<![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&sort_dir=d&output=rss2 Thu, 28 Mar 2024 23:32:27 -0700 burnsref@bc.edu (The Séamus Connolly Collection of Irish Music) Boston College Libraries Zend_Feed http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <![CDATA[Young When He's Dancing]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/539

Story

This tune was composed by Chicago fiddle player Devin Shepherd. He plays it here with his friend Sean Gavin on flute. Devin named the tune for Mike Doyle from County Wexford, who now lives in Chicago. Mike is an avid enthusiast of the music and can be found on the floor youthfully dancing wherever music is played.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
10-25_Young_When_Hes_Dancing-Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:16 -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[Will Hardy's Twiggy Jig]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/473

Story

My friend Beth Sweeney is the librarian for the Irish Music Archives at the Burns Library of Boston College. When she finds time in her schedule, Beth likes to play music and compose. On this track she plays one of her own tunes, which she describes in this way: 'In the early 1990s I recorded a cassette tape of a few fiddle tunes I had composed, including this jig, and gave the tape to Séamus Connolly, my first teacher of Irish fiddle music. Years later, after listening to the tape again, Séamus asked me if I would record this particular jig for his collection. On this track I play both fiddle and piano. The tune is named for a dear friend of mine, Will Hardy, an award-winning designer and a great appreciator of music. The "twigginess" of the jig is a play on words, a reference to my friend Forrest, with whom I exchanged many a tune around the same time that this jig was written.'

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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03-14_Will_Hardys_Twiggy_Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:13 -0800
<![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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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:17 -0800
<![CDATA[Whelan's Auld Sow]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/494

Story

The leader of the band Cherish the Ladies is Joanie Madden, who plays this tune for us on the flute. I first heard Eddie Moloney play it. Eddie came from Ballinakill in County Galway and may have named the tune. Tommy Whelan was a member of the Ballinakill Traditional Players. However, I do not know if he indeed owned a sow...

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
05-30_Whelans_Auld_Sow-Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:14 -0800
<![CDATA[What Care I for the Minister?]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/538

Story

This slip jig from the Scottish tradition was taught to me by Boston harpist Kathleen Guilday. I told her about this project and asked her if she would record it for me. Kathleen was delighted, and graciously agreed to come to Maine to do the recording. I also told Kathleen of the mishap in my brother's home in Ennis, County Clare (for further insight into the recording of this slip jig, see ‘The First Slip’).

When Kathleen did arrive in Maine, guess what happened? Yes, my machine would not record. I was so upset, especially because she had driven over 150 miles for nothing. Well, that's not true: we turned the day into something special by having dinner and a nice bottle of wine while reminiscing about friends in Boston and our musical exploits together around New England. Kathleen did eventually get to record the slip jig, this time in her own home and with her own equipment. I ask myself if there was a jinx on this tune. Maybe it had something to do with its title. I'm puzzled. Anyhow I am grateful to you, Kathleen. Thank you, my friend. I think we beat the odds.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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10-24_What_Care_I_for_the_Minister-Slip_Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:16 -0800
<![CDATA[West Limerick]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/701

Story

Another tune recorded the evening that Sandy and I traveled to Ardagh, County Limerick, to Peadar's Pub to record the exciting music of accordionist Donie Nolan. This is also a tune that Donie played in concert during our musical tour of Australia in 1994.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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05-35_West_Limerick-Slide.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:23 -0800
<![CDATA[West End, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/448

Story

I recorded Mrs. Galvin playing this hornpipe at a concert over fifty years ago in County Clare. Jerry O'Sullivan plays it on this track with a slightly different arrangement. This tune is sometimes attributed to the nineteenth-century Newcastle fiddle player and composer James Hill, and it appears in William Honeyman's The Strathspey, Reel, and Hornpipe Tutor. In parts of New England, it is played as a reel for contra dancing.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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08-17_The_West_End-Hornpipe.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:12 -0800
<![CDATA[West Cork Maestro]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/641

Story

When I visited Finbarr Dwyer at his home in Clarecastle, County Clare, he generously made a recording for me which included this less familiar composition of his. Finbarr was most humble and did not give his tune much credit, let alone a title. He would probably have given us a different interpretation had he played it again for me. That's Finbarr, a master musician, composer, and improviser – surely a genius if ever there was one.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-09_West_Cork_Maestro-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:20 -0800
<![CDATA[Wee Folk, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/424

Story

David Curry was born in 1899 in Belfast, where he worked as a conductor, arranger, and broadcaster. He also played violin. I have always enjoyed listening to his music, which included his own arrangements of traditional melodies. I recorded some of these tunes from the radio when I was young, which allowed me an opportunity to learn them. One such tune is the hornpipe featured here, played and arranged in a two-part version for piano by the inimitable Barbara MacDonald Magone. By presenting tunes associated with Mr. Curry, I pay my sincere homage to him in the hope that his name and musical works are never forgotten.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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01-32_The_Wee_Folk-Hornpipe.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:10 -0800
<![CDATA[Weaver Flynn]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/644

