<![CDATA[The Séamus Connolly Collection of Irish Music]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/items/browse?tags=Playlist+07&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CTitle&output=rss2 Thu, 28 Mar 2024 23:18:17 -0700 burnsref@bc.edu (The Séamus Connolly Collection of Irish Music) Boston College Libraries Zend_Feed http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <![CDATA[Aftermath of the Ice Storm]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/640

Story

New England is known for its ever-changing weather patterns, and for snow, rain, sleet, and ice. In 2008, the New England states were badly hit with an unforgettable ice storm. People were stranded and without heat in their homes for weeks. Trees were laden down with ice, and the roads were treacherous to drive and walk on. One of the good things that came as a result of the ice storm is this tune composed and played here by Rodney Miller. Certainly, Rodney, your tune will forever remind us of those glittering shiny trees, the downed electrical and phone lines and, of course, the wonderful people who work so hard and so diligently to bring our lives back to normal in the aftermath of such a storm.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-08_Aftermath_of_the_Ice_Storm-Slow_Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:20 -0800
<![CDATA[Bells of Congress, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/550

Story

The Bells of Congress were presented to the United States by the Ditchley Foundation of Great Britain in 1976. A replica of the bells in London's Westminster Abbey, they are rung in honour of the opening and closing of Congress, and on state occasions and all national holidays. The Old Post Office in Washington houses the Bells of Congress and a guided tour of the building by the National Park Service is worth taking.

In the 1980s, as part of a musical delegation to Washington, D.C., representing the State of Massachusetts, I had the honour of visiting the Old Post Office and hearing the bells ring. When in full peal, the bells can take up to three and a half hours to complete their continuous performance. However, my composition on this track takes only a few minutes. I am joined by Gabriel Donohue on guitar.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
07-29_The_Bells_of_Congress-Planxty.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:16 -0800
<![CDATA[Bill Sullivan's Jig]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/514

Story

Accordion player William Sullivan immigrated from Clifden, Ireland, to New York City in the 1920s, later settling in Parlin, New Jersey. He recorded this tune on Sampler Records in the late 1980s in a duo with Mitzie Collins, a hammered dulcimer and piano player. Bill Sullivan was a friend of the 1920s accordion player Peter 'P.J.' Conlon, and they often played music together. My friend Ted McGraw from Rochester told me that both these accordionists appeared on a 78 RPM recording on the Clarion label, with Peter Conlon on one side of the record and Bill Sullivan on the other. The jig is played on this track by my nephew Damien Connolly on melodeon. The title that I gave to the jig is 'Bill Sullivan's'. Names change from time to time: Bill Sullivan had named it for Mr. Conlon.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-34_Bill_Sullivans_Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:14 -0800
<![CDATA[Brave Irish Boys, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/545

Story

Irish céilí dancing was very popular in the late 1950s and early '60s, and dancers loved the idea of dancing to the music of different bands. In the late 1950s I was invited to join The Ormond Star Céilí Band, one of a number of bands that were formed around the banks of The Shannon and Lough Derg. The Ormond Star counted among its members many fine musicians, including All-Ireland champion button accordionist Paddy Ryan from Coolbawn, Nenagh, County Tipperary, and fiddle player Liam O'Connor, originally from Brosna, County Kerry. Liam taught me many tunes, including the one played on this track by my friend Nicole Rabata on flute, with myself on fiddle. Just for the record, The Ormond Star did travel to Dublin to make a long-playing recording – exciting times for me as a teenager.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
07-06_The_Brave_Irish_Boys-March.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:16 -0800
<![CDATA[Bríd Donnelly's]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/652

Story

I first heard this reel played by Bríd Donnelly, a fine flute player with The Pride of Erin Céilí Band from County Fermanagh. My friend Nicky McAuliffe calls it 'The West Clare', but I'm sure the musicians in West Clare would be pleased with the title I have given it here, just as they would have been delighted with Bríd's playing of it. Catherine McEvoy plays the reel on this track, with her nephew Paddy McEvoy on the piano. The music lives on.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
07-30_Brid_Donnellys-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:21 -0800
<![CDATA[Canyon Jig]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/507

