The discussion about tune titles was timely, as I was just reading the liner notes from a CD I bought "The Music of Ed Reavy." Mick Moloney writes that in talking to Ed, he confirmed what some folks say that there is generally no relation between the tune and the title. Rather the title is just a convenient way to distinguish one tune from another. Ed didn't even name many tunes until he had to compile them for publication.
I have always wondered why jigs tend to have clever names like "I Buried My Wife and Danced on Top of Her" while reels tend to have dull names like "Martin Wynne's #4."
But, if I ever start writing tunes, I know where to get names. I have been reading a series of books by Bartholomew Gill about an Irish police superintendent Peter McGarr, and every page is just full of potential tune names. Here are just a few "found titles" from random pages chosen out of the book "The Death of a Joyce Scholar"--a tune name in itself. I think I need to start composing some tunes.
Thick Tortoiseshell Glasses
Catty Doyle
Bloomsday and All
Off the Finglas Road
Coal Men and Travelers
For a Few Jars and a Bite to Eat
The Solicitous Jammer
McAnulty of the Technical Squad
Pate de Foie Gras on Buttered Toast Points
It's true- I am much more drawn to tunes with catchy names even if the tunes may not be as memorable! Well, my Irish tunebook has hundreds of songs in it- how else am I going to pick which ones to learn? One of my favorites right now: "Fasten the Leg in Her" ?! I read a book once where a character was learning only songs with "hag" in the title- there were quite a few to choose from!
Might be an interesting way to put a set together...
This is yet another reason why myself and a few former regulars do not contribute to this site so much any more, but prefer to go elsewhere to chat.
This notion is complete contrived nonsense, and just does not make sense. I suspect, from the very limited info provided by the initiator's bio, that this person has had a limited exposure to a few tune names, both jigs and reels. No mention of Polkas, Slides Highlands Slow airs, Mazurkas..Slip Jigs, even.
If there is any truth to be gleaned from these outpourings, it is that more often jigs have a jiggy title, and may have been a song in a previous incarnation, eg When Sick Is It Tea You Want? Or maybe Father O'Flynn for The Top of The Cork Road:
Father O 'Flynn, You've a wonderful way with you,
All the young children are wantin' to play with you...
As sung by Bing Crosby in an age of considerably more cinematographic innocence than today (we hope).
Harrumph. Signing out now. Email me if this thread takes on more significance than it deserves.
Or maybe the regulars are moving on because some of the threads get a little repetitive. Or maybe the regulars are moving on because some of the threads get a little repetitive. Or maybe the regulars are moving on because some of the threads get a little repetitive. Or maybe the regulars are moving on because some of the threads get a little repetitive. Or maybe the regulars are moving on because some of the threads get a little repetitive.
For all that needs to be said on the subject of tune names - and in his charmingly schoolmasterish manner as well - read Breandan Breatnach's few well-chosen words in Folk Music And Dances Of Ireland.
It's a harmless enough pastime, coining names for imaginary tunes. I made up a few as a bet with a mate in Ireland that I couldn't come up with a couple of hundred tune names overnight which - and here was the pinch! - sounded as if they might already exist, albeit lost to memory or buried in some mouldy attic scribbled down on some yellowing paper.
It became a running joke between us for some time. But the long-faced miserable hoarding oul scraper hasn't paid his bet yet!
(By the way ... I realise I've never got around to putting a tune to "Ottery's Revenge" (threads passim, as the Eye might parenthesise). Maybe it would spoil the joke!)
Lord of the Flies, I used to play in a band with the person who made the original post. He is a terrific fellow and longtime musician. I personally think you should lighten up a little and enjoy the music. Perhaps we can name a tune in your honor: "If you don't like the chat, stay off the web." Jim
What's wrong with a bit of contrived nonsense now and again? There's a long history of it on this site and this one is harmless enough and more entertaining surely than "fantasy session" to cite just one example. Danny, did you get out of the wrong side of bed this morning?.
Aidan Crossey is the undoubted king of potential tune names in literature having practised it at (great) length. I'm just miffed because he has pretty much plundered Flann O'Brien. He's probably worked his way through the British Library by now and moved on to the telephone directory!
Bing Crosby was singing a bowdlerised version of Father O'Flynn (Lord of the Flies, way back in the thread) The lines are:
Father O'Flynn you've a wonderful way with you
All the young ladies are dying to pray with you...
I like putting Father O'Flynn together with Haste to the Wedding because after a bout of praying with Fr O'Flynn, hasting to the wedding might be a concomitant necessity.
Actually, miles, it was last night I posted that, after I'd been drinking in the Blythe with Keaney and Geoff the box - not a tune was played but lagavoolins (I *know* that's the wrong spelling) were certainly quaffed.
