A lil' Capella for when all you can do is wade around..
maybe Keep your Lamp Trimmed and Burning (by whoever) while you're at it!

Wade in the Water - 6G's, All Simon

8. Waltz: I'll meet you on a day that never ends.





This was composed by Bryan O'Leary. Like many another musician with time on their hands during the pandemic lockdowns, Bryan turned to composition, spurred on by a commission from RTÉ Radio 1's Aoife Nic Cormaic (a good friend to World Fiddle Day Scartaglin, and co-presenter, with Steve Larkin, of the 2022 Fiddle Recital). The result was Bryan's 2021 album, "Tranquility in Tureencahill", featuring seventeen original tunes. This is one that John Carty particularly enjoys playing.

 

(F#, C#, G#)

E- C,- A,- | F-- AF | E- A- C- | B-- BAB |

C-- F'A' | E'C- CB | AF- FE | E-- BAF |

E- C,- A,- | F-- AF | E- A- C- | B-- AB |

CF'- F'A' | E'C- CB | AF-- | F-- GAB ||

C-- E'F'C | E'- C- B- | C-- E'F'G' | A'-- |

G'- E'- F' | E'- C- B- | C- E'- E'- | E'-- G'A'F' |

E'- C- A- | E'F'- A'F' | E'- C- A- | B-- BA |

B-- CD'E' | BC CB AE | F-- | F-- GAB || (1st time)

                                        | F- GAF || (2nd time)

Set 8 - Waltz

Notes from Paul De Grae

Set7. Reels: What Brought You in There? and Jimmy Batty's
 

These are two of John Carty's own compositions. The first one can be found on the 2008 At the Racket album, "It's Not Racket Science", and the second one is on John's 1994 album with Brian McGrath, "The Cat that Ate the Candle".

 

What brought you in there?

D- E || FEDB, A,B,DE | F- ED FAAE | FEDB, A,B,DE | F- EG FB,B,E |

FB,B,D A,B,DE | F- ED FAAE | FEDB, A,B,DE | F- EG FDDC ||

D'-- C B- D'B | A- FE FB B- | D'BAC BAFD | A,B,DE FDDC |

D'- E'D' B- D'B | A- FE FBBC | D'BAC B- B'F' | A'F'E'G' F'D' D- ||

 

Jimmy Batty's

D'AAB A- FE | DFAB A- FA | BEEA BD'E'F' | G'E'F'G' E'D'BC |

D'AAB A- FE | DFAB A- FA | BEEA BCD' E'G' | F'D'E'C D'E'F'E' || (1st)

                                                                     | F'D'E'C D'- C || (2nd)

D'AAB AGFG | A- A'E' F'A'E'D' | BE'E'F' E'-- F' | G'E'F'D' E'D'BC|

D'AAB AGFG | A- A'G' F'G'E'C | D'F'E'D' BAFB | AFAB D'- E' || (1st)

                                                                        | AFAB D'-- || (2nd)

Set 7 - Reels

Notes from Paul De Grae
Jigs - The Pilgrimage and The Mountcollins Jig
John Carty got these tunes in New York from fiddler and Shanachie co-founder, the late Dan Collins, whose mother Bridget came from Mountcollins, County Limerick; his father Bill came from Meelin, County Cork. As further evidence of Dan's connection to the south-west of Ireland, in 1961 when he brought out a paperback reprint of the then-hard-to-find "O'Neill's Music of Ireland", it was under the imprint of Rock Chapel Press. All the family were musical; Dan's sister Kathleen was an outstanding fiddler, whose solo album is a gem.
The first tune has various titles. The Pilgrimage is what James Morrison called it in manuscripts for his pupils, and he seems to be the source of the tune. One of those pupils was Jackie Roche, who recorded it as Morrison's Favourite on his 1958 Avoca LP, "The Kerry Dances", so it's known as Jackie Roche's Favourite as well. Paddy Cronin learned it from that LP, and played it often, so of course it's also known as Paddy Cronin's. Some people call it Dan Collins's or Dave Collins's (after his brother). I'm told it's in Josephine Keegan's collection, "A Drop in the Ocean", as Gone to the Dogs. Take your pick! It's arguably a cousin of The Rollicking Boys of Tandragee.

