Posted in Hornpipes on Mar 9th, 2012 1 Comment »
This is one of my favourites from Séamus Ennis' repertory of hornpipes.
Nothing much to say about it other than it's nice to play on the chanter, and the back D cut on the keyed high C natural on the repeat of the second part is fun (depending on yer reed, that is).
Ennis played it on the old LP 'The Pure Drop' which has been reissued along with 'The Fox Chase' as a double CD collection called 'The Best of Irish Piping' (Tara Music Co). Nice old tune.
Regards,
Harry.
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Posted in Hornpipes on Dec 1st, 2011 1 Comment »
The O'Callaghan in question is Cal O’Callaghan the uncle of the legendary Kerry fiddler Pádraig O’Keeffe.
I first heard this tune from a recording of Séamus Ennis (who likely picked it up on his visits to The Kingdom), and later from the highly eccentric and entertaining piping of Andy Conroy (pictured above). Andy used to go large on the condensed triplets; he played what he termed 'octuplets', 'nanotuplets' and 'decatuplets' etc with great dexterity. Not easy listening by any means, but of great interest to the piper and very original.
Andy was a prolific, unconventional, and highly remarkable man by any standards. He is a patron of Na Píobairí Uilleann, and you can read more about him HERE (excerpt below).
I leave you with the following text from Dave Hegarty’s submission of Andy in the “Irish Life Pensioner of the Year Award” in 1992, for which Andy received a commendation.
Andy Conroy, Master piper, composer, former flute and whistle player, bricklayer (retired), musical, local and social historian, commentator, wrestler, boxer, weight lifter and Karate practitioner, is unquestionably an outstanding contributor to the social and cultural life of this country.
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Posted in Hornpipes on Oct 7th, 2011 1 Comment »
This is an oldie. It's also played as an air and a set dance. I have Clancy and Touhy in my ear when I think of it, and the transcription in Ceol an Phíobaire that brought it to mind is based on Touhey's recording.
I've recorded this on the new recording gear; so I'm still getting used to it, as you can probably hear. You might have noticed the nice, new header up there too (thanks to Édain for that!) Upgrading my account with Podbean allows me to make these little improvements. More to follow.
This will likely be my last entry for a while as I have to go off touring for a month soon. I hope to be back in action here around the middle of next month.
Regards,
Harry.
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Posted in Hornpipes on Jul 12th, 2011 No Comments »
This is the second hornpipe of the set that goes with the tune below (as played by Tommy Reck). The track, as mentioned, was unceremoniously pilfered by an unscrupulous record executive.
It's associated with the celebrated Northumbrian composer of hornpipes James Hill (see The High Level, below). Reck's setting is a little different to what I've seen in written collections and takes advantage of some characteristics of the chanter and Tommy's tight approach.
My regs need some tuning, so there's even less going on there as usual. C'est la vie.
Regards,
Harry.
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Posted in Hornpipes on Jul 8th, 2011 No Comments »
This is another Reck tune, one of the tracks that was recorded of him in Dublin and commercially released in the U.S. under dubious circumstances (he didn't get paid!)
His treatment of it is fantastic. I particularly like how he renders the pivotal opening measures of the 2nd part with just well-timed tightish pronunciation. I was reminded of Reck's playing of this one recently by piper Emmett Gill.
This is played on the C set (by Joe Kennedy, Canada). From now on I might alternate between the D and C sets when I'm making posts here, just to keep me on my toes!
Regards,
Harry.
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Posted in Hornpipes on Jun 22nd, 2011 No Comments »
This is another from Tommy Reck's LP.
It was composed in the 19th Century by James Hill, a Northumbrian fiddler noted for his hornpipe compositions. The title celebrates a fine bridge over the River Tyne in Newcastle.
Tommy plays it with two parts, as did Johnny Doran on the recording of his up-tempo setting of it. There is a third part that would seem to be a later addendum.
Regards,
Harry.
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Posted in Hornpipes on May 21st, 2011 No Comments »
Michael Coleman recorded this one on the fiddle way back when. It has all of the characteristics of a nice piping tune and it seems to have classic piping lines.
I think I first heard it played on pipes by Padraic MacMathuna, but was reminded of it more recently when I stumbled across THIS video of another Pádraig, Pádraig McGovern, doing a nice job of it.
After a 'bad reed' week my tenor drone finally died and so it's not performing on this clip at all. I blame its demise on the Rapture; it probably deserved it.
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Posted in Hornpipes on Apr 16th, 2011 No Comments »
Seamus Ennis' da, James Ennis, recorded this one alongside fiddler Frank O'Higgins and fluter John Cawley in a group called The Fingal Trio. It's an impressive bit of ensemble playing.
I think I heard this tune on that old recording first, and then tapes of Seamus Ennis playing it subsequently.
The melody presents a few challenges for the piper; such as the jump up to the high A in the last part, and the run from the high C natural just after, but it's quite an enjoyable one to play.
It's related to the old song of the same name from the 1798 rebellion era wherein a 'poor old lady' (representing Ireland) contemplates the arrival of French soldiers who will assist in the rebellion and free the land:
"And will Ireland then be free? " says the Sean Bhean Bhocht,
"Will Ireland then be free? " says the Sean Bhean Bhocht,
"Yes old Ireland will be free from the centre to the sea,
And hurrah! for liberty," says the Sean Bhean Bhocht.
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Posted in Hornpipes on Apr 2nd, 2011 No Comments »
This is one of my favorites of the old classic-style Hornpipes.
I like Liverpool too: The Beatles, Brookeside, the cool accent & the nice people, and Cilla Black...
I hope to go there visiting soon as I've never been.
This is a good example of a tune that I've come to appreciate more after playing it on the pipes a bit; I would have thought it pretty unremarkable before. I like to flake it out on the flute alongside a nice fiddler or two now.
I've been crazy busy with a work placement and college stuff, but the summers hols are fast approaching and I'm hoping to get at least a couple of tunes up per week as of the the near future.
Regards,
H.
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Posted in Hornpipes on Feb 14th, 2011 2 Comments »
Ciarán asked me to have a whack at this one, so here it is, my man.
This is another one that Ennis made supremely 'pipe sensible', although I think I heard Jimmy O'Brien Moran and/or Tommy Keane playing it before I ever clapped ears on the Ennis recording.
Nice tune to play. I like the 'ghost D' carry-on in the last part, it really gives it a touch of piping class, to my ear. That's an Ennis thing of course.
Regards,
Harry.
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