Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Mayor Harrison's Fedora

reel

Key signature: Edorian

Submitted on November 13th 2001 by Miss Lonelyhearts.

This tune has been added to 174 tunebooks.

Also known as Feadoir An Meara Harrison, Fedora, Major Harrison's Fedora, Mayor Harrison’s Fedora.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

A Flying Start by Paul Moran And Fergal Scahill
An Traidisiun Beo by Angelina Carberry
Atlantic Wave by Paddy Reynolds, Charlie Mulvihill, James Keane, Felix Dolan
Celtic Roots (Spirit Of Dance) by John Whelan
Contentment Is Wealth by Matt Molloy And Sean Keane
Donal Lunny by Donal Lunny
Faoi Bhlath by Dave Sheridan, Ciaran Somers, Nicolas Quemener
Flowers Of The Burren by Barefield Ceili Band
King Of The Concert Flute by Seamus Tansey
Nos Na Gaoithe by Brian Owens And Tom Dunlop
Out Of Their Shell by Céide
Revenge Is Sweet by Molly's Revenge
Rolling Harbour by Elandir
Southerly Breeze by Various Artists
Sweet Liberty by Garva
The Banks Of The Shannon by Paddy O'Brien, Seamus Connolly And Charlie Lennon
The Dear Little Isle by Inishbofin Ceili Band
The House Band by The House Band
The Quiet Glen by Tommy Peoples
The Three Piece Flute by Desi Wilkinson
The Twentieth Anniversary Collection by Various Artists
Traditional Music From The Legendary East Clare Fiddler by Paddy Canny
Twos And Threes by Murphy Roche Irish Music Club

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

X: 1
T: Mayor Harrison's Fedora
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Edor
EF|:GBEG (3BBB AF|GFGA BdAG|FADF ADFA|(3ddd cd BAGF|
|GBEG (3BBB AF|GFGA ~B3 c|dedB AGFA|1 GEFD ~E3 F:|2 GEFD ~E3 A||
|:Beed e2 ef|g2 fg edBA|FABc d2 (3ABc|dfaf gfed|
|Beed e2 ef|g2 fg edBc|dedB AGFA|1GEFD ~E3 A:|2 GEFD ~E3 F||

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Mayor Harrison's Fedora

I first learned this off a tape of Donal Lunny in concert. You'll see the title also confused as Major Harrison's Fedora.

# Posted on November 13th 2001 by Miss Lonelyhearts

Mayor Harrison's Fedora

I've recently found out that this tune...Mayor Harrison's Fedora has a third part...do you know about this? or do you have the music for it? please advise..thanks. Dave Riddles

# Posted on June 6th 2002 by dcriddles

Dave, I've only heard the third part once, at a 3 am session of ITM giants. It went like a version of Johnny's Wedding, something like this:

I didn't include it in the original posting because it's not all that commonly played, and (selfishly) I like the tune better without it. Hope this helps.

# Posted on June 6th 2002 by Miss Lonelyhearts

Mayor Harrison's Fedora

Will...thanks for the help and I know what you mean about liking the tune without a third part...it just seems to flow nicely without that extra baggage. I recently played with a fiddler who just had to have that third part so now I can step in there when it's needed...thanks again! Dave Riddles

# Posted on June 9th 2002 by dcriddles

Common w/ 3rd Part Too

I've always heard this tune played with its third part. (Have a recording of Tommy Peoples playing it that way somewhere as well.) Anyway, that's how i learned it and have only heard it from other players with the third part. --?

# Posted on April 22nd 2003 by pchaffee

As I said above, I learned it off a concert tape of Donal Lunny and friends, and they played only the first two parts. I've since heard it played at sessions with no more than two parts by the likes of Cillian Vallely, Brian Conway, and Tom Doorley, though I'm not sure which of them "led" the tune that way. I've also heard the three-part setting at several sessions. What all this means to me is that Mayor Harrison's Fedora gets played both ways, and it doesn't hurt to know the third part, whether you "always" play it or not (though in hindsight, I probably should have included it in the original posting). But part of the charm of this music comes from not being held to "official" settings--there are no such things. To my ear, the third part sounds added on, an afterthought rather than an original and integral piece of the tune. But I'm probably wrong.....

# Posted on April 23rd 2003 by Miss Lonelyhearts

Great

I was simply reporting my experience of this tune, not claiming any official anything...

# Posted on April 23rd 2003 by pchaffee

Mayor Harrison's Fedora

This tune is in O'Neill's 1001 jigs reels etc. (Not the yellow "bible")
There is no "major" Harrison. Mayor Harrison was Mayor of Chicago from 1897 to 1915 - The era when O'Neill was collecting is tunes in Chicago. The 3rd part is in O'Neill and thus "orriginal" for what it maters. We play the third part.

# Posted on July 26th 2003 by Dusty

I agree with you about the 3rd part Will. It doesn't develop the tune much does it?

# Posted on April 19th 2004 by Dow

On second thoughts maybe it's just because that's not how I first learnt it. I first came across the 3rd part at a session. Maybe if you make it go up to top A and vary the rhythm a bit it could be given a character of its own. If backers start on a chord of G it'd be nice:

# Posted on April 19th 2004 by Dow

Hornpipe?

I was bowled over by the Paddy O'Brien version of this a number of years ago and learned it from the recording. But I'm pretty sure it used to get played around the Edinburgh session scene as a hornpipe. Anybody else come across this?

# Posted on December 10th 2004 by kris

Sherlock Holmes' Fedora

hmmm... Did the hornpipe have a third part? (puffs on pipe and looks inquisitive) *puff puff*

# Posted on December 10th 2004 by Phantom Button

Dr Watson Replies

Yes, Holmes, a third part was included.

And I can now reveal that a slightly slower (and very beautiful) version of this is to be found on The House Band album (Topic 1985) which would explain the Edinburgh connection. On first listening this seems to have nothing to do with my liking the Paddy O'Brien version. But now I remember learning this version off the LP at the time.

To bring you this information I had to clear a whole pile of CDs, cassettes and duck figurines off the top of my (still connected to the hi fi) turntable. I could be in for a night on the vinyl....

# Posted on December 17th 2004 by kris

I've realised why I don't like the 3rd part - it sounds too much like the B-part of Colonel McBain.

# Posted on May 15th 2005 by Dow

Third part corner

I heard this great tune a few weeks back in Maddens' in Belfast and the third part was the one stuck in my head- I love it.I think the contrast actually helps -sounds deadly on the Desi Wilkinson Three Piece Flute album-played through once I think.

# Posted on May 18th 2005 by horaldo

More (and a tad basic I fear...) on the third pard of Major Harrison's fedora.

I also think the version of Major Harrison's Fedora played by the house band is really lovely. I'd like to hear a Lúnasa arrangement some time too. I do have a question however, this rather basic I am afraid.

I am both 'paper trained' and ear competent for learning tunes. But I am NOt familiar with the notation you use in this thread (and elsewhere) for sharing tunes. Is there a primer I can read to learn the meaning of the notation?

I am going back to Gallway Ireland in June and will do some session playing and would like to learn variations in case I encounter or start the tune.

But the way on the Lúnasa CDs I highly recomment the folliwng tunes for a listen: "The Mileler of Drohan", "The Last Pint "(new version) and "Across the Black River/ Iain MacDonald's"

# Posted on March 27th 2008 by Duane Truex

Sorry silly me. got it...

Belay that request ...I just compared the sheet version to the tablature(?) description an now see the translation rubric.

I would however like to learn more on the tradition and its origin and use if anyone has an idea or further pointers.

thanks much.

# Posted on March 27th 2008 by Duane Truex