Extended CD Commentary, Disc One, 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 One, Tracks 9 - 16
9. John O'Dwyer & Scotch Mary (Air & Reel): Patsy Touhey
a) Air: O’Neill 1903, # 35, as "John O’Dwyer of the Glen — 1st Setting."
b) Reel: O’Neill 1903, # 1510; O’Neill 1907, # 729; PPT, # 9. For another performance of this tune, see CD 1, track 16. This tune, played by Touhey, was issued on a 78rpm commercial disc in 1920.
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10. The Croppies' March: Patsy Touhey
O’Neill 1903, # 1815, as "Freedom for Ireland;" O’Neill 1922, # 75 (where it was notated from Touhey, who is also the performer here), as "The Croppies’ March."
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.
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11. The Connachtman's Rambles (Jig): Patsy Touhey
O’Neill 1903, # 1003; O’Neill 1907, # 218.
This is a scintillating performance from Touhey, with much variation both of melody and ornamentation.
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12. Touhey's Favorite Hornpipe: Patsy Touhey
Archivist's note: The spoken introduction being difficult to decipher, documentation and manuscripts from the collection identify this tune as "Touhey's Favorite."
This tune does not appear in the O'Neill collections. It appears in Kerr 4, # 280, as ‘Murphy’s Hornpipe’ with two parts.
This tune was popularized by the fiddle player Michael Coleman on a 78rpm disc in 1935 as "Murphy’s." Coleman’s was a multi-part version very reminiscent of Touhey’s.
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13. Bold Jack Donahue (Air): James Early
This is the melody of a well-known ballad about the Irish-Australian outlaw Jack Donohue. Irish-born and transported to Australia for nationalist activities, Donohue became a popular hero as a bushranger. He was killed in a shoot-out with Australian police in 1830.
Early’s melody here is very similar to that given for the song in The Songs of Elizabeth Cronin, edited by Dáibhí Ó Cróinín.
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14. The Maid behind the Bar (Reel): Patsy Touhey
O’Neill 1903, # 1308, as "Kiss the Maid behind the Barrel;" O’Neill 1907, # 571; PPT, # 22.
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15. The Dear Irish Boy (Air): Patsy Touhey
O’Neill 1903, # 73.
This is one of the most expressive and impassioned airs for the uilleann pipes, in a masterful rendition here by Touhey.
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16. Scotch Mary (Reel): Touhey, Early, & McFadden
O’Neill 1903, # 1510; O’Neill 1907, # 729; PPT, # 9. For another performance of this tune, see CD 1, track 9(b).
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