Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

John Kelly's

reel

Key signature: Gmajor

Submitted on April 15th 2007 by Dr. Dow.

This tune has been added to 16 tunebooks.

Also known as John Kelly's Concertina.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

An Bodhran: The Irish Drum by Colm Murphy
Between Up And Down by Ado Barker And Ruairi McGorman
Claddagh's Choice: An Anthology Of Irish Traditional Music by Various Artists
Drivin' Leitrim Timber by Dave Sheridan
Fiddle And Concertina Player by John Kelly
Inné Amarach by Teada
Kelly/O'Brien/Sproule by Kelly, O'Brien and Sproule
Mountain Air by Brendyn Montgomery And Mike Considine
Na Fir Bolg by Jack Talty And Cormac Begley
Oíche Go Maidean by Brendan Begley
Real Reels Of Ireland by Various Artists
Reed Only by Tim Collins/Brian McNamara
Reprise by Paddy Glackin And Micheal O Domhnaill
Seoda Ceoil by Various Artists
Sets In The City by Tipsy House
Setting Free by Tola Custy And Cyril O'Donoghue
Seven Years Of Listening by Mick O'Brien And Caoimhin O'Raghallaigh
Show The Lady: Music For The Sets Volume 5 by Various Artists
The Boston Edge by Joe Derrane, Seamus Connolly And John McGann
The Celts Play Connecticut by Various Artists
The Chieftains 3 by The Chieftains
The Cobblestone Sessions by Various Artists
The Connachtman's Rambles by Martin O'Connor
The Pirates Of Puirt by Daimh
The Very Best Of The Claddagh Years by The Chieftains
Traditional Music Of Ireland by Paddy O'Brien
Traditional Music Of Ireland by James Kelly, Paddy O'Brien, Daithi Sproule
Tropical Trad by Declan Masterson
Uilleann Piper by Tommy Martin
Whistle Stop by Brian Hughes

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

John Kelly's

I transcribed this off a session recording taken in the Gaelic Club in Sydney a few years ago. The tune was played as transcribed by a couple of fiddlers, but their original source was Tola Custy and Cyril O'Donoghue's album "Setting Free". Everyone I've ever heard play this tune seems to have got it off this album. TC plays the A-part as transcribed the 1st time through but then swaps bars 1 and 5. This means that some people have picked up the tune this way, as shown by this transcription from Shelta's website @ http://perso.orange.fr/shelta/Page2_.htm (I've taken out the chords).

X: 1
T: John Kelly's
D: The Real Reels Of Ireland
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Gmaj
~G3F GABG|AGEF GABc|d2Bd g~d3|egdB AcBA|
DEGA ~B2GB|AGEF GABc|d2Bd gedB|1 cAFA GDEF:|2 cAFA GABd||
|:egfg edBd|~d2gd B3d|c2cA ~B2dB|cBAG FDEF|
~G3F GABG|AGEF GABc|d2Bd gedB|1 cAFA GABd:|2 cAFA GDEF||

# Posted on April 15th 2007 by Dr. Dow

First Ending: A Part?

Wierd. ABCs look fine, but there is no indication on the sheet music of a first ending for the A part. Obviously not hard to figure out where the first ending is. Just strange it didn't show up. Anybody else notice this or am I just delusional?

# Posted on April 15th 2007 by Jason G

I remember Frankie Kennedy and the Belfast crowd playing this some 20 years ago in Miltown. I'm sure I had a name for it at one time. If it comes back to me , I'll let you know.

# Posted on April 15th 2007 by Kenny

"Morrison's" ?

Didn't Kevin Burke record this - or a version of it at least - on "Portland" as "Morrison's" ?

# Posted on April 17th 2007 by Kenny

No

That's wrong - ignore it.

# Posted on April 17th 2007 by Kenny

Similar piece?

This is also called John Kelly's. I got from a video clip featuring Paddy Glacklin.

T:John Kelly's
R:reel
S:YouTube.com
N:TG4 Frances Mooney Tribute show: John Kelly's/Merry N:Sisters/Silver Spear
N:Played by Paddy Glacklin and Micheal O'Domnhaill
Z:Bill Reeder
M:C|
L:1/8
DE|G2 G2 GABG|AGEG GABd|d2gd edBd|d2ed dBAE|!
G2 G2 GABG|AGEG GABd|d2gd edBG|1 A2 G2 GE:|2 A2 G2 A||!
Bd|e3e edBd|d3d dBAB|c3A B2dB|BAAG AGEG|!
G2 G2 GABG|AGEG GABd|d2gd edBG|1 A2 G2 GA:|2 A2 G2 2||

# Posted on April 17th 2007 by Bill Reeder

T:John Kelly's
R:reel
S:YouTube.com
N:TG4 Frances Mooney Tribute show: John Kelly's/Merry Sisters/Silver Spear
N:Played by Paddy Glacklin and Micheal O'Domnhaill
Z:Bill Reeder
M:C|
L:1/8
DE|G2 G2 GABG|AGEG GABd|d2gd edBd|d2ed dBAE|!
G2 G2 GABG|AGEG GABd|d2gd edBG|1 A2 G2 GE:|2 A2 G2 GA||!
Bd|e3e edBd|d3d dBAB|c3A B2dB|BAAG AGEG|!
G2 G2 GABG|AGEG GABd|d2gd edBG|1 A2 G2 GA:|2 A2 G2 G2||

That first version didn't display correctly. I'll try again.

# Posted on April 17th 2007 by Bill Reeder

Yeah, Bill - that's more like the Belfast version I've heard.

# Posted on April 17th 2007 by Kenny

Gosh I'm really shocked. That's obviously the same tune but it's really different. Sounds like it must be derived from a Scottish tune then, no?

# Posted on April 17th 2007 by Dr. Dow

It's possible, Dow, but I've no evidence. Bill's source above is Paddy Glackin, and I do have a recording of Kevin Glackin playing it somewhere, from RTE, so that's a possible Donegal connection, which in traditional music terms, is only a shaky egg's throw from Scotland. Would be nice to find out.

# Posted on April 17th 2007 by Kenny

Isn't the version above more barndance-like (or German if Donegal) than reel-like? I'm reminded of Mickey Callaghan's hornpipe.. http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/774

# Posted on April 23rd 2007 by Dr. Dow

I've just read on the Fiddler's Companion that "O’Callaghan was a neighbor of fiddle John Kelly’s in County Clare, from whom he learned the tune" - the "tune" being a different tune to this one, but at least it shows they swapped tunes. Is there something in this?

# Posted on April 23rd 2007 by Dr. Dow

John Kelly's Concertina

...is the name given to it on Paddy Glackin's "Reprise". Washoo has kindly transcribed it for us here http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7130.

# Posted on May 3rd 2007 by Dr. Dow