The Star

hornpipe

Key signature: Gmajor

Submitted on November 18th 2007 by slainte.

This tune has been added to 21 tunebooks.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• Bridging The Gap by Kevin And Sean Moloney
• Folktrax-075: Johnny Doherty, The Star Of Donegal by John Doherty
• Leo Rowsome: Classics Of Irish Piping by Leo Rowsome
• Magnificent Seven by Blazin' Fiddles
• Remember Des Donnelly by Des Donnelly
• Round The Bend by Glen Road
• The Irish Music Anthology (40 Classic Songs, Jigs And Reels) by Various Artists

X: 1
T: Star, The
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: hornpipe
K: Gmaj
|:Bc|d2ef gdBA|GFGB D2GF|EcEc DBDB|(3cBA BG A2Bc|
d2ef gdBA|GFGB D2EF|GBdc BAGF|A2G2 G2:|
|:cB|AGAB cBcd|edef g2gf|edcB cBAG|F2D2 D2Bc|
d2ef gdBA|GFGB D2EF|GBdc BAGF|A2G2 G2:|

The Star Hornpipe

Learned from the flute and fiddle duet playing of Sean and Kevin Moloney. Kevin Moloney was the member of the Ballinakill Ceili Band, and he learned this hornpipe from Leo Rowsome while the piper was visiting East Galway.

I've never heard this tune before, but is it still played by anyone anywhere in the world, or is it almost forgotten?

# Posted on November 18th 2007 by slainte

Some would argue it would be best forgotten, it not exactly an inspired tune.

# Posted on November 18th 2007 by kilfarboy

I quite like it. Have you tried the version in O'Neill's, slainte? I think got some nice turns in it.

# Posted on November 18th 2007 by Dow

I've edited the key sig and a couple of the accidentals here and there so they make sense:

X: 1
T: The Star
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: hornpipe
K: Gmaj
Bc|d^cdf ge=cA|GFGB D2EF|GFGA BABc|d^cdf A2B=c|
d^cdf ge=cA|GFGB D2EF|Gedc BAGF|A2G2 G2:|
|:cB|A^GAB cBcd|e^def g2gf|edcB cBAG|F2D2 D2Bc|
d^cdf ge=cA|GFGB D2EF|Gedc BAGF|A2G2 G2:|

# Posted on November 18th 2007 by Dow

Some of the phrases in the O'Neill's version remind me of a tune called Rowley Burn http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/4106.

# Posted on November 18th 2007 by Dow

I don't think this tune is very well-crafted, but still better than The Trumpet Hornpipe, isn't it?

I've looked at the O'Neill version, but prefer a straightforward setting I myself transcribed. Just a flautist's opinion, though.

# Posted on November 19th 2007 by slainte

Northumbrian style

I played like a Newcastle hornpipe and thought it was rather good. Deceptively simple but with enopugh unexpected changes of direction to make it interesting. I suspect that its not Irish in origin. Its not as flash as the various stage hornpipes but bears a lot of similarity to the hornpipes that were being published on Tyneside between say 1820 and 1860.

I'm glad it was put on the site. Thank you.
Noel
Angels of the North

# Posted on November 19th 2007 by noelbats

I think your straightforward setting's really boring, Slainte

# Posted on November 19th 2007 by Dow