I have just returned from Woodford Folk Festival and observed once more in some sessions the phenomena of players who have either been to Co Clare or spend an unhealthy amount of time with someone else who has.The "I've been to Clare" reel has a basic recipe, and when countless bars of it are played, someone subtly changes a couple of notes around and away they go again. Professors of the IBTC reel even claim to know the names of these variants and they go on and on for hours at a time. NOT A JIG OR A HORNPIPE OR POLKA in sight!
Can anyone explain?
I've been to Clare (for the 2003 Willie Clancy Week) and hardly play any reels, but I haven't been to the Woodford Folk Festival, so that might explain it.
I was in Clare for a month (September). There were loads of reels, plenty of jigs, but nary a hornpipe or polka played--at least I didn't catch any. Although, I was *taught* a polka by a Clare fiddler.
A second thought, presumably McKnowall is from Australia and not full congniscent with the regional differences of dance tune selection in Ireland.
Being a Brit I'm no expert, but Polkas would be played mostly in The Sliabh Luachra area, the South west, not in Clare. In Donegal you will hear Highlands and other Scottish-influenced tunes not played elsewhere in the Republic. I can't answer for Northern Irish Tunes, I've never been there.
Not sure why hornpipes should be so thin on the ground, I thought they were played all over Ireland (though not so much as Reels and Jigs).
Hey there, that would be....can I just call you "that" for short, or would you prefer "ecumenical matter"? Anyway, nope, it was in D major--Johnny Leary's polka, actually. But the B part kinda has a minor feel to it.... : )
LOL -- funny that in your TI (rather than one of those silly Secret Identities), you actually go swinging from high rooftops from ropes and all that macho stuff -- isn't it supposed to be the other way round?
I'm an Aussie, and I was in Clare recently and I played heaps of reels and had a brilliant time! Clare reels rock and it's fun to play them all night if you want to, with the odd jig thrown in for good measure. I wasn't at Woodford this year, but I'm pretty sure I know who was playing the Clare reels.....
the "I've been to Clare" reel
the "I've been to Clare" reel
I have just returned from Woodford Folk Festival and observed once more in some sessions the phenomena of players who have either been to Co Clare or spend an unhealthy amount of time with someone else who has.The "I've been to Clare" reel has a basic recipe, and when countless bars of it are played, someone subtly changes a couple of notes around and away they go again. Professors of the IBTC reel even claim to know the names of these variants and they go on and on for hours at a time. NOT A JIG OR A HORNPIPE OR POLKA in sight!
Can anyone explain?
# Posted on January 3rd 2006 by mcknowall
Re: the "I've been to Clare" reel
I've been to Clare (for the 2003 Willie Clancy Week) and hardly play any reels, but I haven't been to the Woodford Folk Festival, so that might explain it.
# Posted on January 3rd 2006 by Martin Milner
Re: the "I've been to Clare" reel
I was in Clare for a month (September). There were loads of reels, plenty of jigs, but nary a hornpipe or polka played--at least I didn't catch any. Although, I was *taught* a polka by a Clare fiddler.
# Posted on January 3rd 2006 by Andee
Re: the "I've been to Clare" reel
A second thought, presumably McKnowall is from Australia and not full congniscent with the regional differences of dance tune selection in Ireland.
Being a Brit I'm no expert, but Polkas would be played mostly in The Sliabh Luachra area, the South west, not in Clare. In Donegal you will hear Highlands and other Scottish-influenced tunes not played elsewhere in the Republic. I can't answer for Northern Irish Tunes, I've never been there.
Not sure why hornpipes should be so thin on the ground, I thought they were played all over Ireland (though not so much as Reels and Jigs).
# Posted on January 3rd 2006 by Martin Milner
Re: the "I've been to Clare" reel
Is there another name for this tune ?
# Posted on January 3rd 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: the "I've been to Clare" reel
"I've been to Woodford, but I've never been to me"
# Posted on January 4th 2006 by Greenwiggle
Re: the "I've been to Clare" reel
Hey there, that would be....can I just call you "that" for short, or would you prefer "ecumenical matter"? Anyway, nope, it was in D major--Johnny Leary's polka, actually. But the B part kinda has a minor feel to it.... : )
# Posted on January 4th 2006 by Andee
Re: the "I've been to Clare" reel
# Posted on January 4th 2006 by Andee
Re: the "I've been to Clare" reel
Oh dear!
# Posted on January 4th 2006 by mcknowall
Re: the "I've been to Clare" reel
Oh! I've been not around for so long, I'm getting rusty on seeing through the crusty cassocks here...is this Danny?
# Posted on January 6th 2006 by Andee
Re: the "I've been to Clare" reel
Uhmmm, I realize now you're not Danny, and I do recognize some of your past comments, etc, but still not sure....sorry!
# Posted on January 6th 2006 by Andee
Re: the "I've been to Clare" reel
Andee, it's David Alcock.
Sorry, David, had to balance out the torture of seeing Andee being teased with you having your fun... 
# Posted on January 6th 2006 by Zina Lee
Re: the "I've been to Clare" reel
LOL -- funny that in your TI (rather than one of those silly Secret Identities), you actually go swinging from high rooftops from ropes and all that macho stuff -- isn't it supposed to be the other way round?
# Posted on January 7th 2006 by Zina Lee
Re: the "I've been to Clare" reel
Hi Zina, Hi David--Now I can sleep tonite, knowing your true identity...!
# Posted on January 7th 2006 by Andee
Re: the "I've been to Clare" reel
I'm an Aussie, and I was in Clare recently and I played heaps of reels and had a brilliant time! Clare reels rock and it's fun to play them all night if you want to, with the odd jig thrown in for good measure. I wasn't at Woodford this year, but I'm pretty sure I know who was playing the Clare reels.....
# Posted on January 9th 2006 by nicstar
Re: the "I've been to Clare" reel
P.S. Jigs, Hornpipes and Polkas are great too, and Barndances are one of the best idioms ever!
# Posted on January 9th 2006 by nicstar