Story

David Reiner has published a number of fiddle books, including Anthology of Fiddle Tunes (Mel Bay). According to Dave, this tune came together in his head while he was hiking with his parents and brother in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. After he returned from the hike he picked up his fiddle and, he writes, 'made a few improvements to the tune, including the ending that tumbles down arpeggios like a waterfall into a canyon.' The great Liz Carroll recreates Dave's musical hiking adventure with her interpretation of this composition.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-05_Canyon_Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:14 -0800
<![CDATA[Cathal's Reel]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/643

Story

The revered traditional music group The Boys of the Lough performed in Boston in the late 1980s. At a house gathering that same evening, their flutist Cathal McConnell played this tune for me. The tune is performed for us on this track by Catherine McEvoy, who brings to bear her very own masterly interpretation and style.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-11_Cathals_Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:20 -0800
<![CDATA[Charlie Mulvihill's Jig in A]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/509

Story

Accordionist, concertina player, and composer Charlie Mulvihill from New York composed this tune. Charlie was very friendly with the great Paddy Killoran, master fiddle player from County Sligo. When Paddy Killoran died, his wife Betty gave Charlie the 78 RPM recordings that Paddy had recorded in the 1930s and '40s. Charlie transferred the records to tape for Mrs. Killoran to enjoy once again. Along with the Killoran recordings, Charlie gave her a tape of his own compositions which includes this jig cleverly structured around the recurrence of the note 'A'. He plays it on this track with his daughter Geraldine on piano and son Tommy on fiddle. I am grateful to Tommy Mulvihill for giving me permission to feature the track with this collection.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
07-20_Charlie_Mulvihills_Jig_in_A.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:14 -0800
<![CDATA[Con's Return]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/651

Story

This reel is another composition of the talented Eamon Flynn from County Limerick. Eamon's brother Con was not heard from for many years and when he suddenly returned home there was rejoicing all around the neighbourhood. Eamon celebrated his brother's return with this reel. The track here was taken from an old cassette tape of Eamon. Thanks to Gabriel Donohue for cleaning it up for me in his studio for all to hear.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-27_Cons_Return-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:20 -0800
<![CDATA[Dominick McCarthy's]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/417

Story

The many accordion styles in Irish and Scottish music have always held a fascination for me. The music of Mr. Dominick McCarthy is a mixture of the music of these neighboring countries. I first heard his music on Radio Éireann, and I remember seeing him perform with fiddle player Seán Ryan at one of the early All-Ireland Fleadhanna Ceoil in the 1950s. Both of these men played a lot together where they lived in the Midlands of Ireland. Dominick McCarthy played this fling for me in his own distinctive style when I was on a visit to his home in the 1980s.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-25_Dominick_McCarthys-Fling.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:10 -0800
<![CDATA[Eochaill]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/711

Story

My dear friend Ann Mulqueen, formerly of Castleconnell, County Limerick, and now living in An Rinn, the Gaeltacht area of County Waterford, is the singer on this track. Ann travelled throughout Ireland competing at Fleadhanna Ceoil, and she was much sought after as a performer of the great ballads of Ireland. She amassed a huge collection of songs from her grandmother, which no doubt were helpful to her during her competitive years, when she won a number of All-Ireland singing titles. On this track we hear her singing 'Eochaill', a love song in Irish which she learned from the great Gaeltacht singers of An Rinn. This track appears on her CD, Mo Ghrása Thall na Déise. The English translation of the lyrics is provided courtesy of Tomás Ó Ceilleachair.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-01_Eochaill-Song.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:23 -0800
<![CDATA[Gaelic Roots]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/653

Story

The New England fiddle player Rodney Miller composed 'Gaelic Roots' at Boston College during one of the University's weeks of Irish music, song, and dance, when he was a special guest and visiting professor. Rodney honours us on this track with his beautiful music and sweet tone. He performed this tune on one of his own handmade instruments.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-36_Gaelic_Roots-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:21 -0800
<![CDATA[Great Composer, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/512

