Londonderry Air

reel

Key signature: Gmajor

Submitted on February 27th 2007 by Falkbeer.

This tune has been added to 144 tunebooks.

Also known as Anthem For Ireland, Danny Boy, Derry Air, Joe Ryan's Air, O Danny Boy, O'Cahan's Lament.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• Aidan's Orbit by Scythian
• Anthem by De Danann
• Bach To Ireland by Vivian Minden And Julia Shaw
• Celtic Dance Music And Song by Mike Saunders And Dale Russ
• Celtic Harp II: From A Distant Time by Patrick Ball
• Celtic Heart by Marcille Wallis
• Celtic Roots & Rhythms - Heartcry by Nick And Anita Haigh
• Easy And Slow by Various Artists
• Etched In Stone by Off Kilter
• Golden Vanity by Modesty Forbids
• Green Factor by Ada Rovatti
• Hibernian Rhapsody by De Danann
• In Ireland by James Galway And The Chieftains
• Irish Heart, Jewish Soul by Carl Nelkin
• Irish Piano Classics by J.J. Sheridan
• Lament by Various Artists
• Live From The National Concert Hall Dublin by Sean Maguire
• Memories Of Clare by Bobby Gardiner
• Paddy On The Railway by Ten Penny Bit
• Piper's Dream by Jack Brennan
• Songs Of Ireland by Brobdingnagian Bards
• Tears Of Stone by The Chieftains
• The Blossom And The Rain by Carol Thompson
• The Irish Music Anthology (40 Classic Songs, Jigs And Reels) by Various Artists
• The Live Tracks by Off Kilter
• The Sea Of Dreams by Davy Spillane
• Yours Truly by Natalie MacMaster

X: 1
T: Londonderry Air
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Gmaj
F GA | "G"B3A "G7"Be dB | "C"AGE2zG"Cm" Bc | "Bm"d3e "Em" dB GB | "A7"A4z "D7"F GA |
"G"B3A "G7"Be dB | "C"AGE2zF "Cm"GA | "Bm"B3"Em"c "A7"BA "D7"GA | "G"G4z d "D7"ef |
"G"g3f "C"fe de | "Bm"dB"Em"G2z"Am"d "B7"ef | "Em"g3f "C"fe "Bm"dB | "A7"A4z "D7"d dd |
"G7"b3a "C"ag eg | "Bm"dB"Em"G2z"Cm"F GA | "Bm"Be "Em"dB "A7"AG "D7"EF | "G Cm G"G4z |]

Londonderry air / Danny boy

This is perhaps one of the most famous of all irish airs (though listed here as a reel!). It´s also known as Danny Boy. Though perhap considered a hackneyed piece today I personally like Londonderry air very much. I´ve added chord for those of you who the play guitar.

# Posted on February 27th 2007 by Falkbeer

Londonderry air / Danny Boy

The Air and the song are different, played as a tune its the Derry Air, an Englishman then adapted the tune to a set of Lyrics he wrote.

The air was collected by Jane Ross of Limavady, County Derry, who heard it played by an itinerant piper.

The descendents of blind fiddler Jimmy McCurry assert that he is the musician from whom she transcribed the tune but there is no historical evidence to support this speculation.

The most popular lyrics for the tune are "Danny Boy" ("Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling") written by the English lawyer, Frederick Edward Weatherly, in 1910 and set to the tune in 1913. While Weatherly intended the song as a parting message from a woman to a man, others have interpreted the parting in the song as that between a parent or grandparent and a son or grandson going off to war. The song has sometimes been taken as a call to arms, or a rebel song, sometimes with the addition of additional verses of a more military nature.

Long live Barry Mcguigan !

# Posted on October 21st 2007 by Enigma