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Highlands and Strathspeys   Hornpipes   Misc
Abbreviations:
Musicians: References: Contributors:
JD: John Doherty
SD: Simon Doherty
CC: Con Cassidy
F&MB: Francie & Mickey Byrne
DOD: Danny O'Donnell
JL: John Loughran
JM: John McKeown
PT: Peter Turbit
AC: An Ceol
CRE: Ceol Rince na hEireann
DMI: O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland (1907)
MM: Kerr's Merry Melodies
Ryan: Ryan's Mammoth Collection
LS: Larry Sanger
MB: Mick Brown
CMA: Caoimhín Mac Aoidh
PdG: Paul de Grae
PV: Philippe Varlet
SS: Sally Sommers
TH: Ted Hastings
AK: Andrew Kuntz
NG: Nigel Gatherer
Last updated: 27th Aug 2007.


Highlands

Tune Title Page Fiddler Notes
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Canamine Highland, The 107 SD MB: Probably an older version of Untitled Highland p155b.
NG: This is a version of the Scottish stratshpey Alister McAlister (KerrMM/Ryan) or Alasdair Mac Alasdair (Athole Collection). It's in DMI as Little Katie Kearney, and Altan play it as Con Cassidy's Highland.
PV: Other Irish titles: The Glen (or Glin) Cottage Polka, Alistair MacAllister, St Patrick Was a Gentleman, and McAllister's Fling.
Cat That Kittled In Jamie's Wig, The 79 JD CMA: This is an adaptation from the Scottish strathspey Miss Lyall or alternatively Miss Grant of Laggan which is the basis of the reel Mooney's Reel (John's name) or more popularly in Ireland Paddy Ryan's Dream.
MB: As far as I can make out there are two separate tunes in the Scotttish repertoire called Miss Lyall, a strathspey and a reel. The Cat that Kittled in Jamie's Wig is related to the strathspey, and Paddy Ryan's Dream/Mooney's Favourite is related to the reel. I'm not totally convinced the two Scottish tunes are related?
NG: No, the two Miss Lyalls are not the same tune, but they're very often played together.
Recordings: John Doherty, Taisce - The Celebrated Recordings (Gael Linn, 1978)
King George IV Highland 173 F&MB
Ewe With the Crooked Horn, The 79 JD MB: This title is used in SW Donegal for both this highland and Untitled Highland, (p174a). There are similarities in structure. One of Doherty's versions of The Heather Breeze may be related also.
Irish Highland, The 108 SD MB: I don't think this is a highland in the strictest sense. It is possibly related to the tune the Dohertys played for the dance 'The Corn Riggs' (as recorded by Mickey Doherty on 'The Gravel Walks'). The rhythm would seem appropriate for that dance.
Ladies of Gormond, The
(Highland)
80 JD MB: This highland was associated with Teelin.
Lass of Killecrankie Highland, The 247b JL MB: This highland is not unlike some of the versions of Dulaman na Buinne Buidhe found in Donegal.
Neil Gow's Strathspey 191 DOD NG: This is a Scots tune called The Lass o' Corrie's Mill, and nothing to do with Niel Gow as far as I know.
Neilie Boyle's Highland 191 DOD CMA: This is the regular title for it in Donegal. It is the common Scottish Strathspey The Devil in the Kitchen.
Tartan on the Heather
(Stratshpey)
80 JD MB: James Byrne recorded a Glencolmcille version of this highland on 'The Brass Fiddle'. A version similar to Doherty's was also associated with Frank Cassidy.
NG: This is very like the Scots strathspey The Miller o' Drone, known elsewhere in Ireland as The Miller of Draughin (or Drohan) and in the US as Grey Eagle.
Teelin Highland, The 80 JD CMA: Aka Tom Tailor's Highland and is attributed to Johnnie Cassidy - Frank's older brother - as composer.
MB: Tom "Tailor" was a Teelin man with surname Donegan. He would not go onto the floor at dances until this tune was played.
Teelin Highland, The 173 F&MB MB: Aka Tom Tailors Highland.
Twenty One Highland, The 81 JD CMA: Composed by Paddy McDyer of Kilraine (between Ardara and Glenties) in 1921.
MB: There is a simple old highland (D) played in Glencolmcille which is quite similar to this. Perhaps it is an older tune refashioned?
Untitled Highland 62 JD LS: Another tune called The King of the Pipers.
PdG: In CRE II 45.
Untitled Highland 81b JD CMA: Known throughout Donegal as John Simi's (the latter being John's family nickname) Highland.
MB: A version of this highland was played in Glencolmcille (as recorded by James Byrne on 'The Fiddle Music of Donegal Vol. II'). Micheal Carr played it in A. A quite different version of this tune is played in West/Northwest Donegal.
Untitled Highland 81c JD CMA: This is a version of the Scottish strathspey Niel Gow's Wife which can be found played by Danny O'Donnell in its original Scottish key as another Untitled on page 194.
NG: This is the Scottish strathspey Niel Gow's Wife by Duncan McIntyre (also claimed for Niel Gow), known elsewhere in Ireland as The Watchmaker (DMI755).
Untitled Highland 82a JD MB: This highland was played in Glencolmcille in the keys of D and G. In D, the first part is essentially the same as Untitled Highland, p109a.
Untitled Highland 82b JD PV: Aka Gurren's Castle.
CMA: This is the Scottish Miss Drummond of Perth and is commonly called The Sinking of the Titanic or The Titanic Highland here in Donegal.