The second tune was composed by the late Eamonn Flynn, of Mountcollins, who spent many years in Boston and Vermont before returning to his native territory. Twenty-one of his compositions, including this one, can be found in Dan Herlihy's book, "Sliabh Luachra Music Masters: Volume 2", along with a great photo of Eamonn with Paddy Cronin, both wearing tuxedos, in an early 1960s ceili band.

 

The Pilgrimage

(C = C natural. C# = C sharp)

ABA DED | A- B C- A | GAG GEF | GAG EFG |

ABA DED | A- B C- A | GFG BAG | AFD D- B || (1st time)

                                                   | AFD D- E' || (2nd time)

F'- F' G'E'D | C#AG EFG | F'- F' G'E'D' | E'- A' E'F'G' |

F'- F' G'E'D | C#AG EFG | A- A BAG | AFD D-- || (x 2)

 

The Mountcollins Jig

F-- DFA | BAF AD'E' | F'E'D' BAF | B-- BAG |

F-- D- A | BAF A- G' | F'E'D' BAF | E-- EDE ||

F- A D- A | BAF AD'E' |F'E'D' BAF | B-- D-- |

F'G'A'F' E'F'E' | D'E'D' CBA | BAF EFA | B-- B- G' ||

F'-- D'- F' | A'F'D' E'D'E' | F'- E' D'E'F' | G'-- G'F'E' |

F'-- D'F'A' | B'A'F' G'F'E' | F'D'A DFA | B-- B- G' ||

F'-- D'- F' | A'F'D' E'D'E' | F'- E' D'E'F' | G'-- G'F'G' |

A'G'F' G'F'E' | F'E'D' E'D'C| BAF EFA | B- A D'- A ||

Set 6 - Jigs

Notes from Paul De Grae
 5. Reels: Paddy Cronin's 
This is a real treat: two reels that John Carty learned from the playing of Paddy Cronin, quite possibly composed by Paddy. They don't appear on any of Paddy's commercial recordings, and I can't find them in print in any of the O'Neill or Breathnach collections, nor in any of a dozen or so other books (the opening phrase of No. 2 has a slight resemblance to "Mullingar Races", but that's all). We hope to have more information before World Fiddle Day.

 

No. 1

F- EF D- DE | FED EF DB, B,- | A,B,DE F- BC | D'E'CD' B- AG |

F- EF D- DE | FED EF DB, B,- | A,B,DE FABA | F- EG FDDE ||  (1st time)

                                                                    | F- EG FDDC || (2nd time)

D'- E'C D'B B- | FBD'B FABC | D'- E'C D'BBA | FACE' D'BBC |

D'E'F'D' CD'E'C | D'CBA FB, B,- | A,B,DE FABA | F- EG FDDC || (1st)

                                                                        | F- EG FD D- ||  (2nd)

 

No. 2

DEFD EB, B,- | DEFA BCD'E' | D'BAF D'F F- | EDFE DB, B,- |

D- FD EB, B,- | DEFA BCD'E' | D'BAF D'F F- | EDFE D--- ||  (1st time)

                                                                   | EDFE D- AC ||  (2nd time)

D'CD'E' F'- D'F' | E'D'F'D' E'B B- | D'BAF D'F F- | EDFE DB,B,A |

D'CD'E' F'- D'F' | E'D'F'D' E'B B- | D'BAF D'F F- | EDFE D- AC ||

D'CD'E' F'- D'F' | E'D'F'D' E'B B- | D'BAF D'F F- | EDFE DB, B,- |

DEFD EB, B,- | DEFA BCD'E' | D'BAF D'F F- | EDFE D--- ||

Set 5 - Reels

Notes from Paul De Grae
4. Fling and slides: Turn Hill, Carrigkerry Slide, Con Cassidy's
John Carty learned these tunes from Dan Brouder, who kindly supplied some local information. The fling, Turn Hill, is named after a place in West Limerick, between Templeglantine and Rooskagh; the tune was played by John Joe Hartnett (flute player from Athea) and Moss Murphy (fiddler from Templegantine), from whom Dan learned it. Carrigkerry is a village, also in West Limerick, and this slide also comes from the playing of John Joe and Moss. Dan credits Donegal fiddler Con Cassidy with composing the third tune.

