Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

The Holly Bush

reel

Key signature: Dmixolydian

Submitted on April 3rd 2003 by fiddlecase.

This tune has been added to 232 tunebooks.

Also known as Finbarr Dwyer's, Finbarr Dwyer's 2, Finbarr Dwyer's Reel No 1, Holly Bush, Hollybush, The Hollybush, Matt The Thrasher, O'Dwyer's, Vinnie O'Brien's.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

X: 1
T: Holly Bush, The
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Dmix
A2FA DAFG|ABde fded|cGG2 EGG2|cedc AGFG|
A2FA DAFG|ABde fded|cGG2 cedc|AcGE D2FG:|
|:Add^c defg|adde dcAc|GccB cdeg|aged cAGc|
Add^c defg |adde dcAB|cGG2 cedc|AcGE D2FG:|

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments
The Holly Bush sheetmusic
Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

The Holly Bush

This I understand is the first reel composed by that wonderful composer from Cork, Finbarr Dwyer. Finbarr plays the button accordian and is surely one of the all time greats. His compositions rate alongside those of Paddy Fahy, Ed Reavy, Paddy O'Brien and Sean Ryan.
Fiddlecase.

# Posted on April 3rd 2003 by fiddlecase

The Holly Bush

Martin Hayes plays this tune down a fourth, in A mixolydian, starting on an E note on the D string, and it sounds quite dramatic.

# Posted on April 9th 2003 by adam b

The Holly Bush

Try playing it in E. Loads more lively!

# Posted on February 24th 2004 by Fiddlemad

There's a great version of this tune by Sean Potts on Drones & Chanters vol. 2.

# Posted on May 4th 2005 by wormdiet

The Holly Bush

Here's what I just gleaned from the recording by Dale Russ and Todd Denman.

X: 1
T: Holly Bush, The
C: Finbarr Dwyer
S: Dale Russ and Todd Denman
Z: Jack Gilder
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Dmix
A2FA DAFA|ABde fded|cG~G2 EG~G2|cedc AGFG|
A2FA DAFA|ABde fded|cGG2 cedc|AFGE DEFG:|
|:Add^c defg|adde dcAF|GccB cde/f/g|afge dcAG|
Add^c defg |adde dcAB|cedB cAGc|AFGE DEFG:|

# Posted on April 9th 2006 by Phantom Button

A fantastic reel which sits nicely alongside other greats like Devanney's Goat, Dick Sherlock's, Fred Finn's, Lady Anne, the Cameronian, etc (ie tunes with great melodies).

# Posted on April 9th 2006 by Bannerman

this is for me the coolest I've learned. I love this tune.

# Posted on September 29th 2007 by chris stolz

Finbarr Dwyer's Original

Me and my brother spent the last two or three days learning the version Finbarr himself plays on an LP he released in the late 60/early 70s. It contrasts considerabely with todays more widely played version and is a version I may make an effort to resurrect. Finbarr plays it three times through so I've included all 3 repitions. His ornamentation is not included because 1) I don't think we can adequately show ornamentation on sheet music and 2) I'm not a box player so I don't really know what he is doing for certain. Anyway, check the post underneath.

# Posted on March 18th 2008 by 52Paddy

The tune

X:1
T:The Original Holly Bush
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Dmix

|(3ABA FA DAFG|Adde fded|cG ~G2 cGdG|cGed cAGE|
|(3ABA FA DAFG|Adde fded|cG ~G2 cedB|cAGE D2 dB|
|(3ABA FA DAFG|Adde fded|cG ~G2 EGcG|C2 ed cAGE|
|(3ABA FA DAFG|Adde fded|cG ~G2 cedB|cAGE D2 dc|
|Add^c defg|aged cAGE|~G2 EG cgeg|aged cAGc|
|Add^c defg|adfa dcAB|~c2 Bd cAGc|AEGE D2 dc|
|Add^c defg|aged cAGE|~G2 EG cgeg|aged cAGc|
|Add^c defg|add^c dcAB|~c2 Bd cAGc|AEGE D2 dc|

|(3ABA FA DAFG|Adde fded|cG ~G2 cGdG|cGed cAGE|
|(3ABA FA DAFG|Adde fded|cG ~G2 cedB|cAGE D2 dB|
|(3ABA FA DAFG|Adde fded|cG ~G2 EGcG|C2 ed cAGE|
|(3ABA FA DAFG|Adde fded|cG ~G2 cedB|cAGE D2 dc|
|Add^c defg|aged cAGE|~G2 EG cgeg|aged cAGc|
|Add^c defg|add^c dcAB|~c2 Bd cAGc|AEGE D2 dc|
|Add^c defg|aged cAGE|~G2 EG cgeg|aged cAGc|
|Add^c defg|add^c dcAB|~c2 Bd cAGc|AEGE D2 dc|

|(3ABA FA DAFG|Adde fded|cG ~G2 EGcG|C2 ed cAGE|
|(3ABA FA DAFG|Adde fded|cG ~G2 cedB|cAGE D2 dB|
|(3ABA FA DAFG|Ad ~d2 adBd|cG ~G2 EGcG|C2 ed cAGE|
|(3ABA FA DAFG|Adde fded|cG ~G2 cedB|cAGE D2 dc|
|Add^c defg|aged cAGE|~G2 EG cgeg|aged cAGc|
|Add^c defg|add^c dcAB|~c2 Bd cAGc|AEGE D2 dc|
|Add^c defg|aged cAGE|~G2 EG cgeg|aged cAGc|
|Add^c defg|add^c dcAB|~c2 Bd cAGc|AcGE D2 ag|

*The high a at the end of the tune is what he would play as he starts the next tune, Mary McMahon

# Posted on March 18th 2008 by 52Paddy

If anybody wants to hear the originial version of "The Hollybush" as played solo by Finbarr Dwyer himself, send me an email. Thanks to either 52paddy or kenny, I have an MP3 of it, including him also Mary McMahon.

# Posted on February 26th 2010 by chris stolz

The Holly Bush

Here's this tune played by Padraig Mc Govern (uilleann pipes), Sabina Mc Cague (fiddle), Melissa Mc Cague (fiddle), James Mc Govern (flute) and Seán Mc Elwain (guitar). It's the 1st tune.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE8FDX3CaAQ

# Posted on December 3rd 2010 by bogman

The Holly Bush

Fun on the khene...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMgw9xI-OcY

# Posted on December 3rd 2010 by bogman

Contact Finbarr Dwyer

I have made a guitar adaptation of this tune and wand to contact Finbarr Dwyer (and the editor for this tune if any...) to ask the conditions for a publication. Can anybody help ?

# Posted on June 5th 2011 by Jean2

The Prehistoric Piper

Unfortunately, no credit is given to Finbarr Dwyer for composing the tune, but here's an interesting and humorous take on The Holly Bush. Be patient, the tune will come around sooner or later:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UyP-9Vig1c

# Posted on November 21st 2011 by Jumper

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