Anyone know of any links to sites which tell stories behind the tunes eg the Port na bPucai yarn etc? Or better yet, how about relaying a few stories here and now on this thread.
Cheers
Well, it's not an age old saga or anything, but the tune Letting the Ranch go Fallow (penned by Mr. Puddy Tat, himself) has a pretty good story behind it, which was mentioned in the Comments section of the tune: http://thesession.org/tunes/display/7159
This is a really great tune, even though it was written as a bit of a gag. (so to speak)
Oh... and there's a story about the Bank of Turf jig.
Apparently Padraig O' Keefe was out cutting turf, and a young passerby asked him for a tune, so he wrote it out in the side of the bank of turf, and said "if you can read it, you can have it".
Might be a tall tale, but it makes for a good story
there was 2 rival fiddle players who both thought they were the best musicians in town......and after many nights arguing and some times physicaly fighting with each other to see who was the best they decided to get together and have a competition by playing tune after tune to see who was the best......this went on untill early hours in the morning and still neither could convince one that they were better till they heard the lark singing in a tree and they both decided he was the best musician in town
I think the passer-by was supposed to be Denis Murphy, the other famous Kerry composer (yes, I'm sure there are a lot more, but you know what I mean..!)
Diddling the tune might have saved Padraig a lot of work. Cutting a legible tune and staves in a peat cutting must be pretty difficult. ABC notation done in ogam or runes might be easier.
Re The Roaring Jelly, I have heard two stories. Either it is the sound of jelly (strawberry, whatever) being boiled for preserving--or it refers to the explosive substance nitroglycerine, which can be jelly-like in consistency.
Hate to be a killjoy, but Farewell to Ireland resulted from ironing out the kinks from Highland Watches Farewell to Ireland, a Strathspey collected in 1759, if I am not mistaken. I do not believe 18th Century ships had horns.
Farewell to Ireland (A Scotsman's Farewell to Ireland) was written by Devin McCabe, I think, not so long ago. It's a different tune to Farewell to Erin (The Highlander's Lament), which as you say comes from an old strathspey.
They are very different tunes, but strangely enough, they both start on that low A.
Tom Anderson had many tales about the "Trowie" tunes that he had heard from the fairies. He maintained that as they were "magic" tunes, they should only be played once through out of respect to the "little people".
A maxim I have always tried to follow in sessions unless repeats were for a beginners benefit.
The Smokey House was always a favorite of mine, if only for the incredible tale about Don Niperi Septo that Seamus Ennis used to tell.
Story goes guy who wrote the tune was in a basment with out pen or paper when tune came into his head the only place he could find to write it out was the dusty widow sill and his finger. Good yarn and a super
Tune . PS hows the tuesday session going must drop in again soon with my dusty window
It's a shame to let this lie like this: "there was 2 rival fiddle players who both thought they were the best musicians in town." You should listen to Seamus Ennis' version of it - ending with the 4-part jig, The Lark in the Morning. Wonderful story, wonderful tune.
Tune stories
Tune stories
Anyone know of any links to sites which tell stories behind the tunes eg the Port na bPucai yarn etc? Or better yet, how about relaying a few stories here and now on this thread.
Cheers
# Posted on August 1st 2007 by copo24
Re: Tune stories
I've been told that the first low A in the reel Farewell To Ireland represents the horn blowing on a departing emigrant ship.
# Posted on August 1st 2007 by nicholas
Re: Tune stories
Well, it's not an age old saga or anything, but the tune Letting the Ranch go Fallow (penned by Mr. Puddy Tat, himself) has a pretty good story behind it, which was mentioned in the Comments section of the tune: http://thesession.org/tunes/display/7159
This is a really great tune, even though it was written as a bit of a gag. (so to speak)
Pete
# Posted on August 1st 2007 by Reverend
Re: Tune stories
Oh... and there's a story about the Bank of Turf jig.
Apparently Padraig O' Keefe was out cutting turf, and a young passerby asked him for a tune, so he wrote it out in the side of the bank of turf, and said "if you can read it, you can have it".
Might be a tall tale, but it makes for a good story
Pete
# Posted on August 1st 2007 by Reverend
Re: Tune stories
the story behind lark in the morning jig is
there was 2 rival fiddle players who both thought they were the best musicians in town......and after many nights arguing and some times physicaly fighting with each other to see who was the best they decided to get together and have a competition by playing tune after tune to see who was the best......this went on untill early hours in the morning and still neither could convince one that they were better till they heard the lark singing in a tree and they both decided he was the best musician in town
the end and they all lived happily ever after
# Posted on August 1st 2007 by Irish Mandolin
Re: Tune stories
I think the passer-by was supposed to be Denis Murphy, the other famous Kerry composer (yes, I'm sure there are a lot more, but you know what I mean..!)
