<![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+music--Ireland&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CIdentifier&page=2&sort_dir=d&output=rss2 Thu, 28 Mar 2024 22:25:02 -0700 burnsref@bc.edu (The Séamus Connolly Collection of Irish Music) Boston College Libraries Zend_Feed http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <![CDATA[Ancient Stones]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/397

Story

My long-time friend Margaret Lawrie from Birmingham, England, composed this lovely air. The tune was the title track on her latest CD recording, which was dedicated to ten-year-old Rose Cronin, who died of leukemia. Meg told me that she took pictures in the grounds and graveyard of Hereford Cathedral and began to think of all the musicians down through the ages who had played music in this ancient place. Thus, 'Ancient Stones'. Margaret and Michael Burnham perform the tune on this track on piano and violin.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
06-08_Ancient_Stones-Air.pdf
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<![CDATA[Lurgy Stream]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/709

Story

The beautiful singing voice of All-Ireland Champion Rita Gallagher is once again heard on this track. The words of the song, and the others that she sang for the miscellany, appear courtesy of Rita. Thank you, my friend. More wonderful singing from Rita may also be heard on her 2010 CD recording, The May Morning Dew.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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06-02_Lurgy_Stream-Song.pdf
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<![CDATA[Spancilhill]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/708

Story

Spancilhill in east County Clare gives its name to this song which I first heard around 1958, sung by Robbie McMahon, who was himself from that very same neighbourhood. Robbie gave us his updated rendition during a wonderful afternoon of singing in his home a few years ago, after Mrs. Maura McMahon, in her usual manner of hospitality, served us a fine Irish meal. Robbie told my friends and me that Michael Considine from Spancilhill wrote the song. Mr. Considine was born around 1850 and immigrated to America as a young man. His intent was to bring his sweetheart to America when he had saved enough money for her passage, but, suffering from poor health, he somehow knew that his dream would never materialise. He passed away around 1873 in California, but the song found its way back to County Clare and was popularised by Robbie's singing of it.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
05-19_Spancilhill-Song.pdf
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<![CDATA[Celtic Lamb, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/541

Story

This track comes from the CD To The Dance Floor, released in 2006 by a Rhode Island-based group called The Gnomes. Among its members is Phil Edmonds, the composer of this beautiful tune. Phil and I went to the same school in Killaloe, where we learned to play the tinwhistle, and Phil's father, Eddie Edmonds, was one of my secondary school teachers. The words below are taken from the notes to their CD:

'The Celtic Tiger is the term referring to the system of economics and way of life in Ireland for the past several years. While it has resulted in much wealth for many people (not all), the Celtic Tiger is devouring Irish Culture. Wherever money and material possessions become a priority, the quality of life decreases. Phil wrote this air, "The Celtic Lamb", hoping that Ireland, and all of us, will move towards a more sustainable and gentler lifestyle.'

It gives me great pleasure to have another Killaloe man associated with this collection. Thanks, Phil, for the tune, and thanks to the rest of the band for their participation in this project.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
04-34_The_Celtic_Lamb-Air.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:16 -0800
<![CDATA[In Memory of Leo Rowsome]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/396

Story

The name of the legendary piper, pipemaker, composer, and teacher Leo Rowsome (1903-1970) is synonymous with the uilleann pipes. An icon of Irish traditional music, Leo devoted his entire life to the uilleann pipes and has numerous recordings to his credit. His friend Larry Redican composed this air in Leo's memory. I got it from Larry himself and had the honour of recording it with Liam O'Flynn, a former student of Leo's, on a record entitled Notes From My Mind. The pipes that Liam used on that recording were made by Mr. Rowsome. The air is soulfully played here by fiddle player John Daly from County Cork. More of John's own music and compositions may be heard on his CD entitled John Daly.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
03-26_In_Memory_of_Leo_Rowsome-Air.pdf
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<![CDATA[O'Brien the Blacksmith]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/707

Story

Another song from the pen of Robbie McMahon. I first heard him sing it at a County Clare Fleadh Cheoil over fifty years ago, and it has stayed with me down through the years. Robbie sang it again for me the afternoon that I visited his home in 2009, and I was delighted to capture it on disc. Thanks again, my friend, for the joy that you have given to all of us who knew you and who loved your expressive interpretations of all those lovely songs.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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03-17_OBrien_the_Blacksmith-Song.pdf
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<![CDATA[McQuillen's March]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/543

Story

This tune is not a composition of 'Professor' Bob McQuillen, but of the master fiddle player from New Hampshire, Rodney Miller. Rodney is considered today to be the foremost exponent of the music of New England. He has traveled all over the world playing his music and passing it on through his teaching. Spending the day with Rodney at his home was an inspiration for me, and trying out the beautiful fiddles that he makes and sells was truly special. Thank you, Rodney, for the music and for the memories: you are one of my heroes.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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03-16_McQuillens_March.pdf
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<![CDATA[Mhaighdean Mhara, An]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/706

