https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/items/browse?tags=Playlist+05&page=1&output=atom <![CDATA[The Séamus Connolly Collection of Irish Music]]> 2024-03-28T14:32:06-07:00 Omeka https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/549 <![CDATA[Bobby Gardiner's (Number Two)]]> 2016-10-12T08:09:00-07:00

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The art form of lilting is demonstrated here by Bobby Gardiner. My grandmother Elizabeth Collins (née Rochford), herself a very good lilter, told me that 'jiggers', as she called them, were commonly called upon whenever musicians were not available to play for dancers. Button accordionist Bobby Gardiner both lilts and plays with 'The Clare Swing'. Listen to him on these tracks lilting, then playing his very own tune. Barbara MacDonald Magone joins in on the piano.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

Type

Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/564 <![CDATA[Jim Corcoran's Polka]]> 2016-10-12T08:09:03-07:00

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Jim Corcoran is a wonderful friend who plays the fiddle and loves polkas. So does his teacher Laurel Martin, who composed this one for him. Here she plays it for all of us to hear and learn.

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Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/487 <![CDATA[Mr. and Mrs. Ted McGraw]]> 2016-10-12T08:08:50-07:00

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I have known Ted and Bridget McGraw of Rochester, New York, since the 1980s. I have great memories of playing with Ted in The Village Coachhouse, in Brookline, Massachusetts, a veritable musical institution that was owned by the Varian family of Cork. Here Ted recounts how he came to have a tune written for him and Bridgie by Jimmy Shand, Jr., renowned Scottish accordionist, composer, and accordion tuner: 'We were in Scotland in '86 heading out of Auchtermuchty looking for Jimmy Shand's house when I spotted Jimmy Jr. standing by his gate across the road. He was instantly recognizable from his record jackets. His famous father was adjudicating somewhere up the country so Jimmy Jr. graciously invited us in for a chat. When I saw his shop I immediately asked if he could convert an old Hohner Club Morino to Irish tuning. The bargain was made and even at that time, it was difficult to match the quality of 'Artiste' reeds, so about a year later the box came back to me in Rochester with the tune enclosed, dated Oct. '87. The tone quality of the box, by the way, was beautiful!' The jig is played here for us by Josephine Keegan on fiddle and piano.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

Type

Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/615 <![CDATA[Lisa and Patrick]]> 2016-10-12T08:09:09-07:00

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I remember listening to Frank Claudy playing his whistle in the room next to mine at Gavin's Golden Hill Resort in East Durham in the Catskill Mountains of New York during a week of Irish music, song, and dance. The reel on this track, a composition of Frank's, caught my attention. Frank kindly recorded it for me for this collection. He named it for Patrick McComiskey (a son of Billy and Annie McComiskey) and his bride-to-be, Lisa Farrell.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

Type

Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/616 <![CDATA[Chestnut Hill]]> 2016-10-12T08:09:09-07:00

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This reel was composed by Séamus McGuire in honour of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, the location of Boston College. Séamus was invited to teach and perform at the Boston College Gaelic Roots Festival. He plays his tune here with his brother Manus McGuire on fiddle and Garry O'Briain on mandocello and piano. Séamus, Manus, and Garry were also part of the teaching staff at the University's Gaelic Roots Festival.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

Type

Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/617 <![CDATA[Ashcraft-Fraser House]]> 2016-10-12T08:09:09-07:00

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Barbara MacDonald Magone is the composer of this happy reel. She plays it for us in her own beautiful style. Barbara is admired by musicians for her solo piano playing and her sensitivity when performing with others. She composed 'Ashcraft-Fraser House' for Sally Ashcraft and Alasdair Fraser, the great ambassador of Scottish fiddle music, when they bought their first home in California.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

Type

Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/488 <![CDATA[Catherine's Classroom]]> 2016-10-12T08:08:51-07:00

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Cabin Jig, The

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Catherine McEvoy composed this jig. I named it 'Catherine's Classroom' after reading her story of how the tune came about. In her own words: 'I have a wooden cabin at the back of the house that I use for teaching in, and for musical purposes. I was on my own one evening waiting for pupils to come, and playing a few tunes, and it just came to me. I called it "The Cabin Jig" just to give it a name when I wrote it down, hoping to come up with something better. Unfortunately, it's not a very exciting story, and I never did get round to re-naming it.'

