The Session >> Tunes >> Paddy Fahy's (reel)

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Paddy Fahy's

reel

Key signature: Gmajor

Submitted on June 21st 2001 by Will Harmon.

This tune has been added to 349 tunebooks.

Also known as And Never Was Piping So Gay, Blacksmith's Anvil, The Blacksmith's Anvil, Ed Reavy's, Fahey´s Tractor, Never Was Piping So Gay, Paddy Fahey's, Paddy Fahey's No. 14, Paddy Fahy's Favourite Orgy Scene, Reavy's, Shaney Mulhearn's, Shaney Mulhern's.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

X: 1
T: Paddy Fahy's
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Gmaj
|:G,2 B,D GBdB|c2 ag fgdc|B~G3 BcdB|cBAG FDCA,|
|(3G,G,G, B,D GBdB|c2 ag fgdc|B~G3 BcdB|1 cAFA G2 DB,:|2 cAFA G2 Bc|
|:dgfa gdBG|FGAB c2 Bc|Aaag a3g|fdad bdad|
|(3ggg fa gdBG|FGAB c2 Bc|d~g3 defd|1 cAFA G2 Bc:|2 cAFA G2 DB,|

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments
Paddy Fahy's sheetmusic
Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Paddy Fahy's Reel

This transcription is based on Martin Hayes' playing on The Lonesome Touch. Paddy Fahy is a Galway fiddler and prolific composer of wonderful tunes, which are widely played though not always attributed to Mr. Fahy. I've heard this played fast and slow, and prefer the slow pace myself just to feature the lyrical, slightly twisted melody line. Listen to Hayes caress this one--it's a delight. I'll post more Fahy compositions if Jeremy can figure out how he wants to label them (1, 2, 3, etc?).
Will

# Posted on June 21st 2001 by Will Harmon

Naming tunes

When I was putting the database together, I was well aware that are many tunes that share the same name. With that in mind, I decided that each tune would have a unique identification number irrespective of the tune's title.

So go ahead and submit as many tunes called Paddy Fahy's as you like.

In fact, I think I'll go back and change the title of "Toss The Feathers (II)" to simply "Toss The Feathers" - it makes for an easier tune search.

# Posted on June 21st 2001 by Jeremy

Ed Reavy's

This is actually a Paddy Fahy version of "Never Was Piping So Gay," which was composed by Ed Reavy. See the liner note of "At the End of the Day" of Dervish.
I personally prefer this setting, though I cannot play it on the whistle.

# Posted on February 5th 2003 by slainte

The Shaskeen Ceili Band recorded this tune as The Blacksmith's Anvil. Seamus Tansey also recorded his own very idiosyncratic version, which he named Shaney Mulhearn's. This is definitely one tune that lends itself to wide range of interpretation, probably because the opening phrases are so strong as to be unmistakable. Martin Hayes' version is just one of several versions, but one which seems to have caught on. In my view, the Shaskeen version is the most definitive.

# Posted on October 6th 2003 by Rudall the time

Real Name

I've been looking for this tune for a while and have been really frustrated cos I've been able to find all the other Paddy Fahy's except this one. It's No. 14

I think it may be usefull to have the full name of this tune as there seem to be so many tunes submitted with the tittle Paddy Fahy's and no way to identify which is which.

Otherwise, fantastic tune and so happy I can now go away and learn it properly.

# Posted on May 18th 2004 by greenbutton

Reavy/Fahy mistake

"The Shaskeen Ceili Band recorded this tune as The Blacksmith's Anvil. Seamus Tansey also recorded his own very idiosyncratic version, which he named Shaney Mulhearn's." So says "Lord Of The Flies",[above], but he is wrong on both counts. Neither "Shaskeen" nor Seamus Tansey recorded this particular version - ie the reel which Martin Hayes recorded as "Paddy Fahy's" and Will has transcribed here. What they did record was Ed Reavy's original version which he [Ed Reavy]called "Never Was Piping So Gay". There is therefore no justification at all for causing confusion by calling this tune either "The Blacksmith's Anvil" or "Shaney Mulhearn's", and the title listings for this setting should be adjusted accordingly, in my opinion.
Thanks to "slainte" for explaining the origin of the similarities between the 2 tunes.

