Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Boyle, Néillidh]]> Collins, Elizabeth]]>
Preferring to end this collection with lively, happy music, I asked my young musical friends, Kathleen Boyle from Scotland and Gráinne Murphy from Massachusetts, to do me the honour of recording the above-named tunes for this last track. These same jigs were recorded in 1937 by Kathleen's grandfather, the famed fiddle maestro Néillidh Boyle from County Donegal. The young ladies are joined by Néillidh's son Hughie Boyle, who plays piano, and together, with pride, they give us that same lift and drive associated with the wonderful music that is peculiar to County Donegal. I was thrilled when Kathleen invited me to join herself, her dad, and Gráinne in remembering her grandfather, completing an extraordinary musical circle. The torch has indeed been passed.

It so happens that the last tune on the track, 'The Connaughtman's Rambles', is the first jig I ever learned, and I did so from the 78 RPM recording that Néillidh Boyle recorded seventy-eight years ago. In a way, then, this track is symbolic of how Irish traditional music keeps coming full circle, shared back and forth between musicians across the broad Atlantic and across generations.

And lest I forget about the not-often-heard tune dedicated to a certain Biddy (a nickname for 'Bridget') from Sligo, my mind goes back in time to my grandmother sitting by the fireside listening to me trying to learn and play this fine jig. And so, in remembrance of my grandmother, Elizabeth Collins (née Rochford), a wonderful lady of tunes, songs, and stories, I hereby offer an account of the lyrics she had for 'Biddy from Sligo':

'Oh mother dear, may I go for a swim?
Yes, my darling daughter!
Mind the boys don't see your shins,
Keep them well under the water!']]> Boyle, Kathleen (piano accordion) 254341404]]> Murphy, Gráinne (fiddle)]]> Connolly, Séamus (fiddle) 33682623]]> Boyle, Hughie (piano) 254643013]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Boyle, Kathleen ]]> Murphy, Gráinne ]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Flute music--Ireland]]> Doyle, Mike]]> Shepherd, Devin (fiddle) (composer)]]> Gavin, Sean (flute)]]> Miller, Brian (guitar) 265750111]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Shepherd, Devin]]> Gavin, Sean ]]> Miller, Brian]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Celtic harp music--Ireland]]> Guilday, Kathleen]]> ‘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.]]> Guilday, Kathleen (harp)]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Guilday, Kathleen ]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Boyle, Néillidh]]> Boyle, Kathleen (piano accordion) 254341404]]> Murphy, Gráinne (fiddle)]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Boyle, Kathleen ]]> Murphy, Gráinne ]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> McConnell, Cathal 65520190]]> Carroll, Liz 60417993]]> A Friend Indeed. Liz informed us in the liner notes of the recording that Armin Barnett and David Molk composed the tune while driving to Durham, New York. Liz called this smashing tune 'The Ride to Durham', and her playing is a delight to listen to. The lovely fiddle playing of John Daly from County Cork is heard on this track as he remains true to the version from the tape of Cathal McConnell's flute playing. John's fiddle playing is also a delight to hear.]]> Daly, John (fiddle)]]> Brehony, Kevin (piano)]]> Barnett, Armin (composer)]]> Molk, David (composer)]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Daly, John ]]> Barnett, Armin ]]> Molk, David]]> Brehony, Kevin ]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> musical evening at the Gavins' in Balbriggan so long ago, Jimmy Keane, the piano accordion player from Chicago, played this tune. He informed me that it is one of Liz Carroll's compositions, entitled 'The Champaign Jig Goes to Columbia'. It can be found in Liz Carroll Collected, a beautifully produced book of her wonderful compositions. Gráinne Murphy plays her version of the tune on this track.]]> Murphy, Gráinne (fiddle)]]> Murray, Alan (guitar)]]> Carroll, LIz (composer) 60417993]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Murphy, Gráinne ]]> Murray, Alan]]> Carroll, LIz ]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Flute music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Curry, David 68699117]]> Rabata, Nicole (flute)]]> Connolly, Séamus (fiddle) 33682623]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Rabata, Nicole ]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Reiner, David 23494779]]> Carroll, Liz (fiddle) 60417993]]> Reiner, David (composer) 23494779]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Carroll, LIz ]]> Reiner, David]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Penny whistle music]]> Rogha, Geraldine Cotter's Choice.]]> Cotter, Geraldine (whistle) 33569581]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Cotter, Geraldine ]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> O'Keeffe, Pádraig]]> McAuliffe, Nicholas]]> O'Connell, Connie]]> Burke, Kevin (fiddle) 281258798]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Burke, Kevin ]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> O'Neill's Music of Ireland collection under the title 'Gallant Tipperary'. It also appears in The Roche Collection of Traditional Irish Music in the 'Airs' section of that book. The tune, played here by Laurel Martin, was popular in Boston in the 1930s and 1940s.]]> Martin, Laurel (fiddle) 31936123]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Martin, Laurel ]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Flute music--Ireland]]> Shepherd, Devin (fiddle) (composer)]]> Gavin, Sean (flute)]]> Miller, Brian (guitar) 265750111]]> Moran, Jackie (bodhrán)]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Shepherd, Devin]]> Gavin, Sean ]]> Miller, Brian]]> Moran, Jackie]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Walter, Chrysandra]]>
I had forgotten completely about the tune and did not remember any of it when years later we came across the videotape and watched it together. She said as we watched it, 'See I told you, I knew you wouldn't remember it'. How right she was! That was Sandy. Always thinking and a step ahead. The tune is more complete now as I give it my best shot on this track. Another transcription of the jig is to be found in A Drop in the Ocean, a book of Irish traditional tunes compiled by my friend Josephine Keegan.]]> Connolly, Séamus (fiddle) (composer) 33682623]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Killoran, Betty]]> Mulvihill, Charlie]]> Mulvihill, Charlie (accordion) (composer)]]> Mulvihill, Tommy (fiddle) 71144485]]> Mulvihill, Geraldine (piano)]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Mulvihill, Charlie ]]> Mulvihill, Tommy]]> Mulvihill, Geraldine]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Lewis, Liam]]> The Roche Collection. This tune was a favourite of flute player Eddie Moloney from Ballinakill, County Galway.]]> Martin, Laurel (fiddle) 31936123]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Martin, Laurel ]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Bridgman, Randy]]> Polo, Cynthia Keane]]>
'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.']]> Polo, Cynthia Keane (fiddle) (composer)]]> Connolly, Séamus (fiddle) 33682623]]> Donohue, Gabriel (piano) 103020997]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Polo, Cynthia Keane]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> Donohue, Gabriel]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Grady, David]]> Joyce, P.W. Patrick Weston 71754051]]> Connolly, Séamus (fiddle) 33682623]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Martin, Laurel 31936123]]> Martin, Laurel (fiddle) (composer) 31936123]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Martin, Laurel ]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Piano music--Ireland]]> Allen, Ethan 22945314]]> Fitzgerald, Winston Scotty 38612015]]> Magone, Barbara MacDonald 53396920]]> Long, Donna (piano) 31607533]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Long, Donna]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Donnelly, Maeve (fiddle) 63623960]]> Murdoch, Matilda (composer)]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Donnelly, Maeve ]]> Murdoch, Matilda]]> ]]> More info.]]>