PV: Aka Gurren's Castle.
NG: I think there's some confusion here: in AC1p1, there is Banríon na Beltane - a version of the Scots tune Devil In the Kitchen - a different tune than this Untitled Highland which Caoimhín says is The Titanic Reel. They surely can't both be?
Untitled Highland 82c JD CMA: This is the same as The Ladies of Gormond Highland which appears on the top of p80; both are versions of the Scottish strathspey Miss Rose in Kerr's Collection.
Untitled Highland 83a JD CMA: This is in fact the reel The Mermaid of Mullaghmore (see CRE II 134). Tommy Peoples has also recorded it as as John Doherty's Reel I think on 'The Iron Man' recording.
PdG: Mermaid of Mullaghmore/Maid(s) of Mullagh(more)/John Doherty's* (CRE II 134; CRE III 149); compare Plaid Mantle (DMI 663; MOI 1426).
MB: I always heard this as a reel. The tune title always referred to a "Maid" rather than a "Mermaid", even though the associated story was about a Mermaid.
Untitled Highland 108 SD CMA: The Scottish Cameron's Got His Wife Again which is very regularly played in west Donegal.
MB: I don't think this is related to Cameron's Got his Wife Again? The second part is a variant of the first part, and not the one usually played in West (in G) and SW (in D) Donegal.
NG: Nothing like the Cameron's Got His Wife Again that I play (see KMM1p10).
Untitled Highland 109 SD PV: All the Way to Galway (related to reel).
MB: The first part of this tune is the same as that of Untitled Highland, p82a.
NG: This is known in Scotland under many titles including Big Kirsty (KMM1p12), Coirsdan Mhor or Miss Stewart Bun Rannoch.
Untitled Highland 155a CC
Untitled Highland 155b CC LS: Altan also calls this simply Con Cassidy's but it looks like it's nearly the same tune as The Canamine Highland (p107).
CMA: The Canamine and Con's untitled highland on the middle of page 155 are versions of the first part of Alister McAlister.
NG: Compare Little Katie Kearney in DMI.
Untitled Highland 155c CC LS: This is also called The Low Highland.
CMA: This is Con's Low Highland by which he meant the first part is played on the lower strings. It is more commonly known as Padai Bhilli na Ropai's Highland after the famous Padai Bhilli na Ropai O'Boyle of Kiltyfanad, Glencolmille whose fiddle Con inherited and now is owned by Billy O'Connor who secured it originally for Con. The tune is a version of the Scottish Miss Stewart of Grantully which, in fact, forms the basis of the well known reel in Ireland as The Green Groves of Erin. When the latter reel is being played in its normal setting, try playing this highland setting at reel speed and you will find yourself "reversing" (playing in octaves) with the other players.
Untitled Highland 174a F&MB CMA: The Scottish The Ewe With the Crooked Horn which appears earlier in the text in its reel version.
MB: This tune is related to The Marquis of Huntley composed by William Marshall. Played as a reel in the South (CRE II, 145). The title is also used for another highland of similar structure (see p79b). The Scottish tune The Ewe with the Crooked Horn is a different tune.
Untitled Highland 174b F&MB LS: The Brown Sailed Boat played as a strathspey in a slightly different version on 'Ceol Aduaidh'.
CMA: John's The Brown Sailed Boat derives from the Scottish Peter Baillie's Strathspey taking its title from the renowned Scottish fiddler.
Untitled Strathspey 109 SD MB: This is a version of the Scottish strathspey The Miller O' Hirn, composed by James Scott Skinner. It was played in a different version in SW Donegal, in the key of A. These days it is often called Jimmy Lyon's Highland. Interestingly, some of the older players in Glencolmcille played the first bar similarly to Simon Doherty.
NG: This is Skinner's Miller o' Hirn.
Untitled Strathspey 192a DOD TH: This is Glengarry's Dirk See KMM2 where it appears in the key of A major. It can also be found in the Athole Collection and The Simon Fraser Collection.
Untitled Strathspey 192b DOD TH: This is The Duchess' Slippers See KMM2.
MB: This is a version of the Scottish strathspey The Duchess of Athole's Slipper, composed by Niel Gow. Both parts are not unlike the second part of one of Mick Carr's highlands (recorded by James Byrne on 'The Road to Glenlough').
Untitled Strathspey 192c DOD MB: John Doherty apparently played this as a highland. It was lilted/whistled to me by someone who remembered John playing it. Overall it is not unlike The Templehouse Reel in structure, but there are also similarities with the first two parts of The Roscommon Reel (CRE, 202).
NG: This is a strathspey by James Scott Skinner [biog] called The Oracle, named after Fife fiddler W C Honeyman. There are not many tunes in F sharp minor.
Untitled Strathspey 193 DOD NG: Sounds like another of Scott Skinner's strathspeys, possibly Garden's Strathspey?
Untitled Strathspey 194 DOD CMA: Niel Gow's Wife again - see another appearance above.
NG: Niel Gow's Wife by Duncan McIntyre, aka The Watchmaker (DMI).

