Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

The Moving Cloud

reel

Key signature: Gmajor

Submitted on October 29th 2002 by Brad Maloney.

This tune has been added to 290 tunebooks.

Also known as Lignadruan, Moving Cloud, Moving Clouds, The Moving Clouds.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

A Tribute To Michael Coleman by Joe Burke, Andy McGann And Felix Dolan
Airs And Graces by Phil Cunningham
An Cailín Rua (The Red Haired Girl) by Kathleen Boyle
An Feochan by Philippe Barnes
Brian Kelly by Brian Kelly
Celtic Sessions by William Coulter
Clear The Dresser And Take The Floor by Emerald Ceili Band
Comhaltas On Tour 1983 by Various Artists
Corran Hill by Carmel Gunning
Craic'd! by Atlantic Wave
Damp In The Attic (I Was Flyin' It) by P.J. King, Martin Murray, Cyril O'Donoghue, And Colm Murphy
Dance Music Of Ireland: Volume 7 by Matt Cunningham
Far Green Country by John Sherman
Folktrax-170: Neil Boyle, Fairy Fiddler Of Donegal by Neil Boyle
Gaelic Roots by Various Artists
Happy Hour by Donal Murphy
Harping Daly by Patricia Daly
Heat Of The Moment by Pierre Schryer And Ian Clark
Heathery Breeze by Matt Molloy
How Are We Getting Home? by Gaelic Storm
I Will If I Can by John Carty
In My Hands by Natalie MacMaster
Irish Button Accordion by Billy Moran
Kelly/O'Brien/Sproule by Kelly, O'Brien and Sproule
Last Night's Fun by Last Night's Fun
Masters Of The Celtic Accordion: The Big Squeeze by Various Artists
Masters Of Tradition by Various Artists
Michael Flatley by Michael Flatley
On Two Levels by Sean Maguire
Pierre Schryer, Dermot Byrne And Friends by Pierre Schryer, Dermot Byrne And Friends
Rattlin' Banjos (part 1) by Gerry O'Connor
Seoltai Seidte (Setting Sail) by Various Artists
Seven Years After by Sirkus
Star Of Ireland by Finbarr Dwyer
The Donegal Fiddle by Various Artists
The Irish Concertina by Noel Hill
The Ladies From Hell by The Black Watch
The Slopes Of Benbulben by John Regan
The Wansbeck Piper by Pauline Cato
Time To Time by Gerry O'Connor
Tiomnacht / Handed On by Eoin O Riabhaigh
Trad At Heart by Various Artists
Traditional Music From Ireland by Seamus Creagh And Aidan Coffey
Traditional Music Of Ireland by James Kelly, Paddy O'Brien, Daithi Sproule
Traditional Music Of Ireland by Paddy O'Brien
Up And Coming - Ó Ghlúin Go Glúin by Oisín And Conal Hernon
Up In The Air by Danu
Variations by Beolach

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

X: 1
T: Moving Cloud, The
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Gmaj
|:DGBG ^DGcG | DGBG AGFG | c3A (3Bcd gb | aged BAGE |
DGBG ^DGcG | DGBG AGFG | cBAc BAGB | ADEF G3z :||
|:~d2 bd adgd | ~d2 bd adgd | ~e2 c'e beae | ~e2 c'e beae
~d2 bd adgd | ~d2 bd adgd| cBAc BAGB | ADEF G3z :||
|:Bd~d2 ed~d2 | Bd~d2 edcB | ce~e2 fe~e2 | fefe fedc
Bd~d2 ed~d2 | Bd~d2 edcB | cBAc BAGB | ADEF G3z :||

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Moving Cloud

This tune is fairly garish but fun to play. Those D#'s in the first measure of the Apart are optional. Nowadays the D# is often just played as a D natural. This tune used to be played in the key of F, but it's more popular in G - for obvious reasons. I think this is really popular with the Cape Breton & Scottish players. Those d2bd adgd bits can be turned around & played d2gd adbd for a variation.

# Posted on October 29th 2002 by Brad Maloney

Moving Cloud

PS I first heard this tune from Gerry O'Connor's playing, where he really rips it up.

# Posted on October 29th 2002 by Brad Maloney

Neilly Boyle

I believe this tune was written by Neilly Boyle. Does anyone have any information on him they could add here?

# Posted on October 29th 2002 by Jeremy

I used to dislike this tune, until I heard it by Seamus Creagh and Aidan Coffey - they actually play it in a nice laid back manner and it doesn't sound forced or tricksy. I'll try to find time to write and post a review of their album - It's great stuff...

# Posted on October 30th 2002 by Ottery

Neil O'Boyle

Neil O'Boyle, (1889-1961), better known as 'Neillie'. He was born in Easton, Pennsylvania and grew up near Dungloe. Famous for his Donegal 'Northern' style of fiddling - brisk tempo and crisp staccato bowing. Also famous for his strong views on Jazz and Pop music, which he dubbed 'Jungle Music'. Only recorded 6 sides on 78.
(Thanks to the sleeve notes for 'From Galway To Dublin' - Rouder CD 1087)

# Posted on October 30th 2002 by Ottery

Moving cloud

I think this was originally composed in "F", rather than G.
There's an unusual version on the 2nd recording by James Kelly, Paddy O'Brien & Daithi Sproule, which also features on a live double CD recorded at Boston College a few years ago.
As an aside , I used to have a band playing traditional Scottish and Irish music called "The Moving McLeods".