Diddling the tune might have saved Padraig a lot of work. Cutting a legible tune and staves in a peat cutting must be pretty difficult. ABC notation done in ogam or runes might be easier.
# Posted on August 1st 2007 by nicholas
Re: Tune stories
I've always liked the story behind Mr. Tat's "Bang our Frog on the Sofa."
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/371
Makes a nice slow reel on the harp, it does.
# Posted on August 1st 2007 by Tracie
Re: Tune stories
Heh, I still get a laugh out of that story, and it also happens to be true.
Something about a good story or anecdote that sets notes in motion....
# Posted on August 1st 2007 by Will Harmon
Re: Tune stories
actually i think its not farewell to ireland but farewell to erin !
# Posted on August 2nd 2007 by Ralex
Re: Tune stories
True, Ralex. Farewell to Ireland's full title is "A Scotsman's Farewell To Ireland", which makes a bit of a nonsense of the whole thing
# Posted on August 2nd 2007 by bc_box_player
Re: Tune stories
Still haven't found out why Roaring Jelly is called Roaring Jelly, 'though.
Or who The Clumbsy Lover was.
# Posted on August 2nd 2007 by bc_box_player
Re: Tune stories
Heh, I've heard BYFOTS, but I hadn't heard the story... that's hilarious! Will, you need to write a tune named "I'm so impressed"
And what is it with you and catchy Dm tunes (the shaddest of all keysh)?
Pete
# Posted on August 2nd 2007 by Reverend
Re: Tune stories
I'm so impressed shouldn't be in Dm, though... it needs to be... umm... uplifting...
Pete
# Posted on August 2nd 2007 by Reverend
Re: Tune stories
Re The Roaring Jelly, I have heard two stories. Either it is the sound of jelly (strawberry, whatever) being boiled for preserving--or it refers to the explosive substance nitroglycerine, which can be jelly-like in consistency.
# Posted on August 2nd 2007 by John Galt
Re: Tune stories
Thanks, mickray.
That second one sounds like the go. Would it be gelegnite rather than nitro (or are they the same thing?).
# Posted on August 2nd 2007 by bc_box_player
Re: Tune stories
The Humours of Spennymoor was for four cans of beer.
# Posted on August 2nd 2007 by minijackpot
Re: Tune stories
*was written
# Posted on August 2nd 2007 by minijackpot
Re: Tune stories
Hate to be a killjoy, but Farewell to Ireland resulted from ironing out the kinks from Highland Watches Farewell to Ireland, a Strathspey collected in 1759, if I am not mistaken. I do not believe 18th Century ships had horns.
# Posted on August 2nd 2007 by twildman
Re: Tune stories
nice Spinal Tap reference, reverend..
# Posted on August 2nd 2007 by hakanozel
Re: Tune stories
twildman
Farewell to Ireland (A Scotsman's Farewell to Ireland) was written by Devin McCabe, I think, not so long ago. It's a different tune to Farewell to Erin (The Highlander's Lament), which as you say comes from an old strathspey.
They are very different tunes, but strangely enough, they both start on that low A.
Neither of them sound like a ship's horn
Unless you play them on a tuba
# Posted on August 2nd 2007 by bc_box_player
Re: Tune stories
Tom Anderson had many tales about the "Trowie" tunes that he had heard from the fairies. He maintained that as they were "magic" tunes, they should only be played once through out of respect to the "little people".
A maxim I have always tried to follow in sessions unless repeats were for a beginners benefit.
The Smokey House was always a favorite of mine, if only for the incredible tale about Don Niperi Septo that Seamus Ennis used to tell.
# Posted on August 2nd 2007 by geoffwright
Re: Tune stories
the first part of farewell to erin sounds to me like a horn boat as nicholas said. one of my favourite tune though...
# Posted on August 2nd 2007 by Ralex
Re: Tune stories
The Dusty window sills.
Story goes guy who wrote the tune was in a basment with out pen or paper when tune came into his head the only place he could find to write it out was the dusty widow sill and his finger. Good yarn and a super
Tune . PS hows the tuesday session going must drop in again soon with my dusty window
# Posted on August 2nd 2007 by Dphil
Re: Tune stories
Tuesdays are still on. Havent been there for three, four weeks myself. Was away and also working. But the other lads are knocking around
# Posted on August 2nd 2007 by copo24
Re: Tune stories
including a 5 string banjo picker!
# Posted on September 4th 2007 by fap
Re: Tune stories
It's a shame to let this lie like this: "there was 2 rival fiddle players who both thought they were the best musicians in town." You should listen to Seamus Ennis' version of it - ending with the 4-part jig, The Lark in the Morning. Wonderful story, wonderful tune.
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by David Levine