. Taking it from an old cassette tape of Dan Sullivan's Shamrock Band which I gave him, Jerry reversed the order of the parts. I was never certain as to which was the first and which was the second part, as the recording on the tape I had began in the middle of the tune. At least now my mind is set at ease, thanks to Jerry. I never did have a name for the tune, hence 'Dan Sullivan's Favourite' became its title. Dan Sullivan was an amazing musician who did much for Irish music through the many 78 RPM recordings that he and his band made.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

View all items by

05-26_Dan_Sullivans_Favourite-Hornpipe.pdf
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:11 -0800
<![CDATA[Danny Meehan's]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/613

Story

Master fiddle player Danny Meehan from Donegal lived in London for many years. During his time there, Danny worked by day in the building trade. At night he would do what he liked best: he played his fiddle with his friends and colleagues, and in a group named Le Chéile. The group made two wonderful and exciting recordings. On their second CD, entitled Arís, Danny played this reel. It is masterfully played on this track by Liz Knowles, with that driving rhythmic style peculiar to County Donegal.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

View all items by

04-33_Danny_Meehans-Reel.pdf
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:19 -0800
<![CDATA[David Grady's]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/524

Story

I love slip jigs and I enjoy playing them. Patrick W. Joyce collected this one from David Grady, a flute player from Ardpatrick in County Limerick, but he did not get the tune's name. 'David Grady's' sounds good to me. Mr. Joyce's collection was published in 1876. I have it in my library, and my copy once belonged to a Bríd O'Callaghan from County Limerick. She signed the book in 1961, when she was 16 years old. I wonder where she is now. Wherever you are, Bríd, this tune lives on and I play it here for you.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

View all items by

08-26_David_Gradys-Slip_Jig.pdf
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:15 -0800
<![CDATA[Dennis Watson's]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/686

Story

Dennis Watson from County Roscommon, now living in Chicago, is a flute player and piper. Shannon Heaton recorded this tune, her own composition, on her recent CD The Blue Dress. She plays it again for this collection and dedicates it to Dennis Watson.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

View all items by

10-15_Dennis_Watsons-Reel.pdf
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:22 -0800
<![CDATA[Dogwalker, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/724

Story

Cindy Polo, my good friend, phoned me one night and lilted part of this melody to me. I loved the sound of it and suggested to Cindy that it might fit naturally on the fiddle in a minor key. We talked about 'doing something with it', and so we began to collaborate on making a tune. For inspiration, we talked about Cindy's evening ritual of walking her dogs: an evening parade in her neighbourhood of people young and old, big and little, walking and being walked by a vast array of canines. Our musical thoughts and ideas were sung and played to one another over the phone for a few weeks, until we finally decided that our tune didn't sound too bad. In fact, we liked it! We are still unsure, though, as to whether it is a strathspey or a march. Time and distance did not allow Cindy and I to record our tune together, so, for what it's worth, and for your pleasure, here I am playing 'The Dogwalker'.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
10-13_The_Dogwalker-Strathspey-March.pdf
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:24 -0800
<![CDATA[Dominick McCarthy's Irish Barndance]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/408

Story

The name Shand is synonymous with the traditional music of Scotland. The rock-solid rhythm and strict tempo of master accordionist and composer Sir Jimmy Shand are forever embedded in my mind. Joyous memories of Mr. Shand's music have remained with me all my life. They take me back to my youth in Killaloe, as we tuned our crackly radio to the Scottish airwaves to listen to the star of radio and television playing with his band.

Moving further along in years, my wife Sandy and I visited Sir Jimmy's hometown of Auchtermuchty, Scotland in the hope of meeting the maestro. Deciding that an unannounced visit might be intrusive, we continued on our journey.

This introduction to Dominick McCarthy's Irish Barndance may seem unusual; nevertheless, it seems appropriate to write about Sir Jimmy in order to write about his equally talented son Jimmy Shand Jr., accordionist, composer, and accordion tuner. On a recent visit to Auchtermuchty with my friends Drs. Jim and Cindy Polo, we were welcomed into the beautiful home of Jimmy Shand Jr. and his lovely wife Margaret. Jimmy had invited us, and on that trip I did not hesitate to knock on the door of the Shand residence. The kind warm hospitality that we received from Mr. and Mrs. Shand will now also be embedded in my mind. Music, stories, photographs, and holding Sir Jimmy's accordion were special treats on that occasion. 

And then our conversation turned to Jimmy Jr.'s music compositions. I told Jimmy that Dominick McCarthy from Clara in County Offaly had played the barndance for me over thirty years ago. Mr. Shand told me that he did not have any recollection of the tune. Upon giving Jimmy Jr. the sheet music, he began to whistle, and with a twinkle in his eye he smiled as the tune instantly came back to him. He was delighted to be reminded of this tune while saying it would be a welcome addition to his forthcoming book, Jimmy Shand, Jr. Music Compositions.

Unforgettable memories all around. Thank you, sir, for your composition and for the welcome that you and Margaret gave to Cindy, Jim, and myself. Jimmy, I hope you never stop playing and composing!


Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
03-25_Dominick_McCarthys_Irish_Barndance.pdf
]]>
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:10 -0800