Folk music--Ireland]]> Penny whistle music]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Airs]]> Edmonds, Phil]]> 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.]]> Edmonds, Phil (whistle) (composer)]]> Torch, Cathy Clasper (fiddle)]]> Read, Otis (guitar) 309842361]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Edmonds, Phil ]]> Torch, Cathy Clasper]]> Read, Otis]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Reels (Music)]]> 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 ]]> ]]> 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]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> 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]]> Reels (Music)]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Shepherd, Devin (fiddle) (composer)]]> Miller, Brian (guitar) 265750111]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Shepherd, Devin]]> Miller, Brian]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Reels (Music)]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> McGuire, Séamus (fiddle) (composer) 43512454]]> McGuire, Manus (fiddle) 43512465]]> O'Briain, Garry (mandocello, piano) 58691214]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> McGuire, Séamus ]]> McGuire, Manus ]]> O'Briain, Garry]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk music--Ireland]]> Folk songs, Irish--Ireland]]> Celtic harp music--Ireland]]> Penny whistle music]]> Airs]]> 1000 Years of Irish Poetry.]]> Caesar, Pádraigín (harp, vocals)]]> Caesar, Siobhán (whistle)]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Caesar, Pádraigín ]]> Caesar, Siobhán]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Polkas--Ireland]]> Concertina music]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Mac Mathúna, Ciarán 36142146]]> Neil, Paddy]]>
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.]]> Coen, Charles (concertina) 38213636]]> Connolly, Séamus (fiddle) 33682623]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Coen, Charles ]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Hornpipes]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Liz's masterful interpretation seems to slowly open the doors of Cloonlish House, inviting all of us in.]]> Carroll, LIz (fiddle) 60417993]]> Kelly, Eddie (composer)]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Carroll, LIz ]]> Kelly, Eddie]]> ]]> More info.]]>
Let us lift our parting glasses and toast all who have been associated with this collection. To our younger generation of musicians, singers, and dancers, may I suggest keep the tradition alive, enjoy life; live, love, and laugh, and always keep the flag flying. Or, as they proudly say in County Clare, ‘Up the Banner!’ Remember, there's a bit of Clare in us all.

"A Bit of Clare" was written by Killaloe poet and family friend J.P. "Jack" Noonan. Thanks to Jack's family for allowing me to publish his wonderful poem in this collection.

Séamus Connolly
Sullivan Artist-in-Residence, 2004-2015
Boston College



A BIT OF CLARE

There’s a bit of Clare about you

That I cannot quite explain.

It’s elusive as the fragrance

Of wild-woodbine after rain.

Or it may be I was dreaming

When I first looked in your eyes

Of the grey mists o’er the Shannon

Mingling with the star-specked skies.


With your fingertips caressing

I can feel again the thrill

Of the breezes that steal softly

O’er the turf-banks on the Hill

And I hear the lark at dawning

When your lilting laughter peals

It’s that bit of Clare about you

Which your ev’ry act reveals.


But whatever is that something

It brings back a memory

Of the wild rose in the hedges

And the berried rowan tree;

There’s a breath of Irish Springtime

Fragrant flowers and April rain

In that bit of Clare about you

That I cannot quite explain.

-- Jack Noonan

]]> Connolly, Séamus
]]> Noonan, J. P. ]]> ]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> Noonan, J. P. ]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Waltzes--Ireland]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Accordion and piano music]]> Higgins, Mary]]> Lynch, Tara (accordion)]]> Connolly, Séamus (fiddle) 33682623]]> Donohue, Gabriel (piano, keyboards) 103020997]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Lynch, Tara ]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> Donohue, Gabriel]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> Slides]]> Cassidy, Con]]> Nolan, Donie (accordion)]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Nolan, Donie ]]> ]]> More info.]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Reels (Music)]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> Flynn, Con]]> Flynn, Eamon]]> Flynn, Eamon (accordion) (composer)]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Flynn, Eamon ]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Jigs]]> Banjo music--Ireland]]> Mandolin music--Ireland]]> Connolly, Séamus 33682623]]> Hebert, Brian (banjo, octave mandolin) (composer)]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Hebert, Brian ]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Reels (Music)]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Glackin, Paddy (fiddle) 6013273]]> Connolly, Séamus (fiddle) 33682623]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Glackin, Paddy ]]> Connolly, Séamus]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Hornpipes]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Drew, Corney 66276063]]> Mac Mathúna, Ciarán 36142146]]> Murphy, Denis 56203735]]> Mulvihill, Charlie]]> 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.]]> Knowles, Liz (fiddle) 68565066]]> Broaders, Pat (bouzouki)]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Knowles, Liz ]]> Broaders, Pat]]> ]]> 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]]> Waltzes--Ireland]]> Accordion music--Ireland]]> Accordion and piano music]]> Lynch, Tara (accordion)]]> Donohue, Gabriel (piano, keyboards) 103020997]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> Lynch, Tara ]]> Donohue, Gabriel]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk dance music--Ireland]]> Schottisches]]> Fiddle tunes--Ireland]]> Brusoe, Leizime 305021104]]> Wells, Paul]]>
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.]]> McGuire, Séamus (fiddle) 43512454]]> McGuire, Manus (fiddle) 43512465]]> O'Briain, Garry (mandocello) 58691214]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> McGuire, Séamus ]]> McGuire, Manus ]]> O'Briain, Garry]]> ]]> More info.]]> Folk music--Ireland]]> Uilleann pipe music--Ireland]]> Airs]]> McConnell, Cathal 65520190]]> Cathal's Reel).

I gave the recording to my good friend Jerry O'Sullivan, who plays the tune on this track, but with his very own arrangement and interpretation. The phrasing, as one will see, is different from that of the written transcription of Cathal's playing. Fascinating, really, when one thinks of how music can be changed to suit the performer and the instrument. Thanks to both these fine exponents for their contrasting versions.]]> O'Sullivan, Jerry (uilleann pipes) 31619251]]>
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.]]> O'Sullivan, Jerry ]]> ]]> More info.]]>