99 Traditional Irish Dance Tunes *********** These tunes have collected themselves over the years, in the sense that most of them come from tapes of various sessions and other gatherings. They are either tunes I regard as uncommon and thus worthy of recording, unusual settings of well known tunes, or settings of tunes (well known or otherwise) by musicians I regard as having a great way of playing. For personal reasons there is a bias towards the fiddle. It is inevitable that some tunes and sets of tunes here will be from commercial recordings I am unaware of. I have followed the splendid example of Brendan Breathnach in representing ornamentation (see 'Ceol Rince na h'Eireann'), except in cases were I have tried to represent a more unusual musical event. I had also intended to sort along the lines of tune type and key (again cf. Brendan Breathnach). However, it was easiest for me to just add tunes to the back of the list as I transcribed them, so the tunes are effectively sorted by session.. Note that key signatures do not denote the actual key of the tune, but the note spacings involved, e.g. a tune in 'A' with a modal feel will actually have a key signature of 'D' (2 sharps). Comments on the tunes follow the actual musical sections, together with some information on the players involved. If a tune is a transcription of an actual performance it is noted there, otherwise the notation is best seen as 'skeletal', or 'generic'. In the case of the latter I have not always indicated that a reel is played double, have often left out the 'lead' notes at the ends of parts, and have not usually credited the performer as most of the tunes were recorded at sessions. Names have been a real headache, particularly in the case of odd tunes gleaned from ancient tapes. Tracking them down would take far too much of my time, and an endless series of 'Gan Ainm' looks ridiculous. So I have made a lot of them up. The information in this book will inevitably contain errors, for which, apologies. The text was produced on Aldus Pagemaker (Macintosh), while the tunes were typeset using Chris Walshaws 'ABC' software, MusicTex, and Tex. Bernard Stocks Further Comments ********* '*' indicates an attempt to transcribe an actual performance. 1-8 were all recorded from Connie Connel at Milltown Malbay in 1983. 1.* 2.* 3.* Usually an 'A' tune. 4.* 5.* 6.* 7.* 8.* 9.* Charlie Harris. A version for the accordion, played in 'A' out of 'D' row. 10-15 recorded at a session in Bangor, Co. Down, with Nigel and Dianna Boullier and Willie Coyle. 15.* Dianna Boullier. 16-20 are from Dermot Diamond (c.198?) 16.* Does not have the key change of the usual version. 17.* Played with 18 as a set. Both originally from Roger Sherlock. 18.* 19.* Played as a set with 20. 20.* 21.* Dermot Diamond. Kitchen Bar, Belfast, 198?. Version of a tune in 'A' associated with Ben Lennon. Tunes 22-28 are from Dermot Diamond, Milltown Malbay, 1985 22.* 23.* 24.* 25.* 26.* Played as a set with 27 and 28. All three originally from Tommy Peoples. 27.* Finishes on the first part. 28.* This tune also played as a jig. The first 2 bars of the 'A' part are heavily droned on the 'A' string. 29.* Denis Doody. Really a single reel, or barn dance. Played in 'A' out of 'D' row, hence the 'G' naturals. I heard this played with bouzouki accompaniment in straight 'A' major, resulting in a remarkable musical experience. 30.* James Byrne. Very much the Donegal version. Note the two different versions of the second part, and the variation at the start of the first part. Tunes 31 and 32 recorded in Derrygonnelly (Fermanagh) in 1993, at a session with Ben Lennon, Andy Dickson and John Carty Tunes 33-45 recorded in Derrygonnelly (Fermanagh) in 1993, at a session with Ciaran Kelly, Maurice Bradley, and Nigel and Dianna Boullier. 33. Technically the first part of this is 'D' but even with the 'C' sharp the feel is still 'G' 38. Reportly composed by John Stevenson 39. As 38. Tunes 46 an 47 from a recording of Dermot Byrne in concert at Teelin. Tunes 48-53 recorded at Mullach, Clare in 1985, at a session involving Dermot Diamond and Henry Benagh. 50 / 51 were played by an unknown fiddle player. Tunes 54-57 recorded at The Cross Keys, Co Antrim. Ciaran Kelly and Maurice Bradley. 57. Same composer as The Home Ruler (B'Castle) Tunes 58-68 recorded at a session in Corofin, players unknown. 68. Played as a set; Boys of Ballysadare in 'F', then 'G', then this, then this again in 'A'. Tunes 69-72 recorded at Cushendall, Antrim 1993, with Terry Bingham and James McIlherron. 69. Terry Bingham 72. James McIlherron. Tunes 73-74 recorded at Portaferry, Down, 1993. 73. Gerry O'Connor 74. Hard to make this one out properly. Nigel Boullier. Tunes 75-80 from a house session in Cloreen Park, Belfast. Ciaran Kelly, Maurice Bradley. 79. Hard to make this one out; the second part would seem to be of 7 bars only. 81. Dermot Diamond, The Rotterdam, Belfast, 1987 82. From a radio broadcast. Composed by Maurice Lennon (?) Tunes 83-85 recorded at Mullach, Clare in 1985, at a session with Mairead Mooney and Frankie Kennedy. 85. Version of The Boys of the Lough? 86. Michael O Raghallaigh. Stripped down version of 'Sean sa Ceo'? 87. From a televised De Danaan concert. Tunes 88-92 from the Fiddle Concert at the Willie Clancy Summer School, Milltown Malbay 1983. 88. John Kelly Senior 89. John Kelly Senior 90. James Kelly. Played after Miss Ramsey. Version of the Donegal Reel. 91. John Kelly Senior (?) 92.* John Kelly Senior (?). A nice way to play a stock tune. 93. Dick Glasgow. Inverallan, 1983. Tunes 94 and 95 from Gerry O'Donnell. Milltown Malbay, 1985 Tunes 96-98 from a session in Belfast, 1984, involving Andy Dickson and Ciaran Carson. 99.* Tara Bingham, Newtownards Rugby Club, 1980 The Players *** vi - fiddle, bj - banjo, acc - accordion, cn - concertina, fl - flute Where a tune has been taken from a single player, rather than session, the number of the tune follows the artist. Connie Connel (vi) Coolea, Cork 1-8 Dermot Diamond (vi,bj) Belfast 16-28 Denis Doody (acc) Kerry 29 James Byrne (vi) Donegal 30 Dianna Boullier (vi) Bangor, Down 15 Nigel Boullier (bj) Bangor, Down 74 Charlie Harris (acc) 9 Terry Bingham (cn) Comber, Down 69 Ciaran Kelly (acc) Moneymore, Derry Maurice Bradley (vi) Draperstown, Derry Dermot Byrne (acc) Donegal 46,47 Michael O Raghallaigh (cn) 86 Mairead Mooney (vi) Gweedore, Donegal Frankie Kennedy (fl) Belfast Willie Coyle (acc) Kircubbin, Down John Kelly (Sr) (vi) Dublin 88,89 James Kelly (vi) Dublin 90 Dick Glasgow (vi) Ballintoy, Antrim 93 Gerry O'Connor (vi) Dundalk, Louth 73 Gerry O'Donnell (fl) Belfast and Wicklow 94,95 Tara Bingham (fl) Comber, Down 99 Andy Dickson (vi) Belfast Ciaran Carson (fl,acc) Belfast John Rynne (fl) Clare