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Hornpipes

Tune Title Page Fiddler Notes
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Atlantic Roar, The
(Hornpipe)
83 JD MB: This tune is attributed to Anthony O'Helferty (from Lifford, but spent much time in Glencolmcille - he was married to a sister of John Mhosai). However, there is at least one similar hornpipe in today's southern repertoire. Frank Cassidy had a wonderful version of this tune. Burke and Daly recorded Frank's version on 'Eavesdropper'.
CMA: Translated as Tuam na Fairraige. The composition of this tune has been credited to both John Mosai MacFionnlaigh and Anthony Halferty. Halferty called the tune The Flowers of Loughros.
Broken Bridge Hornpipe, The 194 DOD
Dr Peter's Hornpipe 194 DOD CMA: Named after stepdancer, Dr Peter Carr of Killybegs. It is commonly called The Glengesh Hornpipe a name which Danny gave to Jimmy Lyons of Teelin who subsequently recorded it under that title for Seamus Ennis.
Kildare Fancy
(Hornpipe)
245 PT NG: Aka The Dundee Hornpipe (MM) and The Union Hornpipe.
Untitled Hornpipe 246b PT
Untitled Hornpipe 246c PT MB: This tune is often called The Friendly Visit in SW Donegal, and is related to Tamoney's Hornpipe, which is in Ryan's/Cole's. There are several related tunes in the southern repertoire.
Untitled Hornpipe 247a PT SS: I've heard that this tune is called Peter Wyper's Hornpipe, after the well-known Tyrone button accordion player. The hornpipe appears on James Kelly's recording with Zan McLeod, 'The Ring Sessions', as a Gan Ainm.
NG: I don't know a Peter Wyper who was a "...well-known Tyrone button accordion player". Peter Wyper of the Wyper Brothers fame, came from Lanarkshire (Scotland) and played melodeon. This hornpipe is found - untitled - on one of Peter Wyper's 78s from 1910.