Story

All-Ireland champion harpist and singer Pádraigín Caesar attended Boston College as a Fulbright Scholar, and we became great friends. When Sandy and I lived in Groton, Massachusetts, 'Paudi', as we called her, visited us on a number of occasions, and traveled with us to Philadelphia and other places of note in the northeast region of the National Park Service. Despite her busy academic schedule at Boston College, she found time to study fiddle and whistle. I marveled at her enthusiasm and at the huge amount of time she put in to practicing her music at home during Boston's long, snowy winter season. So much dedication, so much talent. Pádraigín sings to her own harp accompaniment on this track. The English translation of the lyrics is provided by Dr. Philip O'Leary, Boston College.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
02-32_An_Mhaighdean_Mhara-Song.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:23 -0800
<![CDATA[Longing for Peace, A]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/395

Story

Another of Sean Nugent's compositions is the slow air appropriately titled 'A Longing for Peace'. How happy Sean would be were he with us today, to know that the struggle is almost over and we now have peace again in 'Dear Old Ireland'. The tune is beautifully played with emotion by Larry Nugent, Sean's son. It can also be heard on Larry's fine recording Traditional Irish Music on Flute and Tinwhistle, on the Shanachie label.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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02-24_A_Longing_for_Peace-Air.pdf
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<![CDATA[Fleadh Down in Ennis, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/705

Story

In 1956, Robbie McMahon from Spancilhill in County Clare composed this song about the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil held in Ennis that year. When it is sung today, it is a wonderful piece of musical history, as it is also a litany of the names of musicians who are no longer with us. It was these people, during a time when it was not popular to play Irish music, who kept the music alive for all of us to enjoy today. Listen and see how many names you can recognise. They are enshrined for all time in this song, as is the memory of Robbie McMahon himself.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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02-22_The_Fleadh_Down_in_Ennis-Song.pdf
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<![CDATA[Magherafelt May Fair]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/542

Story

The Pride of Erin Céilí Band, led by All-Ireland fiddle champion Sean Nugent, was held in high esteem throughout Ireland. Sean, from Lack in County Fermanagh, was a vibrant, energetic, and fun-loving man who adored the music. On a recording issued by Outlet Records in 1977, he and the band played this great march. The lyrics of this song, sung by Sean's daughter Rosemary in her County Fermanagh accent, give us a clear picture of the Magherafelt May Fair:

'I am a nice wee bouncing girl,
And my age it is scarce sixteen,
And when I'm dressed all in my best
Sure I look like any queen...

On the first of May I will make my way,
To the Magherafelt May Fair...

My mother cautioned me going out
Do not stay long in town
For if you do, your father and I,
On you we will surely frown.
Be sure to shun bad company
And of young men beware,
How nice you be, don't make too free
At the Magherafelt May Fair!'

Listening to those All-Ireland champion band members play along with Rosemary's singing, one can sense the exuberance and pride that they felt playing their music. For this collection, the march is played by Sean Nugent's son Larry on the flute, accompanied by Pat Broaders on the bouzouki.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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02-05_Magherafelt_May_Fair-March.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:16 -0800
<![CDATA[Gentle Mother]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/704

Story

During those trips Mulhaire's Céilí Band made to Lixnaw and other towns in County Kerry in the 1960s (see 'Tart ar an Ól'), ballad singer Josephine McNamara was another artist who made the long journey – in her case from County Leitrim – to perform in Diarmuid Ó Cathain's concert series. She was always a special favourite at these events. Coming as she does from the musical McNamara family it is no surprise that she was All-Ireland champion singer for a number of consecutive years. Josephine left Ireland in the 1960s, and I was delighted to meet her in New Haven, Connecticut, thirty years later. She sang this song for me for this collection, a song we both first heard many years ago on an old 78 RPM record.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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02-01_Gentle_Mother-Song.pdf
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<![CDATA[Shores of My Native Land]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/703

Story

Rita Gallagher from County Donegal recorded this song for me in her own inimitable style over twenty years ago at an All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil. I have loved the song and Rita's masterful interpretation of it.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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01-17_Shores_of_My_Native_Land-Song.pdf
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<![CDATA[Golden Flower, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/394

Story

My long-time friend Bill Black, who lives on Cape Cod, would often send tunes to my wife Sandy that he had composed in her honour. Bill's compositions greatly cheered my dear wife during her illness. She particularly liked his tune 'How Are You, Sandy', or as Bill re-named it, 'Sandy Connolly's', a jig featured elsewhere in this collection played by yours truly.

I know that Sandy would be proud of this tune, 'The Golden Flower' (a translation of her full name, 'Chrysandra'), which Bill composed after she left us to go to her eternal reward. As soon as I heard it, I knew that I wanted it to be the first tune in this collection. I was moved to tears by Bill's gift.

The other gift associated with Bill's composition is this hauntingly beautiful performance of 'The Golden Flower' by our special friends Hilary and Duncan Cumming on violin and piano. Hilary and Duncan played at our wedding at Saint Anne's Church in Lowell, Massachusetts. I somehow feel that their playing of Bill Black's gift has eased Sandy's journey to the Land of Peace where she will have pain no more. She is watching over all of us. Thank you Bill, Hilary, and Duncan.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
01-01_The_Golden_Flower-Air.pdf
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