OK I could have been more diplomatic, me especially, president of the session Glee Club. But I got the feeling that yer man's original post was trying to make a serious point, upon which there is no basis - so I still stand by what I said.
There are in fact some lovely titles for reels. Eg only a reel could have the *racey* and anticipatory title where you might imagine the young ploughboy, (one of "The Bucks of Oranmore"), after a day behind the plough, charging "Over the Moor to Maggie", who is the sister of "Roaring Mary", and who is actually "The Maid Behind the Bar". He might have to "Chase Her Through the Garden" first before he can "Kiss the Maid behind the Barrell", making sure to avoid "The Drunken Landlady". Only on "the Midsummer's Night" though, whilst wearing "The Flannel Jacket" and "Mayor Harrison's Fedora".
Whilst not becoming acquiescently obsequiously concordant, I have to admit that amongst the jigs reside my fave tune titles: "Get up Old Woman and Shake Yourself" and "Jackson's Morning Brush", but conversely, for such a nice wee tune, the title "Tobin's Favourite" falls short of the quality of the tune (overplayed though it is.)
Tobin's favourite, is that Tobin's jig?
If so, I'm not crazy about it myself - there's nothing to recommend it, it's just up and down scale.
Some English tunes have got great names,
The Iron Legs, Brass Nuts, Huntington's Maggot (a brilliant tune that ought to be allowed into ITM sessions), and best of all 'Oh George I can't Endure You'.
As for going up and down the scale, the same could be said for a lot of Baroque music . And I happen to like Baroque music (is that sacrelige here? I hope not ).
Tune Names
Tune Names
The discussion about tune titles was timely, as I was just reading the liner notes from a CD I bought "The Music of Ed Reavy." Mick Moloney writes that in talking to Ed, he confirmed what some folks say that there is generally no relation between the tune and the title. Rather the title is just a convenient way to distinguish one tune from another. Ed didn't even name many tunes until he had to compile them for publication.
I have always wondered why jigs tend to have clever names like "I Buried My Wife and Danced on Top of Her" while reels tend to have dull names like "Martin Wynne's #4."
But, if I ever start writing tunes, I know where to get names. I have been reading a series of books by Bartholomew Gill about an Irish police superintendent Peter McGarr, and every page is just full of potential tune names. Here are just a few "found titles" from random pages chosen out of the book "The Death of a Joyce Scholar"--a tune name in itself. I think I need to start composing some tunes.
Thick Tortoiseshell Glasses
Catty Doyle
Bloomsday and All
Off the Finglas Road
Coal Men and Travelers
For a Few Jars and a Bite to Eat
The Solicitous Jammer
McAnulty of the Technical Squad
Pate de Foie Gras on Buttered Toast Points
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by John Conoboy
Re: Tune Names
It's true- I am much more drawn to tunes with catchy names even if the tunes may not be as memorable! Well, my Irish tunebook has hundreds of songs in it- how else am I going to pick which ones to learn? One of my favorites right now: "Fasten the Leg in Her" ?! I read a book once where a character was learning only songs with "hag" in the title- there were quite a few to choose from!
Might be an interesting way to put a set together...
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by accordionista
Re: Tune Names
John - PLEEEEEEEEEASE go and look at Aidan Crossey's website - (Pay The reckoning) It's all been done before!
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by Ottery
Re: Tune Names
This is yet another reason why myself and a few former regulars do not contribute to this site so much any more, but prefer to go elsewhere to chat.
This notion is complete contrived nonsense, and just does not make sense. I suspect, from the very limited info provided by the initiator's bio, that this person has had a limited exposure to a few tune names, both jigs and reels. No mention of Polkas, Slides Highlands Slow airs, Mazurkas..Slip Jigs, even.
If there is any truth to be gleaned from these outpourings, it is that more often jigs have a jiggy title, and may have been a song in a previous incarnation, eg When Sick Is It Tea You Want? Or maybe Father O'Flynn for The Top of The Cork Road:
Father O 'Flynn, You've a wonderful way with you,
All the young children are wantin' to play with you...
As sung by Bing Crosby in an age of considerably more cinematographic innocence than today (we hope).
Harrumph. Signing out now. Email me if this thread takes on more significance than it deserves.
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: Tune Names
Or maybe the regulars are moving on because some of the threads get a little repetitive. Or maybe the regulars are moving on because some of the threads get a little repetitive. Or maybe the regulars are moving on because some of the threads get a little repetitive. Or maybe the regulars are moving on because some of the threads get a little repetitive. Or maybe the regulars are moving on because some of the threads get a little repetitive.
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by Kerri Brown
Re: Tune Names
i'm all for regular movements,he opined,laughing all the way to the jacks...
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by biggus dave
Re: Tune Names
ha ha fov you really are right there .hahah did u really read every line?
haha
i guess it becomes an aulde trick after awhile...