# Posted on October 30th 2002 by Kenny

Moving cloud

Has anyone figured out the Gerry O'connor version of this tune, i've almost got of his variations but some of them are too complex for me.

# Posted on May 7th 2003 by Liam "banjo" Vernon

Moving Cloud variations

I think that most of the variations that most of the Irish musicians do, were taken from Sean Maguire. This tune was one of his party pieces in the late 50s and early 60s.
Bobby Mcleod the Scottish danceband leader added the 3rd and 4th part.

# Posted on December 20th 2004 by tirvaluk

The Moving Cloud

Listen to a crazy good flute player playing this reel: http://www.rte.ie/radio1/ceilihouse/rams/27august.smil (starts around 41:00) I had the pleasure to meet her a couple of years ago, and I believe she had just turned 12 when that was recorded. Jaw-dropping!

# Posted on April 2nd 2006 by slainte

In her book "A Drop In The Ocean", Josephine Keegan attributes this tune to Sean McGuire.

# Posted on May 15th 2007 by Aidan Crossey

Watch this:
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_209_1_orla_mcauliffe

# Posted on May 23rd 2007 by slainte

Lovely... :-)

# Posted on May 23rd 2007 by ceolachan

Tune #2: "Jean's Reel"
Key signature: G Major
Submitted on August 26th 2001 by Kerri Brown.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/255

# Posted on May 23rd 2007 by ceolachan

~ but ~ :-/

# Posted on May 24th 2007 by ceolachan

But what?

# Posted on May 24th 2007 by slainte

Cunningham, Banjos...

This tune was composed by Phil Cunningham.
Sharon Shannon does a nice version on her solo album, but definitely the most amazing version for me has to be that of Marion something or other (banjo player) who used to play at the local sessions.
By the way the ABCs sh*te.

# Posted on April 18th 2008 by Conchúir Ó hÓgáin

Compoed by Phil ???

Rubbish ! Or if you prefer, sh*te. And which "solo album" did Sharon Shannon record it on? There's nothing wrong with the "abcs" as far as I can tell. I think you're confusing this with Jean's Reel, [ and Phil didn't compose it either ].

# Posted on April 19th 2008 by Kenny

Composed..should be.

# Posted on April 19th 2008 by Kenny

Oh...

Well thanks for correcting me then!
The albums just called "Sharon Shannon", and this tunes on track 13, a set called "Phil Cunningham".
Maybe I am confusing it with Jeans Reel...
Gur a mie ayd. ;)

# Posted on April 19th 2008 by Conchúir Ó hÓgáin

On Kathleen Boyle's new album, An Cailin Rua, track 10 has her grandfather, Neilidh Boyle playing this tune, his own composition. She and her father Hughie play along. In the notes, she says that the tune was written in F, but because of the tuning of his fiddle it is closer to G, "which would explain why it is played in both these keys today."

# Posted on September 9th 2008 by Red Crow

instead of the D# could you play and E? Sounds ok to me, chord C an all.

# Posted on September 13th 2008 by Woodyboy

Setting from the playing of Neilly Boyle

Here's the man himself talking about & playing the tune
http://www.mediafire.com/?njyyqicm24z

Here's the tune compressed, tuned & half speed
http://www.mediafire.com/?yzltdgkun2z

# Posted on September 27th 2008 by iTrad

The Moving Clouds

The composer of this tune Neillidh Boyle called it “The Moving Clouds” (‘Clouds’, plural)

gPod, this is an impressive transcription of Neillidh Boyle’s version. I always hated this tune until I heard the original version played by Neillidh Boyle. This tune is actually played a tone down from your transcription. You can hear the open-G drone being played along with the G on the D string throughout. The tune falls under the fingers a lot easier when played a tone lower. Neillidh Boyle always tuned the fiddle a full tone sharp of modern concert pitch.

# Posted on February 9th 2009 by whistleblower

The Moving Clouds as Neillidh Boyle played it.

Using a transposing programme I’ve just transposed gPod’s excellent transcription down a tone to where Neillidh Boyle himself played it (though it sounds a tone higher because the fiddle was tuned sharp). I did change one note throughout: The low open-G in the above transcription in actually an open-G in the lower pitch. Whenever the note is played it sounds harsh and rather non-pitched and it never rings out, but I slowed it down using Audacity (as well as shifting the tuning down to A440) and it’s the open-G string for sure. Many thanks gPod for putting in all the work.

# Posted on February 11th 2009 by whistleblower

Good catch with the title.

I have to disagree about your key change. Regardless of where his fiddle was tuned, he was fingering it in "G". You mentioned the ringing open "G" & "D" strings which would not be there if you fingered it in "F".

Glad you like the transcription & all the best,
-George

# Posted on February 20th 2009 by iTrad

love this tuuuune xox

# Posted on June 17th 2009 by iloveaccordions

This is the version I play, taken from Matt Molloy and Orla McAuliffe:

# Posted on August 13th 2009 by Othannen