Chief O'Neill's Favourite

hornpipe

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on May 18th 2001 by Jeremy.

This tune has been added to 246 tunebooks.

Also known as Chief O'Neill's, Chief O'Neill's Favorite, Flowers Of Ardigne.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• A Date With The Gallowglass Ceili Band by The Gallowglass Ceili Band
• A Flying Start by Paul Moran And Fergal Scahill
• An Fhidil, Sraith 2 by Sean Keane, Kevin Burke, Paddy Glackin And Seamus Creagh
• An Historic Recording Of Irish Traditional Music by Paddy Canny, P.J. Hayes, Peader O'Loughlin, Bridie Lafferty
• At Their Best. Sean McGuire And Roger Sherlock by Sean Maguire
• Crashing Through The Trees by Warblefly
• Fiddler's Fancy by Tommy Peoples
• Further Down The Old Plank Road by The Chieftains
• Gerry MacFadden by Gerry McFadden
• Greenfire by Greenfire
• In Full Spate by Paddy Glackin
• Jack In The Box Irish Session by Tionol
• On Oiche Go Maidin by O'aces
• Pay The Piper: Music For The Sets Volume 3 by Various Artists
• River Reel by Begley,Glackin And O'Brien
• Sean Potts by Sean Potts And Paddy Moloney
• Sporting Nell by Tommy McCarthy
• Swarbrick 2 by Dave Swarbrick
• The Best Ever Traditional Irish Pub Session Volume Two by Various Artists
• The Boston Edge by Joe Derrane, Seamus Connolly And John McGann
• The Humours Of Lewisham, Volume Three by Aidan Crossey
• The Maid At The Well by Tony O'Rourke
• The Nettles by The Nettles
• The Pipering Of Willie Clancy. Vol 2 by Willie Clancy
• The Sligo Champion (CD 2) by Michael Gorman
• The Slopes Of Benbulben by John Regan
• The Sound Of Coleman Country by Various Artists
• Throw Away The Keys by Brian Mac Aodha
• Traditional Irish Music (traditional Music Session From Belfast) by Various Artists
• Traditional Irish Music Played On The Uilleann Pipes by Robbie Hannan
• Traditional Irish Tunes Played On The Tin Whistle (2/2) by Geraldine Cotter
• Where Else Would You Be by The Pub Scouts

X: 1
T: Chief O'Neill's Favourite
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: hornpipe
K: Dmaj
|:de|fefg afge|fdec dBAG|FEDE FGAB|=cAd^c A2 de|
|fefg afge|fdec dBAG|FEDF GBAG|F2 D2 D2:|
|:DE|=F2FE FGAB|=cAdB =cAGB|Adde fded|=cAd^c A2de|
|fefg afge|fdec dBAG|FEDF GBAG|F2 D2 D2:|

I love the way this tune switches between c sharps and c naturals, sometimes even in the same bar. And that f natural in the second part gives the tune a sinister, minor twist that stops it sounding too "nice". You can turn this f natural into a triplet for a nice effect.

The Chief O'Neill in question is, presumably, the chief of the Chicago police force who managed to collect so many Irish tunes into the famous "O'Neill's 1001" collection. Apparently, just about every officer in the Chicago police force at the time could play a musical instrument.

# Posted on June 1st 2001 by Jeremy

Hi, thanks for this tune. Do you ever play the turn with the f# instead of the sinister f natural?

I also like a bit of double stop on that f natural, seems to add to the mood.

# Posted on June 4th 2003 by Rayzore

Chief O'Neill's

Can anyone throw any light on why this tune has this title?

# Posted on April 6th 2006 by Duijera Dubh

Re: Chief O'Neill's

Because it was originally published in his Book as "Chief O'Neills Favorite"?

# Posted on April 6th 2006 by mthatcher61

Re: Chief O'Neill's

Who is Chief O'Neill?

# Posted on April 6th 2006 by Duijera Dubh

Re: Chief O'Neill's

Legend has it that, as a young child, he was stolen by a tribe of wayward Sioux from his Irish-born parents as they crossed the plains with a wagon train, heading for Montana. But O'Neill, despite his tender age, retained an astonishing memory of tunes, songs and step-dancing, and he shared these with many in the tribe's village. In fact, archeologists later discovered in the area a strangely altered "peace pipe," attached to a large, inflatable rawhide bag -- perhaps the prototype of a Native American version of the Uilleann pipes, undoubtedly fashioned by O'Neill himself.
When he became an adult, O'Neill was challenged by the village leader to a step-dancing contest and pub-sing competition, both of which O'Neill won handily. He therefore assumed the mantle of leadership, and was accordingly dubbed "Chief O'Neill."

...but then again, legend has it that he was the chief of police in Chicago back in the late 19th, early 20th century.

# Posted on April 6th 2006 by sts

>> sts

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sts
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*Main instruments: guitar, bouzouki, mandolin and bodhran. Also play anglo-concertina, but mainly to accompany MORRIS DANCING!

Ok, right! No problem!

# Posted on April 6th 2006 by Duijera Dubh

High Part

High part first on this tune... like many American tunes.

# Posted on July 19th 2006 by Sean MacOda Criobhan

A little G drone

The natural F in the second part first bar goes from sinister to downright spooky on the fiddle if you make a little light bow contact with the open G string.

# Posted on November 20th 2006 by twildman

F nat. in B-part

One tunebook (CCITCOL Vol.2) gives a B-part with f sharps and the f nat. version as a variant. Quote: "The B variant part with the natural F is due to Barney McKenna, but Fred Rice says he 'never heard anyone play it that way in Ireland.' "
Now who is Fred Rice?

# Posted on July 28th 2007 by kuec