Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Brendan McMahon's

reel

Key signature: Edorian

Submitted on October 14th 2007 by slainte.

This tune has been added to 13 tunebooks.

Also known as Mountain Lark, The Mountain Lark.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

20th Feakle Festival: Reeling Through The Years by Various Artists
A Celebration Of 50 Years by The Tulla Ceili Band
ALive by Kúla
All Things Considered by Danu
An Ghaoth Anair (The West Wind) by Na Fili
Another Feast Of Irish Folk by Various Artists
Another Time by Gavin Whelan
Blowing Through The Reeds by Steve Shaw And Martin Cole
Classics Of Irish Piping Volume 2 by William Andrews And Liam Walsh
Coolfin by Donal Lunny
De Danann by De Danann
Dear Old Erin's Isle: Irish Traditional Music From America by Various Artists
Drops Of Brandy by Sean McAloon And John Rea
First Hand by Mairi Rankin
Flower Of The Red Mill by Sarah Blair
In The Smoke by Various Artists
Irish Traditional Music (on Uilleann Pipes, Hammered Dulcimer, Fiddle, Flute And Whistle) by Various Artists
Last Night's Fun by Knock-na-shee
Leitrim's Hidden Treasure by McNamara Family
Live At Mona's by Various Artists
Maiden Voyage by Various Artists
Milestone At The Garden by Irish Fiddle Masters From The 78 RPM Era
Mind The Pipes by Leonard Barry
Past Masters Of Irish Dance Music by Various Artists
Patrick Street by Patrick Street
Potsticks by Sean Moloney
Skylark by Skylark
The Irish Music Anthology (40 Classic Songs, Jigs And Reels) by Various Artists
The Kinnitty Sessions by Lunasa
The Music Of What Happened by Nollaig Casey
The Return From Fingal by Seamus Ennis
The Road To Riley by Riley School Of Irish Music
The Star Of Munster Trio by The Star Of Munster Trio
Touch Me If You Dare by Ronan Browne And Peter O'Loughlin
Traditional Irish Music On Button Accordion by Patty Furlong

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Does anyone have the name for this tune? It is the tune which comes after "For the Sake of Old Decency" in the reel set played by Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh and Danny O'Mahoney on Comhaltas Live: http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_227_4_micheal_o_raghallaigh_and_danny_omahoney

Andrew McNamara and Padraic Mac Donnchadha also play this on "Maiden Voyage," pairing it with "For the Sake of Old Decency." It's obviously related to a fairly common reel, The Steampacket.

# Posted on October 14th 2007 by slainte

I think the set might go back to a recording made in the 70's, not sure, but it is very familiar... I also remember playing it in sessions in Dublin back then. I'll see if I can dig anything useful out, like a name and sources. My own resources at hand though are limited... Thanks for the memory, it at least raised a smile... :-)

# Posted on October 14th 2007 by ceolachan

This tune is on track 8 of Skylark's eponymous album http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/456 under the name of Brendan McMahon's (Although the title appears highlighted in the database, the link is to another tune of the same name). It is the middle tune in a set of 3, but not the same set as the one in the video clip.

Slainte - I have added this as an alternate title, but you might like to make this the main title, seeing as we don't have any other name so far for this tune.

# Posted on October 14th 2007 by ragaman

Dave and "c", thanks for replies. This reel is actually listed as "Brendan McMahon's" on "Maiden Voyage" too, but I'll wait for someone to provide a more imaginative title for a while. If nothing comes up, I'll add BM's as the main title.

"c", I also thought the set of reels were invented a long time ago, perhaps when you were reasonably young!

# Posted on October 15th 2007 by slainte

As opposed to unreasonably old?
;-)

# Posted on October 15th 2007 by Will CPT

Aka The Mountain Lark?

The web site for the Sainak ceili band in Osaka, Japan, has this tune under the name The Mountain Lark (which I know as a different Edor reel). Their posted version is as follows (not the Bm (sic) key sig):

X: 16
T: Mountain Lark, the
C: Trad.
R: Reel
N: The Repertoires of SAINAK ceili band.
M: 4/4
I: speed 450
L: 1/8
K: Bm
F~E3 FEDE|F~E3 FBBA|F~E3 FEDE|1 D3E FBBA:|2 D3E FAA2||
B~e3 fded|BeeB dBAB|B~e3 fded|B2Bc dBAF|
B~e3 fded|fgfe d4|fdec dBAF|B3c dBAG||

# Posted on October 15th 2007 by Will CPT

Will, aren't you as old as "c"?

As far as I know, "The Mountain Lark" is a less common name for "The Steampacket," which is closely related to this Edor reel. I'm a bit reluctant to add it as an alternative title unless it turns out a few other groups of musicians also call it that way.

Anyway, who is Brendan McMahon?

# Posted on October 15th 2007 by slainte

Nope, I'm not as old as the sea, but I am as old as dirt.....

Mr. McMahon is a flute maker and player in Ennis. He's older than either "c" or myself.

# Posted on October 15th 2007 by Will CPT

Yeah, I would NOT add "Mountain Lark" to the "other names" list. My guess is that's just a misidentification.

I like calling this one Brendan McMahon's. I know at least two other reels by that name, and one of those is also called Tommy Peoples'.

# Posted on October 15th 2007 by Will CPT

Eileen O briens reel

anybody have any backround info on eileen o briens reel?

# Posted on October 15th 2007 by ciaran1981

Brendan McMahon

Brendan was a real gentleman musician and flute maker (I think he also made harps as well) who lived in Ennis and unfortunately passed away last May. His brother Michael (better known as Michael Mahoney) lives in Miltown Malbay and is also a flute player and a fine singer.

# Posted on October 15th 2007 by Bannerman

Bannerman, I'm sorry to hear Mr. McMahon is no longer with us.

# Posted on October 15th 2007 by Will CPT

There are a bunch of tunes that share similar parts. The Steampacket has already been mentioned: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/690

But also see:

Solus Lillis’: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/4001
The Beauty Spot: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1270
and
Johnny Going to Ceilidh: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2504

# Posted on October 15th 2007 by Will CPT

It seems the first tune of the set also comes from the Tulla C.B.

# Posted on October 15th 2007 by slainte

LOL! You know what I mean, David. :o)

Re: Mountain Lark--it would make sense that a ceili band in Osaka might get the tune name from a ceili band in Ireland, eh?

# Posted on October 15th 2007 by Will CPT

I found another recording of this tune: http://irishsessionmd.com/images/irishmusic/Ennis_Trad_Festival%202005/25.mp3
Ennis Trad Festival 2005: Brogan's, Sun.7-nov. (Pat O’Connor, etc.): http://irishsessionmd.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=28

Whatever this reel is called, the combination of the first two reels probably comes from the playing of the Tulla Ceili Band.

# Posted on October 16th 2007 by slainte

"The Mountain Lark" is too good a name to not use it for more than one tune. I like it!

# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Will CPT