Extended CD Commentary, Disc Two, Tracks 9 - 16
by Jackie Small
Unfortunately due to space limitations within the CD booklet itself, we were not able to print the full versions of Jackie Small's commentary in the liner notes to The Francis O'Neill Cylinders. His full commentary is listed below; simply click on the track title to jump to commentary about that particular tune.
Disc Two, Tracks 9 - 16
9. Dan Curley (Air): James Early
This air is possibly the melody of a song about the Dan Curley who was a member of the nineteenth-century nationalist organisation known as The Invincibles. Curley was executed for his part in the murder in 1882 in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, of high-ranking British officials.
Return to top
10. Banish Misfortune (Jig): Edward Cronin
O’Neill 1903, # 776 (where it was notated from Cronin, who is also the performer here); O’Neill 1907, # 53.
This is a masterly performance by Cronin, in a rich style that might once have been common throughout Munster.
This is one of the instances where we can match a notation in O’Neill with a sound recording of the same tune being played by the performer who contributed it.
Return to top
11. Bean Dubh an Gleanna (Air): Patsy Touhey
O’Neill 1903, # 6 (where it was notated from Touhey, who is also the performer here), as ‘The Dark Woman of the Glen’.
Touhey was brought to the United States as a small child, and spent his entire life there. Despite this, he announces the title of this air in the Irish language with a very authentic accent. The melody played here is that generally known today as "The Death of Staker Wallace" or "The Lament for Staker Wallace." A different melody is used today for the love song "Bean Dubh an Ghleanna."
This is one of the instances where we can match a notation in O’Neill with a sound recording of the same tune being played by the performer who contributed it.
Return to top
12. Rodney's Glory & The Humors of Bandon (Set Dances): Patsy Touhey
a) O’Neill 1903, # 1784; O’Neill 1907, # 958.
b) O’Neill 1903, # 786 (as a double jig); O’Neill 1907, # 977 (as a long dance / set dance)
Return to top
13. The Blackbird (Air): Patsy Touhey
O’Neill gives three settings of this air; of these, the third is the nearest to that performed by Touhey here. For a performance of this tune as a long dance / set dance, see CD 2, track 1.
Return to top
14. The Swallow's Tail (Reel): John McFadden
O’Neill 1903, # 1268; O’Neill 1907, # 536.
Return to top
15. The Pigeon on the Gate (Reel): Patsy Touhey
O’Neill 1903, # 1406; O’Neill 1907, # 648.
This tune is given in O’Neill’s collections with the note A as its tonic; Touhey plays it here with tonic note E. Touhey’s version of this tune was known to, and highly valued by, the members of the pipers’ club in Dublin, an organization that was flourishing at the time these cylinder recordings were made.
Return to top
16. Saddle the Pony (Jig): James Early
O’Neill 1903, # 719, as "East at Glandart;" O’Neill 1907, # 19, as "Humors of Glendart," with "East at Glendart" supplied as an alternative title. This is not the tune generally known today as "Saddle the Pony."
Return to top