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

Type

Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/489 <![CDATA[Father Tom's Wager]]> O'Neill's 1001. I first heard the legendary Joe Burke play this tune with the lovely surprise variation in the second part. Thanks to Holland Raper for learning the tune and playing it on her fiddle. She is a former student of Mick Gavin of Meelick, County Clare, and Detroit, and, at the time of writing, a student at Berklee College of Music in Boston.]]> 2016-10-12T08:08:51-07:00

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This grand old jig appears in O'Neill's 1001. I first heard the legendary Joe Burke play this tune with the lovely surprise variation in the second part. Thanks to Holland Raper for learning the tune and playing it on her fiddle. She is a former student of Mick Gavin of Meelick, County Clare, and Detroit, and, at the time of writing, a student at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/618 <![CDATA[Bridge of Portumna, The]]>
The bridge spanning the Shannon at Portumna always held a fascination for me, particularly when it was raised to let larger boats sail underneath. I loved to swim in the clear waters of the Shannon, and diving from the high bridge of Portumna was always a test of nerves and possibly a way of being a 'show off'. During one of my crazy show-off dives I twisted my back and though I lived to tell the tale, I carry a souvenir of that dive to this day!

I wonder if my good friend, accordionist and composer Martin Mulhaire, ever jumped or swam near the bridge. However, I do know that he composed this grand reel, which is masterfully played here by Liz Carroll on her fiddle.]]>
2016-10-12T08:09:10-07:00

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The town of Portumna in County Galway was a port of call for my father, Mick Connolly, when he worked on the River Shannon. During school holidays I often sailed with my Dad up and down the river and I always looked forward to docking in Portumna after the twenty-five mile trip on Lough Derg.

The bridge spanning the Shannon at Portumna always held a fascination for me, particularly when it was raised to let larger boats sail underneath. I loved to swim in the clear waters of the Shannon, and diving from the high bridge of Portumna was always a test of nerves and possibly a way of being a 'show off'. During one of my crazy show-off dives I twisted my back and though I lived to tell the tale, I carry a souvenir of that dive to this day!

I wonder if my good friend, accordionist and composer Martin Mulhaire, ever jumped or swam near the bridge. However, I do know that he composed this grand reel, which is masterfully played here by Liz Carroll on her fiddle.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

Type

Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/619 <![CDATA[Lord Gordon's Father]]> 2016-10-12T08:09:10-07:00

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Lord Gordon

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The long version of the reel 'Lord Gordon', which the great Michael Coleman recorded in the 1930s, contains a number of parts which are attributed to that master County Sligo fiddle player. Another version, with two parts, was recorded on a 78 by musicians from the Ballinakill area of County Galway. Here, Monsignor Charlie Coen gives us still another two-part setting of the tune, which he has given the clever title 'Lord Gordon's Father', surmising that the origins of Michael Coleman's masterpiece lie in an older, simpler setting of the tune, perhaps somewhat like this one.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/437 <![CDATA[Flee as a Bird]]> elsewhere in the collection. Here, a longer setting of the tune, which can be found in Ryan's Mammoth Collection, is performed by the wonderfully talented Kimberley Fraser from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. Kimberley spent a few days with Sandy and me in our home in Maine, and we had lots of laughs and great music.]]> 2016-10-12T08:08:44-07:00

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A two-part version of 'Flee as a Bird' is another tune which I recorded from Julia Clifford and her son Billy in the early 1960s. It can be heard elsewhere in the collection. Here, a longer setting of the tune, which can be found in Ryan's Mammoth Collection, is performed by the wonderfully talented Kimberley Fraser from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. Kimberley spent a few days with Sandy and me in our home in Maine, and we had lots of laughs and great music.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