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Marches, Barndances, Polkas, Set Pieces, Mazurkas

Tune Title Page Fiddler Notes
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Brass Band March 156 CC NG: This was recorded by The Boys of the Lough on 'Welcoming Paddy Home' as The Teelin March.
Brian Boru's March 175 F&MB MB: The first, and to a lesser extent, third part of this march are similar to an old jig that was played in Glencolmcille. The tune was recorded by Roisin McGrory and Damian Harrigan on 'The Fiddle Music of Donegal Vol. II'.
By the Fort How Sad Was I
(March)
245 JM
Francie Welsh's Barndance 92 JD NG: I fancy I recognise this as something from the 78rpm era in my collection. I'll search for it.
Gallacher's March 85 JD LS: Better known as Hiudaí Gallagher's, and also called Murphy's Delight.
MB: This title is associated elsewhere with the jig The Creel of Turf (CRE II, 52).
Gallacher's March 175 F&MB See notes above.
Gander's Strut, The 246 PT
Ghost of Bunglass 91 JD CMA: This is more commonly known as Taibhse Chonaill (English translation = Conall's Ghost).
MB: Played exactly like this by some players in Glencolmcille, and also in a slightly different highland version sometimes called Casey's Pig (as recorded by Roisin McGrory and Damian Harrigan on 'The Fiddle Music of Donegal Vol. II'). Con Cassidy's Taibhse Chonaill (D) is the same tune.
Grania's Welcome Home
(March, Jig and Reel)
86 JD CMA: Translation of Failte Romhat in do Bhaile a' Ghrainne.
MB: The Jig part of this piece is in O'Neill's as Johnny the Jumper (DMI, 297).
Hunt of the Hound and the Hare, The 95 JD MB: The Jig part of this piece is in O'Neill's (DMI, 254).
NG: The first strain is The Hare Among the Corn, probably Scottish.
King Billy's March 110 SD NG: Found in DMI as The Victor's Return and recorded by De Danann as Mac's Fancy, but stems from a Scottish march, Lord MacDonald's March to Harlaw.
Kitty In the Lane
(Barndance)
93 JD CMA: Compare the second part of Con Cassidy's Jig (p151) and you'll see they are variations in 4/4 and 6/8 time.
MB: The rhythm of this tune is not that normally associated with a barndance. The tune was played for the last part of the quadrille. John played the related jig also, but as far as I know associated it with Con Cassidy. The title Kitty in the Lane is usually reserved for a reel.
Lord Mayo 96 JD
March of the Meeatoiteen Bull 87 JD CMA: Sometimes called Miss Thornton's.
MB: Not Miss Thornton's; that title is usually given to another reel (see CRE II, 172).
Mazurka 94 JD PV: Francie Walsh's Mazurka.
Mazurka 177 F&MB LS: The Kilcar Mazurka. Played beautifully on 'The Brass Fiddle'.
Paddy's Rambles Through the Park 96 JD
Paps of Glencoe, The 87 JD NG: A Scottish pipe march.
Pipe March 178 F&MB
Untitled Barndance 91 JD
Untitled Barndance 92 JD CMA: This is actually a highland and known throughout Donegal as A Sheamuis Bhig a bhfuil Ocras Ort? (Are you hungry little Seamus?) and appears in Cole's/Ryan as The Roving Bachelor
MB: The rhythm of this tune is not that normally associated with a barndance.
Untitled Barndance 109 SD CMA: This is Connolly's Barndance.
MB: John Doherty played the first part of this barndance in G.
Untitled Barndance 110 SD CMA: This is Coleman's Mrs Kenny's Barndance!!!
NG: This is Woodland Flowers by Scots composer Felix Burns.
Untitled March 88a JD
Untitled March 88b JD
Untitled March 110 SD MB: Incorrectly transcribed. The group of four quavers given before the first bar is the actual start of the tune. Possibly a version of The Paps of Glencoe (p87).
Untitled Polka 247 PT


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