 

As proof that good music knows no boundaries, both of these slides are very much associated with Con Cassidy and Donegal music; they are played as jigs in Donegal (Altan recorded Con Cassidy's on their album "The Red Crow"), and they have also become naturalised here in the south-west. I remember hearing Máire O'Keeffe and Michelle O'Sullivan playing them in Tralee in the early 1980s.

 

Turn Hill

E'F' G'  E'- D'  B- D'  G'-- | G- B  D'- B  G- B  D'- G' |

E'F' G'  E'- D'  B- D'  G'- A' | G'- E'  D'- E'  BA-  A-- ||  (x 2)

A'- E'  A'- B'  A'- E'  A'- B' | G'- E'  G'- A'  G'- E'  G'- B' |

A'- E'  A'- B'  A'- E'  A'- B' | G'- E'  D'- E'  BA-  A-- ||  (x 2)

 

The Carrigkerry Slide

F' | G'- F' E'F'G' | D'- B BAB | C- A AGA | B- G GBD' |

G'- F' E'F'G' | D'- B B- C | AA'A' D'E'F' | G'-- D'E'F' || (1st time)

                                                           |  G'-- G'- A' || (2nd time)

B'- G' G'F'G' | B'- G' G'F'G' | A'- F' F'E'F' | A'- F' D'- G' |

B'- G' G'F'G' | B'- G' G'F'G' | E'A'A' D'E'F' | G'-- G'- A' || (1st time)

                                                                | G'-- G'D'C || (last time)

 

Con Cassidy's

B-- BAB | D'- C A- F | G-- GFG | B- A A- B |

C-- CE'G' | E'- D' B- C | D'E'D' CAF | G-- D- A || (1st time)

                                                       | G-- G- G' || (2nd time)

F'- D' D'E'F' | G'F'G' A'- G' | F'- D' D'E'D' | C- A A- E' |

F'- D' D'E'F' | G'F'G' A'- G' | F'G'F' E'F'E' | D'-- D'- G' ||

F'- D' D'E'F' | G'F'G' A'- G' | F'- D' D'E'D' | C- A A- G' |

F'- D' D'E'F' | G'F'G' A'- G' | F'G'F' E'F'E' | D'E'D' CD'C ||

To finish | B-- ABA | G---- ||

Set 4 - Fling and 2 Slides

Notes from Paul De Grae
3. Polkas: Francie Campbell's and Out of the Ashes
Two polkas from County Mayo, for a change. This is a set from John Carty's live album with Matt Molloy and Arty McGlynn, "Out of the Ashes". According to the liner notes, they got that title from "a saying of the great Johnny Watt Henry who was a night owl who liked to keep musicians late into the night. If they made an attempt to leave he would delay them by declaring: 'What hurry is on ye lads? Hold on and I'll rake up the gríosach here and see if I can't pull another 'quare' tune out of the ashes for ye...to be bringing home with ye.'"

 

In the Irish context, polkas are often equated with Kerry music (which must irritate people from Cork and Limerick who are also citizens of Sliabh Luachra), but they are to be found here and there all over the country, with local differences in rhythm and in the associated dances. It's like the Kerry Cattle, a hardy breed that did not originate in Kerry but was once common throughout the west and south-west of Ireland; as farming practices changed, other breeds ousted these handsome black animals, until only a few remained in poor, remote parts of Kerry (it's now a recognised "Rare Breed", and a herd is maintained in the state-owned land at Farmleigh). Similarly, as tastes in music and dancing changed, polkas and set-dancing largely fell out of favour in other parts of Ireland, or were never very popular in the first place; but they remained strong (if officially ignored) in Sliabh Luachra… all of which is a roundabout way of saying there's nothing surprising in having polkas from Mayo.

 

About the ABCs: it's important to indicate the long and short notes in these tunes. Single letters separated by a space are quavers (1/8 notes); a single letter with a short dash after it is a dotted quaver; a single letter with a double dash after it is a crotchet (1/4 note); and single letters without spaces between are semiquavers (1/16 notes). If in doubt, listen to the recording (listen to the recording anyway!).