Type

Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/620 <![CDATA[Dan Gurney's]]> 2016-10-12T08:09:10-07:00

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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

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Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/490 <![CDATA[Marg's Jig]]> 2016-10-12T08:08:51-07:00

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Maeve Donnelly plays a composition of master composer Mrs. Matilda Murdoch, the queen of New Brunswick fiddle playing. Matilda has numerous compositions to her credit and she takes great pleasure in passing the tunes along to musicians eager to learn them. Matilda was delighted to hear the musical confluence that resulted when Maeve played this New Brunswick tune in her wonderful Irish fiddle style.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

Type

Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/621 <![CDATA[Sarah's Wedding]]> 2016-10-12T08:09:10-07:00

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Paddy O'Brien from County Offaly made this tune for Sarah Kelly, the daughter of his friend and musical cohort, fiddle player James Kelly. All who attended Sarah's wedding had a wonderful day. Paddy, in his own unique style, performs it on this track.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/729 <![CDATA[O'Carolan's (Number 174)]]> Birdwatcher Hill, and that track appears here. The tune can be found as number 174 in Donal O'Sullivan's magisterial collection Carolan: The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper, Volume 1.]]> 2017-04-25T10:53:27-07:00

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Turlough O'Carolan's eighteenth-century compositions have attracted the attention of musicians all over the world. His music occupies a unique and permanent place in the repertoire of Irish traditional music. I learned this tune from the guitar playing of my friend Anisa Angarola. We played it together on Anisa's CD Birdwatcher Hill, and that track appears here. The tune can be found as number 174 in Donal O'Sullivan's magisterial collection Carolan: The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper, Volume 1.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

Type

Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/622 <![CDATA[Peggy Monaghan's]]> 2016-10-12T08:09:10-07:00

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Peggy Monaghan was Sean Nugent's sister, and he honoured her with this fine reel. It is played here by his son Larry Nugent. Thanks, Larry, for the tunes!

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Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

Type

Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/491 <![CDATA[Drunken Ganger's, The]]> Ryan's Mammoth Collection. It is played here in fine style by the talented Gráinne Murphy.]]> 2016-10-12T08:08:51-07:00

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This is another tune that was given to me by accordionist Larry Gavin, who lives in Tulla, in east County Clare. A version of this slip jig may be found in Ryan's Mammoth Collection. It is played here in fine style by the talented Gráinne Murphy.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

Type

Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/708 <![CDATA[Spancilhill]]> 2016-10-12T08:09:24-07:00

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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

Type

Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/623 <![CDATA[Jimmy McHugh's]]> 2016-10-12T08:09:10-07:00

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This tune is a composition of master fiddle player Jimmy McHugh, the 1957 Tyrone-born Senior All-Ireland fiddle champion. I remember well witnessing Jimmy's performance in the Senior Fiddle Competition in Dungarvan, County Waterford, and watching him holding the Michael Coleman Perpetual Cup when he was awarded first prize. It was the first All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil I ever attended. Jimmy's son Benny McHugh, a fiddle player who lives in Glasgow, graciously recorded a number of his father's compositions, including the one heard here. Not having a name for it, I decided on the above title, 'Jimmy McHugh's'. Sounds good to me.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

Type

Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/624 <![CDATA[Small Fox, Big Field]]> 2016-10-12T08:09:11-07:00

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One of the young musicians featured in this collection and for whom I have much admiration is Eric Eid-Reiner. In his own words he tells us about his composition's title: 'This tune has nothing to do with hunting, despite what one might logically guess. I wrote this reel while waiting a long time for a taxi from a company with 'fox' and 'field' in its name. I observed several taxis from that company pass right by before mine finally arrived.' Since writing this tune in 2007, Eric has slightly revised the melody, which can be found in his book of original tunes and heard on a 2014 CD by The Moving Violations. The band members on that recording are Van Kaynor and Ron Grosslein on fiddles, Eric Eid-Reiner on piano, and Chuck Corman on bass.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

Type

Some transcriptions are based on historical source recordings. More info.
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