Key signature: Dmajor
Submitted on February 26th 2003 by Trevor Jennings.
This tune has been added to 253 tunebooks.
Also known as A Fine Toast To Hewlett, Hewlett, Hewlitt, Planxty Hewitt, Planxty Hewlet, Planxty Hewlitt, Slainte Bhreagh Hiulit, Slainte Bhreagh Hiulit (Hewlett), Sláinte Bhreá Hewlett.
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: Planxty Hewlett
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
R: waltz
K: Dmaj
A2|D2 D2 FG|AB c2 A2|d2 f2 fg|fe d3B|
A2 F2 F2|G2 GBAG|AF D2 D2|D4:|z2|
A2 D2 AB|A2 D2 AB|A2 d2 d2|dc BA GF|
G2 G,2 GA|G2 G,2 GA|G2 GA BG|AF D3E|
FE F2 G2|AB c2 A2|fe fg ag|fe d3B|
A2 F2 F2|G3A BG|AF D2 D2|D4||
A tune we play occasionally in sessions in Bristol. Although it is a waltz it sounds best if it is played briskly.
# Posted on February 26th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
With "Planxty" in the name it is of course by Carolan. A "planxty" was a tune written by Carolan as a tribute or present from him to one of his patrons, in this case a Mr Hewlett.
# Posted on February 26th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Um. A planxty doesn't necessarily have to be written by Carolan to be a planxty, Trev. Originally it meant "homage to" or "in praise of" and was used by many different composers of tunes written for a special person, but these days it's usually defined as just "song."
Zina
# Posted on February 26th 2003 by Zina Lee
Zina, thanks for putting me right on this one. It seems I was a little misinformed at some time.
# Posted on February 26th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
there's a concertina player in portland who absolutely detests this tune. so whenever it's played in a session, it's dedicated to him. heh.
sarah
# Posted on February 26th 2003 by sarahc
# Posted on February 28th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Hewlett
I first heard this as a tune recorded by Dave Evans on a Shanachie "guitar artistry " series. Nice arrangement but done as a slow 6/8 rather thana waltz. Some tunes are like that (Blind Mary is another sometimes 4/4, sometimes a slow 6/8).
# Posted on March 17th 2003 by Bob MacLean
I play this a bit different, with | G2 E2 GA | G2 E2 GA | instead of | G2 G,2 GA | G2 G,2 GA |
# Posted on May 8th 2003 by Pontus Adefjord
Hewlett
I first came across this one on the Planxty album "The Well Below the Valley". Lovely pipes version
# Posted on May 17th 2003 by davemckeown
Hewlett
1-I've seen this tune titled as "A Fine Toast to Hewlett."
2-I feel this is a popular tune as many of O'Carolan's pieces are. O'Carolan's music was known not only to be influenced by his Irish heratage but also by the Italian Boroque sytle and I feel this piece to have a strong Boroque attitude.
3-The Chieftans have recorded Planxty Hewlett as 'Slainte Bhreagh Hiulit' on Chieftains 4. I find this to be mildly interesting...1st of all ...I've only seen and understood English written titles before understanding the Chieftans title..and 2nd of all because the group Planxty writes "Nobody can be sure where the word 'Planxty' originated but the late Sean O Riada was of the opinion that it was a corruption of the Irish word 'slainte' meaning 'good health.' The group Planxty also writes that the song Planxty Hewlett was "presumed" to have been written by O'Carolan.
# Posted on February 8th 2005 by Pete D
Planxty Hewlett
The word planxty is from the Irish planc meaning a beat. Trevor Jennings's description of a waltz played briskly sounds just right to me. Or how about a waltz with attitude.
# Posted on April 2nd 2006 by Ciotog
Planxty
X: 1
T: Planxty Hewlett
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
R: waltz
K: Dmaj
A2|D2 D2 FG|AB c2 A2|d2 f2 fg|fe d2 dB|
A2 F2 FA|G2 GABG|AF D2 D2|D4:|z2|
A2 D2 AB|A2 D2 AB|A2 d2 de|dc BA GF|
G2 GG GA|G2 GG GA|GG GA BG|AF D3D|
FE F2 G2|AB c2 A2|1 d3 f fg|fe d3B|2 d2 f2 fg|fe d3B|
A2 F2 F2|G3A BG|AF D2 D2|D4||
# Posted on January 24th 2011 by Manu Novo
Does anyone know what the Irish words to the song quoted in O'Sullivans book of Carolan tunes .are about?
In Shakespeare an Owl is a hulett
# Posted on February 18th 2011 by Michael Sam Wild
Well Below the Valley version
Anyone transcribed the lively version on Planxty's album "Well Below the Valley"? Sounds like there are a few little differences.
# Posted on October 16th 2011 by wintersdoor
Yes, I've transcribed the version by Planxty (Liam O'Flynn's part, anyway). A simplified version can be found here:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2007-2/1242588/Hewlett.jpg
As for the term "planxty": I have to disagree with Zina. I have found no evidence of any other composer using the term (though perhaps a modern composer has used it for effect).
The OED suggests that Carolan might have coined the term, though it was used in relation to his music much more frequently after his death, and all the references given in the dictionary relate to his music. There is quite a detailed account of the word and its origins on pages 251-253 in this paper: http://opus.kobv.de/ubp/volltexte/2007/1568/pdf/celtic_languages_in_contact.pdf
If anyone comes across another composer from around Carolan's time using the word for a self-composed piece, I suggest that they contact the OED.
# Posted on October 16th 2011 by Weejie
I would also suggest that the rhythm to this tune is closer to a mazurka than a waltz - the stress being on the first and third beats.
# Posted on October 16th 2011 by Weejie
A wee note further - The Irish title on my transcription (sans fada) is verbatim from Bunting's 1809 publication. I've no idea how authentic it is.
# Posted on October 16th 2011 by Weejie
&, I'd forgotten to add, the paper too...
# Posted on October 16th 2011 by ceolachan
Weird! I had thanked you for the transcription first, which seems to have gone "POOF!" So, just to make sense of the above, thanks for the contributions, appreciated...
# Posted on October 16th 2011 by ceolachan