Key signature: Dmajor
Submitted on June 19th 2002 by Josh Kane.
This tune has been added to 88 tunebooks.
Also known as The 45 Pound Cheque, The £42 Cheque, The Forty-two Pound Cheque, Four Pound Cheque, Richard's, The £42 Cheque.
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: Four Pound Cheque, The
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Dmaj
|: Ad Bd/B/ | AD FA | GE BE | A>G FD | Ad Bd/B/ | AD FA | GE A>G | FD D2 :|
|: Ad fe/f/ | gf ed | cA eA | e>d cA | Ad fe/f/ | gf e>d | cA Bc | d2 d2:|
Anyone have "Planxty" or "The Planxty Collection"?
I'm trying to learn some history of the tune "Four Pound Cheque" that is on the first Planxty album and on "The Planxty Collection" sandwiched between Denis Murphy's and John Ryans.
What is the origin of this tune? Is it trad. or written by one of the members of Planxty? I haven't found any other recorded version and I don't have either of these albums to check myself.
I'm also confused about the correct name. Track listings I've found on the WEB often have "Four Pound Cheque" on the Planxty album, but "Forty-Two Pound Cheque" on "The Planxty Collection". I've also seen it called "Forty-Five Pound Check" in some tune collections.
Can somebody that has these two albums please check each one to verify the name and possible author? I've been absolutely intrigued with, and have fallen in love with, this as something of an alternate version of Denis Murphy's.
Mick
# Posted on August 31st 2004 by Craymcla
Re: Anyone have "Planxty" or "The Planxty Collection"?
The "£42 Pound Cheque" was on Planxty's 3rd LP, "Cold Blow And A Rainy Night". I don't recall any composer being listed on the sleeve notes, and Planxty were never noted for recording their own compositions [apart from some of Andy Irvine's songs and pseudo-Balkan efforts], but without having the recording at hand, I'm 99% certain it was listed as "trad".
It would be interesting to know if this tune had a name other than "£42 Cheque" before the Planxty recording. Maybe it's on some of the older recordings of Kerry musicians? The titles "Four"/Forty Five Pound Cheque" I would think are examples of the "folk process" at work.
# Posted on August 31st 2004 by Kenny
Re: Anyone have "Planxty" or "The Planxty Collection"?
It's worth noting that this hardly played tune is the best polka out of the three. And yet the other two were done to death years back and have become no nos at any decent session. (What comes around though? I might even give all three an airing tonight, and see if I gert barred)
# Posted on August 31st 2004 by llig leahcim
Re: Anyone have "Planxty" or "The Planxty Collection"?
Agreed Michael. It's a great tune, much better than "deet deet" which comes after it.
# Posted on August 31st 2004 by Conán McDonnell
Re: Anyone have "Planxty" or "The Planxty Collection"?
Michael or Conan, can you put up ABC for it?
# Posted on August 31st 2004 by srt19170
Re: Anyone have "Planxty" or "The Planxty Collection"?
It's already there, listed as "The Four Pound Cheque"
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/786
# Posted on August 31st 2004 by Conán McDonnell
Okay, I'm an idiot. I see that this discussion is actually taking place on the comments on the tune. Duh.
# Posted on September 1st 2004 by srt19170
42 pound cheque
We learned yesterday at the PLANXTY concert in the Barbican, London, that this polka was written by Johnny Moynihan - Donal himself told us so. They started the set off with this tune played lowly in the key of "G" I think, however suitable for Christy to lilt to it nicely. This was followed by Donal Lunny's "Tolka Polka" (Liam O'Flynn did a great job on that, vow!) and then - I kind of half expected it, but yet couldn't believe my ears - by the original third polka tune (dd B/c/d/B/ |AFAF....) which, due to Donal's frantic bouzouki work got a completely new lease of life and: it sounded great again, if you really tried to listen to it unprejudiced
The set was followed by a mega-storm of applause....
This was one of the major surprises during one of the most incredible & magnificent concerts that I ever remember.
Johannes
# Posted on January 31st 2005 by Josie48
42 pound cheque
As is often the case there are extra twiddles which you can hear Planxty play but aren't in the notation.
# Posted on June 16th 2005 by Guernsey Pete
Moynihan
Yep, Johnny Moynihan wrote this one. According to Leagues O Toole's book, Johnny was on the lock all day with a woman he met and when they ran out of money she discovered a cheque for 42 punt in her bag, which they cashed and then continued drinking.
# Posted on August 5th 2007 by faerierade