Story

A prolific composer in the world of Irish music was master fiddle player Larry Redican. I didn't have a name for this jig, hence the title 'The Great Composer' came to mind. Larry plays the fiddle on this tune, which was a favourite of his friend Mr. Roger Casey, an Irish dance adjudicator. Roger kindly gave me all the recordings of Larry Redican which are featured in this collection, with the exception of the recording of 'Larry's Strange Jig'.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-32_The_Great_Composer-Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:14 -0800
<![CDATA[Homecoming, The]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/730

Story

Kathleen Boyle, a great musician from Glasgow, composed this tune for her mother and father. They had returned home to County Donegal after living for forty-seven years in Scotland. Kathleen, who plays her composition on this track, travels back and forth from Scotland to America very often. She is a member of Joanie Madden's Cherish the Ladies ensemble. There is more on this young lady elsewhere in the collection.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-17_The_Homecoming-Waltz.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:24 -0800
<![CDATA[How Are You, Sandy? (Sandy Connolly's)]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/508

Story

It meant much to my wife Sandy and me when Bill Black, our friend from Cape Cod, sent us a tune that he composed in her honour entitled 'How Are You, Sandy?' Bill later sent the tune under the new title 'Sandy Connolly's' when she left us to go to her eternal reward. Thank you, sir, for caring so much. Sandy was very moved by your thoughtfulness. My friend Kevin McElroy joins me on this track.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries
07-15_How_Are_You_Sandy_Sandy_Connollys-Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:14 -0800
<![CDATA[I Love You Not and I Care Not]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/506

Story

One could say not a very pleasing or romantic title, but certainly a tune worth preserving, even more so when it's played on the fiddle by Maeve Donnelly. Whilst driving through Italy with Chrysandra (Sandy), my wife, this old jig came into my head, and I scribbled some of the notes on paper so that I would remember it again. I had first heard the tune played on the Céilí House programme in the 1960s by the well-known nine-brother band The McCusker Brothers, from Northern Ireland. What a pleasant coincidence it was, upon my return from Italy, to hear the tune on Maeve's 2002 recording Maeve Donnelly. Maeve has done me the honour of playing it again for this collection.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-03_I_Love_You_Not_and_I_Care_Not-Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:14 -0800
<![CDATA[Ideno]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/645

Story

My nephew Damien Connolly plays another of his compositions on the fiddle on this track. When I asked him the name of the tune he gave me the answer, 'Ideno', a Killaloe contraction of 'I don't know'!

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-14_Ideno-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:20 -0800
<![CDATA[Johnny's Welcome Home]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/646

Story

Billy Clifford recorded this tune for me that night long ago in Tralee, County Kerry. The memories of that evening remain with me always, especially delightful when I listen to the tape Billy and his mother made for me that evening so long ago. What generosity. A version of 'Johnny's Welcome Home' appears in O'Neill's 1001.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-16_Johnnys_Welcome_Home-Reel.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:20 -0800
<![CDATA[Joy of My LIfe]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/505

Story

This well-known jig is performed on this track by yours truly, Séamus Connolly. With help on the banjo from my friend Kevin McElroy, we offer this grand two-part jig as a way to invite musicians to play this tune once again. The interesting second part of the tune comes from the fiddle playing of Thomas Power from Doonbeg in County Clare.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-02_Joy_of_My_Life-Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:14 -0800
<![CDATA[Larry's Strange Jig]]> https://connollymusiccollection.bc.edu/document/515

Story

Ted McGraw has an amazing collection of music in his library. He sent me this recording of Larry Redican and suggested that it was 'a strange jig'. Ted doesn't know where the recording took place, and he has little or no information about the tune. My own intuition seems to suggest that the jig may be of Canadian origin. Thank you, Ted, for bringing the tune to light once more.

Publisher

Séamus Connolly
Boston College Libraries

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07-35_Larrys_Strange_Jig.pdf
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Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:43:15 -0800