# Posted on June 2nd 2004 by Kenny

They're definitely 2 different tunes. They get played as such in sessions I play in.

# Posted on June 2nd 2004 by Dr. Dow

Well, I'm just going to have to disagree with you. I might concede that they (the versions) are derived from the same tune. I don't think I'm adding to confusion by making these observations.

# Posted on March 14th 2005 by Rudall the time

Paddy Fahy's Reel

The Lonesome Touch recording of this tune was used as the introductory music for a series of story-tellings (mostly from County Clare) read on the BBC radio last month by the great Irish story-teller and folklorist, Eddie Lenihan.
Trevor

# Posted on April 2nd 2005 by Trevor Jennings

"Never Was Piping So Gay" ~ a reel by Ed Reavy

Key signature: G Major
Submitted on April 18th 2002 by Josh Kane.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/648

# Posted on February 16th 2006 by ceolachan

The Paddy Fahy's reel that is found on Kevin and Sean Moloney's album 'Bridging the Gap' (track 4, tune 1) and Mike and Mary Rafferty's album 'The Road to Ballininkill' (last track, first tune) can be found here.

http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/5953

# Posted on July 11th 2006 by tmcelrea

Not a version of "Never was Piping so Gay"

I'd just like to correct the comment made by slainte "

This is actually a Paddy Fahy version of "Never Was Piping So Gay," which was composed by Ed Reavy. "

In the MA Thesis on his music done by Maria Holohan, Fahey himself says that the similarity between the tunes is in fact a coincidence and he even suggests that it is more likely Reavy was influenced by him as Fahey's tunes were known to be circulating amongst US musicians around the time Reavy wrote "Never Was Piping So Gay"

There are quite a few similarities between Reavy and Fahey's compositional styles but Fahey flatly denied any influence from Reavy. They were actually composing a lot of their tunes around the same time period so it is possible that Fahey influenced Reavy, but I guess this is open for debate.

# Posted on August 29th 2007 by The Tune Composer

Interesting - thanks for the info.

# Posted on August 30th 2007 by Dr. Dow

Paddy Fahy's Reel (14?)

I really don't mind where ithe tune ultimately comes from- I just know that the quality of this music, particularly the magical lift produced at bars 3 and 4 of the second part makes me glad to be playing my small part within the Irish tradition of celebrating the music by playing the music with a few friends here in Western Sydney. I suppose, though, in my heart of hearts, I want this to be Paddy's tune as he is something of a legend- a person who shuns the limelight and gains inspiration from his own place and people

# Posted on July 23rd 2008 by Quentin Bega

Paddy Fahey's??

Hello, I was wondering if anyone knew if Paddy Fahey's (No.14) was on here. I've looked... but I may be just really blind haha!
it's the on that's on this video if that helps?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkkYWg4TD2Ye
thank you! oh and also does anyone know the name of the last tune on that aswell? I think it's a really good tune, would like to learn that too, if anyone knows... cheers!

# Posted on May 15th 2009 by ajh92

Re: Paddy Fahey's??

YouTube sez: "malformed video URL"

so won't be able to be much help for now

# Posted on May 15th 2009 by Nate Ryan

Re: Paddy Fahey's??

ah sorry! heres the right link!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkkYWg4TD2Y
~thanks again.

# Posted on May 15th 2009 by ajh92

Re: Paddy Fahey's??

The Paddy Fahy tune is this one http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/150

And if you look at the description of the video, the second tune is "Da Sixereen"

# Posted on May 15th 2009 by Reverend

Re: Paddy Fahey's??

The last tune is Martin Hayes version of Mother and Child
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1565

# Posted on May 15th 2009 by bogman

Re: Paddy Fahey's??

oh yeah I saw Da Sixereen part haha! thanks v much for your help!

# Posted on May 15th 2009 by ajh92

I like this one as a single

... for me, playing it so emphasizes the sweep of the tune. (Not a huge revelation, but a good enough one to bring a little more attention to this great piece!)

# Posted on May 25th 2011 by muspc

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