Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

The Battering Ram

jig

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on November 17th 2001 by Josh Kane.

This tune has been added to 263 tunebooks.

Also known as An Reithe Toghla, Battering Ram.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

A Celebration Of 50 Years by The Tulla Ceili Band
A Few More Tunes by John Skelton
A Stone's Throw by Michael Cooney
All Things Considered by Danu
Celtic Dances by Various Artists
Celtic Dream by Oisin
Chasing The Bear by John Hicks
Come To An Irish Dance Party by Laichtín Naofa Céilí Band.
Concertina Music From West Clare by Elizabeth Crotty
D Flute Album by Kevin Crawford
Easter Snow by Seamus Tansey
Echoes Of Erin by The Tulla Ceili Band
Farewell To Evening Dances by Colm O'Donnell
Foinn Seisiun 2 by Ceoltóirí Cultúrlainne
Gogarty's Music II: A Decade On by Various Artists
In Safe Hands by Various Artists
Ireland's Best Session Tunes CD 2 by Waltons Recording
Irish Dance Music by Chris Droney
Irish Heritage: Ireland's Musical Tradition (CD 1) by Various Artists
Irish Traditional Music In America: Chicago by Various Artists
Land's End by Michael Rooney And June McCormack
Live At Trinity Hall by Trinity Hall Session Players
Many Happy Returns by Arcady
Musical Journey by Cormac Breatnach And Martin Dunlea
Paddy In The Smoke by Various Artists
Rendezvous by Celtic Fiddle Festival
Seamus Tansey With Eddie Corcoran by Seamus Tansey
Seoltai Seidte (Setting Sail) by Various Artists
Set The Sails by Bantry Bay
Seven Streams by The Turloughmore Ceili Band
Shaskeen Irish Pub Session by Shaskeen
The Chieftains 1 by The Chieftains
The Cobblestone Sessions by Various Artists
The Flowing Tide by Chris Droney
The Michael Sexton Ceili Band by The Michael Sexton Ceili Band
The Music Makers: Celebrating 35 Years Of Comhaltas In Leeds by Leeds CCE
The Phantom Shadows Of A Connaught Fire (2 Of 3) by Seamus Tansey
The Plain Of Jars by Brian Kelly
The Quiet Glen by Tommy Peoples
The Russell Family Of Doolin, County Clare by The Russell Family
The Totally Traditional Tin Whistle Tape by Various Artists
The View Across The Valley by The Brady Family
The World Pipe Band Championships 2006 by Various Artists
Three's Company by Martin Meehan
Traditional Irish Flute Music by Fintan Vallely
Traditional Music From The Glens Of Antrim by Leo Brown And PJ Hill
Traditional Music Of Ireland, Vol. 2 by Sean Ryan And Peter Carberry
Whistle Wizardry by Vinnie Kilduff
Whistleworks by Phil Hardy
With A Lot Of Help From Their Friends by Mary Custy And Eoin O'Neill
Wooden Flute Obsession Disk 1 by Various Artists

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

The Battering Ram

hey, what can I really say about it? Have fun!

# Posted on November 17th 2001 by Josh Kane

Key

# Posted on June 24th 2002 by geoffwright

The Battering Ram

The tune title refers to a device used by the English in Ireland
to knock down the walls of a cottage from which the inhabitants
have been evicted.

# Posted on September 3rd 2002 by Mikea

As opposed to the Buttery Rum, a salve applied by those same inhabitants.

# Posted on September 4th 2002 by Will CPT

Here is a variant on the tune. The key I suggest is more properly D mixolydian (1 #):

d|:B2G A2G|B2D D2d|BAG AGE|GDD D2d|
B2G A2G|BdB BAG|ABA BAB|1 GDD D2d:|2 GDD D2B|
|:dBG A2B|dBG G2B|dBG AGE|GDD D2B|
BdB BAG|BdB AGE|B2G AGE|GDD D2B:|
|:deg aga|bag age|deg aga|bag e2g|
bag age|ged edB|dBG AGE|GDD D2B:||

-m

# Posted on November 16th 2002 by lazyhound

It's in G.

# Posted on July 15th 2004 by Dow

If you want to follow this with something, it sounds good to lift into Ador and play something like "Rakes Of Kildare" or even better Sean Ryan's "Nightingale".

# Posted on September 28th 2004 by Dow

The Battering Ram

I looked at many versions of the tune, but they all have some awkward phrases for flute. Here's what I play:

I actually learned the basis of the version from my whistle tutor in England. You could add more ornamentation, but I personally prefer keeping the tune simple with emphasis on the beats.

# Posted on April 30th 2005 by slainte

Listen to Sligo musician and singer Colm O’Donnell play this tune: http://www.bogfire.com/music_cd_mp3s/track04.mp3 You'll find info on the player and his recording at: http://www.bogfire.com/colm_music.html

# Posted on August 18th 2005 by slainte

2 Part Version

On "Land's End" June and Michael play a 2 part setting of this tune that they attribute to a Danu recording ("All Things Considered"). It's basically the first two parts of the tune as it is posted here, but with a few differences. Definitely has a different feel. If I feel ambitious I'll post the setting in the comments section here.

# Posted on August 27th 2006 by Jason G

2 Part Version

Here's my transcription of the two-part version on Draíocht's "Land's End".

I've always liked the Battering Ram, but since I learned this setting, I don't like the more common setting nearly as much. I sometimes accidentally go into the third part from the normal setting when playing the two part setting, so watch out.

# Posted on April 1st 2007 by kjay_bc_box

Watch June McCormack and Michael Rooney playing the 2-part version transcribed above: http://www.custysvideo.com/video/michaelrooneyjunemccormack_video.mpg

# Posted on July 24th 2007 by slainte

This might go nicely in a set with Larry The Beer Drinker as the rhythm and phrasing are quite similar.

# Posted on March 5th 2008 by Dow