 

Francie Campbell's

B D' A- B | G E  E D | E G  GAGE | D G  A-- |

B--  A- B | G E  E D | E G  GAGE | D G  G- A ||  (x 2)

B D'  G'- F' | E' D'  G'- D' | B D'  E'F'G'E' | D' B  A-- |

B D'  G' G'F' | E' D'  G'- E'| D' B  A GA | B G  G-- ||  (x 2)

 

Out of the Ashes

E | D G  G A | B D'  G' F' | E' G'E'  D' B | A G  EFGE |

D G  G A | B D'  D' B | E'--  D'- B | A G  G-- ||  (x 2)

B D'  B D' | G'- G'  E' G' | D'--  B AG | E A  A C |

B D'  B- D' | G' F'  E'F'G'E' | D' A  B A | G--  G-- ||  (x 2)

Set 3 - Polkas

Notfrom Paul De Grae
The second set chosen by John Carty for the World Fiddle Day Scartaglin fiddle recital. ABCs at the end of this text.



2. Hornpipes: An Trí is a Rian, Cronin's.

 

Two fine Sliabh Luachra hornpipes, both from the Pádraig O'Keeffe repertoire. You can find POK's own version of the first one on the RTÉ CD, "The Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master – Pádraig O'Keeffe", as one of a pair of hornpipes titled John Quinn's, named after POK's piccolo-playing neighbour; and POK recorded the second one with Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford on the "Kerry Fiddles" album.

 

Breandán Breathnach collected the first one from Denis Murphy as An Trí is a Rian and also as An Tí is a Rian, and people have been confused about the title ever since (Denis was not an Irish speaker, and was perhaps unsure himself of the meaning); the transcription of Denis's playing is in "Ceol Rince na hÉireann" vol. 5, no. 217. If you don't like the Irish title, you could follow POK and call it John Quinn's; also, Julia and Billy Clifford recorded it as The Sands. The first part is an adaptation, perhaps by POK, of Miss McLeod's Reel.

 

In the booklet accompanying the "Music from Sliabh Luachra" album series by Topic Records, Alan Ward writes that the second tune "is usually associated with Edward Cronin", the fiddler from Limerick Junction in Tipperary, later resident in Chicago, a major contributor to Francis O'Neill's collections. Certainly Edward Cronin played in a recognisably Sliabh Luachra style, as can be heard on the O'Neill cylinder recordings (isued on CD by Ward Irish Music Archives in 2010); but this tune is not one of the many sourced from Edward Cronin in O'Neill's books. A more likely candidate is Paddy Cronin, who recorded this tune as Cronin's Hornpipe in 1950 for Copley Records in Boston, that title probably being invented in the studio; after that the tune became associated with Paddy, and it would be unsurprising to find the "Kerry Fiddles" trio calling it Cronin's when they played it for Séamus Ennis in 1952 (the setting in Breathnach's CRÉ vol. 2, no. 303, is from Séamus). It's also sometimes called Denis Murphy's, for example on the "Paddy in the Smoke" album.

 

An Trí is a Rian

GABG EFGA | B- BA BCBA | GABG EFGB | ABA GFE DCBA |

GABG EFGA | BCD' E'F' G'- F'G' | E'CAG FAD'C | BCB G- G-- || (x 2)

D'-- B G'- G'E' | D'E'D'B GBD'B | C-- A B-- C | ABA GFE DCBA |

GABG EFGA | BCD' E'F' G'- F'G' | E'CAG FAD'C | B- G- G-- || (x 2)

 

Cronin's

D- | GABD' D'BD'E' | G'A'G'E' D'E'G'A' | B'A'G'E' D'BGA | BAAB A- BA |

GABD' D'BD'E' | G'A'G'E' D'E'G'A' | B'A'G'E' D'BAB | G- GF G- ||  (x 2)

F'G' | A'F'D'C# D'E'G'A' | B'G'E'B E'F'G'A' | B'G'A'F' G'E'D'B | BAAB A- BA |

GABD' D'BD'E' | G'A'G'E' D'E'G'A' | B'A'G'E' D'BAB | G- GF G- ||  (x 2)

Set 2 - Hornpipes

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Set 7 - Reels

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