I have this 1970 album by Dave & Toni Arthur, and it features Kevin Burke playing a medley of "fairy" tunes. The King of the Fairies is "as is", but the other two are simply called the Fairy Jig and the Fairy Reel.
The jig is actually the Luck Penny, but I wonder if anybody who has heard this set can tell me the true name of the reel?
I actually spoke to Kevin Burke about this set when he played it at the Cellar Club at Cecil Sharp House in about 1972 (I hadn't got a clue who he was then, but instantly recognised his playing as being identical to the fiddler on the album).
He said that the fairy jig and the fairy reel weren't the proper names, but that he couldn't remember what they were... I'm pretty sure that the word "fairy" didn't come into it, though.
The Fairy Reel I know is a Scots tune I believe, a little single reel, and is rather simple, but often played with lots of variations as it gets repeated.
I borrowed this album off a mate and couldn't get beyond the first couple of tracks. I seem to remember a truly horrible version on Alison Gross. Never got as far as the tunes.
It was very disappointing, especially as I had quite a crush on Toni when I was a nipper
Agree about (most of) the songs - the Kevin Burke set is definitely the best track on the album (despite Dave Arthur's inane commentary). Some of the worse bodhran playing I've ever heard, too.
I bought the album on the strength of the title (I'd just read the Golden Bough and was fascinated by anything smacking of witchcraft or folklore at the time).
Looks like I'm going to draw a blank on the reel - I'll just have to learn to play it and then ask somebody to tell me what it's called!
Harken to the Witches Rune
Harken to the Witches Rune
I have this 1970 album by Dave & Toni Arthur, and it features Kevin Burke playing a medley of "fairy" tunes. The King of the Fairies is "as is", but the other two are simply called the Fairy Jig and the Fairy Reel.
The jig is actually the Luck Penny, but I wonder if anybody who has heard this set can tell me the true name of the reel?
# Posted on September 4th 2007 by DavyR
Re: Harken to the Witches Rune
There is in fact a reel called The Fairy Reel - I don't know whether or not it originated in Ireland.
# Posted on September 4th 2007 by nicholas
Re: Harken to the Witches Rune
There is indeed, but that ain't the one! Sorry, I should have made that clear before.
# Posted on September 4th 2007 by DavyR
Re: Harken to the Witches Rune
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2944
This one maybe ? Kevin Burke later recorded it with Jacky Daly - see comments.
# Posted on September 4th 2007 by Kenny
Re: Harken to the Witches Rune
There's another from Shetland called The Ferry Reel. "Ferry" here evidently means "Fairy".
# Posted on September 4th 2007 by nicholas
Re: Harken to the Witches Rune
I actually spoke to Kevin Burke about this set when he played it at the Cellar Club at Cecil Sharp House in about 1972 (I hadn't got a clue who he was then, but instantly recognised his playing as being identical to the fiddler on the album).
He said that the fairy jig and the fairy reel weren't the proper names, but that he couldn't remember what they were... I'm pretty sure that the word "fairy" didn't come into it, though.
# Posted on September 4th 2007 by DavyR
Re: Harken to the Witches Rune
The Fairy Reel I know is a Scots tune I believe, a little single reel, and is rather simple, but often played with lots of variations as it gets repeated.
# Posted on September 4th 2007 by AlBrown
Re: Harken to the Witches Rune
Might you be thinking of the Fairy Dance?
# Posted on September 4th 2007 by DavyR
Re: Harken to the Witches Rune
Yep, Davy, that is the one I was thinking of.
# Posted on September 4th 2007 by AlBrown
Re: Harken to the Witches Rune
The Fairy Reel http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2944 is a version of The Fairy dance http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/424 , transposed from D to G and with a few more notes added.
There is also a slip jig known as The Fairy Jig: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2743
Cracking tune.
# Posted on September 4th 2007 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Harken to the Witches Rune
I borrowed this album off a mate and couldn't get beyond the first couple of tracks. I seem to remember a truly horrible version on Alison Gross. Never got as far as the tunes.
It was very disappointing, especially as I had quite a crush on Toni when I was a nipper
# Posted on September 5th 2007 by bc_box_player
Re: Harken to the Witches Rune
Agree about (most of) the songs - the Kevin Burke set is definitely the best track on the album (despite Dave Arthur's inane commentary). Some of the worse bodhran playing I've ever heard, too.
I bought the album on the strength of the title (I'd just read the Golden Bough and was fascinated by anything smacking of witchcraft or folklore at the time).
Looks like I'm going to draw a blank on the reel - I'll just have to learn to play it and then ask somebody to tell me what it's called!
# Posted on September 5th 2007 by DavyR