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by vboyd100
Re: Tune Names
For all that needs to be said on the subject of tune names - and in his charmingly schoolmasterish manner as well - read Breandan Breatnach's few well-chosen words in Folk Music And Dances Of Ireland.
It's a harmless enough pastime, coining names for imaginary tunes. I made up a few as a bet with a mate in Ireland that I couldn't come up with a couple of hundred tune names overnight which - and here was the pinch! - sounded as if they might already exist, albeit lost to memory or buried in some mouldy attic scribbled down on some yellowing paper.
It became a running joke between us for some time. But the long-faced miserable hoarding oul scraper hasn't paid his bet yet!
(By the way ... I realise I've never got around to putting a tune to "Ottery's Revenge" (threads passim, as the Eye might parenthesise). Maybe it would spoil the joke!)
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by Aidan Crossey
Re: Tune Names
Lord of the Flies, I used to play in a band with the person who made the original post. He is a terrific fellow and longtime musician. I personally think you should lighten up a little and enjoy the music. Perhaps we can name a tune in your honor: "If you don't like the chat, stay off the web." Jim
# Posted on June 8th 2004 by meowguy
Re: Tune Names
What's wrong with a bit of contrived nonsense now and again? There's a long history of it on this site and this one is harmless enough and more entertaining surely than "fantasy session" to cite just one example. Danny, did you get out of the wrong side of bed this morning?.
Aidan Crossey is the undoubted king of potential tune names in literature having practised it at (great) length. I'm just miffed because he has pretty much plundered Flann O'Brien. He's probably worked his way through the British Library by now and moved on to the telephone directory!
# Posted on June 8th 2004 by milesnagopaleen
Re: Tune Names
Bing Crosby was singing a bowdlerised version of Father O'Flynn (Lord of the Flies, way back in the thread) The lines are:
Father O'Flynn you've a wonderful way with you
All the young ladies are dying to pray with you...
I like putting Father O'Flynn together with Haste to the Wedding because after a bout of praying with Fr O'Flynn, hasting to the wedding might be a concomitant necessity.
# Posted on June 8th 2004 by MPM
Re: Tune Names
Actually, miles, it was last night I posted that, after I'd been drinking in the Blythe with Keaney and Geoff the box - not a tune was played but lagavoolins (I *know* that's the wrong spelling) were certainly quaffed.
OK I could have been more diplomatic, me especially, president of the session Glee Club. But I got the feeling that yer man's original post was trying to make a serious point, upon which there is no basis - so I still stand by what I said.
There are in fact some lovely titles for reels. Eg only a reel could have the *racey* and anticipatory title where you might imagine the young ploughboy, (one of "The Bucks of Oranmore"), after a day behind the plough, charging "Over the Moor to Maggie", who is the sister of "Roaring Mary", and who is actually "The Maid Behind the Bar". He might have to "Chase Her Through the Garden" first before he can "Kiss the Maid behind the Barrell", making sure to avoid "The Drunken Landlady". Only on "the Midsummer's Night" though, whilst wearing "The Flannel Jacket" and "Mayor Harrison's Fedora".
Whilst not becoming acquiescently obsequiously concordant, I have to admit that amongst the jigs reside my fave tune titles: "Get up Old Woman and Shake Yourself" and "Jackson's Morning Brush", but conversely, for such a nice wee tune, the title "Tobin's Favourite" falls short of the quality of the tune (overplayed though it is.)
# Posted on June 8th 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: Tune Names
aha,as the bard himself did n't write: 'tobin...or not tobin,that is the question...'
coats are being gathered as we speak
# Posted on June 8th 2004 by biggus dave
Re: Tune Names
Big Dave, you're just a regular kind of guy
# Posted on June 8th 2004 by Cath
Re: Tune Names
We need more Glee. Glee it up, people! To Glee, not not to Glee.. no question.
# Posted on June 8th 2004 by Q
Re: Tune Names
Q, Are these proposed tune titles?
# Posted on June 8th 2004 by milesnagopaleen
Re: Tune Names
er, yes?
(is that the right answer? I don't want any trouble, guvnor!)
# Posted on June 8th 2004 by Q
Re: Tune Names
Tobin's favourite, is that Tobin's jig?
If so, I'm not crazy about it myself - there's nothing to recommend it, it's just up and down scale.
Some English tunes have got great names,
The Iron Legs, Brass Nuts, Huntington's Maggot (a brilliant tune that ought to be allowed into ITM sessions), and best of all 'Oh George I can't Endure You'.
# Posted on June 8th 2004 by Cath
Re: Tune Names
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/308
. And I happen to like Baroque music (is that sacrelige here? I hope not 
).
As for going up and down the scale, the same could be said for a lot of Baroque music
# Posted on August 14th 2009 by wayland