Story

Multi-instrumentalist and composer Eamon Flynn wrote this tune to honour his wife Vicki. Vicki's maiden name was Weaver. This track comes from a CD Eamon recorded with our mutual friend Helen Kisiel, who is often sought after as a piano accompanist by traditional musicians in the Boston area. The CD is named Down by the Glenside, and it features Eamon in full flight on a number of instruments. He is a wonderful musician, composer, and my friend for over fifty years. Thanks, Eamon, for all the music. Your influence in the Boston and New England music scene will forever remain strong.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-13_Weaver_Flynn-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:20 -0800
<![CDATA[Waltzing Down the Aisle]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/732

Story

Another tune from the pen of Kathleen Boyle from Glasgow in Scotland. She wrote this waltz for her sister's wedding, for her to walk down the aisle to. Here we hear 'K.T.' beautifully playing her own composition on piano and piano accordion.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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09-04_Waltzing_Down_the_Aisle-Waltz.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:24 -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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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:17 -0800
<![CDATA[Victor's Return, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/464

Story

I recorded this tune with another nephew, Karl Connolly, playing piano, on the same day as Kevin Crawford's unfortunate experience. I first heard the tune in the 1950s played by the Tulla Céilí Band from County Clare. A version of this tune with the above title may be found in O'Neill's 1001 collection. At the very least, it is a close relative!

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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02-12_The_Victors_Return-Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:12 -0800
<![CDATA[Vermont Jig, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/518

Story

Another composition from the multi-instrumentalist Eamon Flynn from Mountcollins in County Limerick. Eamon moved from Boston to The Green Mountain State, Vermont, in 1987. His memories of the hills and fishing brooks of this beautiful state in New England live with him now as he enjoys his retirement (not from music!) in his native Limerick. We hear him playing his own composition with our mutual friend Helen Kisiel playing piano, on a track taken from Eamon's CD Down by the Glenside. Courtesy of Eamon and Helen, I give you 'The Vermont Jig'.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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08-12_The_Vermont_Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:15 -0800
<![CDATA[Varney House]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/589

Story

The unique musical heritage of County Kerry has had a profound impact on the survival of traditional music. Paddy Cronin from Sliabh Luachra gave the above title to a reel more commonly known as 'Miss Johnson's'. It is played here by uilleann piper Jerry O'Sullivan of New York.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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02-26_Varney_House-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:18 -0800
<![CDATA[Vanishing Keys, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/637

Story

Many of my fellow chronic misplacers of keys can relate to the above title. What a great name for a great tune! It is played here in grand style by its composer Richard Dwyer in another excerpt from his solo CD In a Creative Mood. Richie's wonderful playing of this happy reel on the accordion brings a smile to my face and lifts my heart along the way.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
06-26_The_Vanishing_Keys-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:20 -0800
<![CDATA[Ullulu Mo Mháilín]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/563

Story

Played here as a polka, this melody is a macaronic song, with Irish and English words. It is the one and only tune that fiddle player Matt Cranitch and I recorded for this collection. It came very naturally to us, since it is a famous song in our native province of Munster. The tune also appears in P.W. Joyce's collection Ancient Irish Music.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
04-35_Ullulu_Mo_Mhailin-Polka.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:17 -0800
<![CDATA[Tyrone Among the Bushes]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/446

Story

Another tune from the playing of Tom Turkington from County Tyrone. This hornpipe is one of the tunes that he played on my fiddle so long ago at a concert at a Fleadh Cheoil in County Clare. Séamus Duffy, the traditional singer and adjudicator, introduced Tom that night with the words, 'We'll go up north now to Tyrone Among the Bushes!' I think it makes a great title for this hornpipe, which is played on this track by Kimberley Fraser from Cape Breton. Again, my sincere thanks to Kimberley and to all the musicians who took the time to learn tunes and perform them for this collection. All of you are heroes.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-12_Tyrone_Among_the_Bushes-Hornpipe.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:11 -0800
<![CDATA[Turn of the Season]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/442

Story

I have had the great pleasure of living in New England for many years, first in Massachusetts, and now in Maine. When I reflect on the beauty of the region, I picture its snow, its mountains, rivers, and lakes. I think of springtime when everything greens up and comes alive. I think on the changing colours of autumn leaves, the amazing foliage, and the turning of the seasons. All of the above are wonderful gifts and all are part of nature's beauty. These visions are forever captured for me in this lovely musical piece, composed and performed on this track by fiddle player Rodney Miller from New Hampshire.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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06-04_Turn_of_the_Season-Hornpipe.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:11 -0800