Loftus Jones reel

Also known as Planxty Loftus Jones.

There are 26 recordings of a tune by this name.

Loftus Jones has been added to 98 tunebooks.

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Three settings

X: 1
T: Loftus Jones
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Amaj
|:a4 g2 f2|e2 d2 cd e2|cdBA A2 z2 |cdcB A2B2|
cd e2 de f2|e2 dc dcBA|GAGF E2 z2|ABAG F2 d2|
edec dcdB|A2 E2 F2 G2|A2 F2 G2 A2|B2 G2 A2 B2|c2 A2 B2 c2|
d4 e2 z2|dcBA GA B2|A2 ED C2 E2|A4 A2 z2 :|
|:e2 G2 A2 F2|G2 E2 F2 G2|A2 B2 G2 c2|F4 G4|
c2 c2 B4|ABcd c2 B2|ABcd edcB|A2 G2 F4|
CFAF CFAF|EGEG EGEG|FAFA FAFA|GBGB GBGB|
AcAc AcAc|AcAc AcAc|fg a2 g4|f4 f2 g2|
aAaA gAgA|fAfA eAeA|dBdB cAcA|BAGF EF G2|
A2 ED C2 E2|BAGF E2 e2|dcBA GABG|A4 A2 z2 :|
X: 2
T: Loftus Jones
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:g4 f2 e2|d2 c2 Bc d2|cBAB G2 z2 |BcBA G2 A2|
Bc d2 cd e2|d2 cB cBAG|FGFE D2 z2|GAGF E2 c2|
|:dcdB cBcA|G2 D2 E2 F2|G2 E2 F2 G2|A2 F2 G2 A2|B2 G2 A2 B2|
c4 d2 z2|cBAG FG A2|G2 dc B2 d2|g4 g2 z2 :|
|:d2 F2 G2 E2|F2 D2 E2 F2|G2 A2 F2 B2|E4 F4|
BBBz AAAz |GABc B2 A2|GABc dcBA|G2 F2 E4|
BEGE BEGE|DFDF DFDF|EGEG EGEG|FAFA FAFA|
GBGB GBGB|GBGB GBGB|ef g2 f2 gf|e4 e2 f2|
gGgG fGfG|eGeG dGdG|cGcG BGBG|AGFE DE F2|
G2 dc B2 d2|AGFE D2 d2|cBAG FGAF|G4 G2 z2 :|
# Added by JACKB .
X: 3
T: Loftus Jones
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:g4 f2 e2|d2 c2 Bc dB|cBAF G2 z2 |BcBA G2 A2|
Bc d2 cd e2|d2 cB cBAG|FGFE D2 z2|GAGF E2 c2|
|dcdB cBcA|G2 D2 E2 F2|G2 E2 F2 G2|A2 F2 G2 A2|B2 G2 A2 B2|
c4 d2 B/3B/3B/3|cBAG FG AF|G2 DC B,2 D2|G6 B2 :|
|:A2 F2 G2 E2|F2 D2 E3 F|G2 A2 F2 B2|E4 F2ED|
B3cB A3z |GABc B3 A|GABc dcBA|G2 F2 E4|
B,EGE B,EGE|DFAF DFAF|EGBE EGBE|FAAA FAFA|
GBBB GBGB|GBGB GBGB|ef g2 f2 gf|e4 ed ef|
gB'gB' fA'fA'|ecec dcdB|cBcA BAGB|AGFE DE FD|
G2 DC B,DGB||AGFE D2dB|cBAG FGAF|GD B,D G3B :|
# Added by Rosin .

Thirteen comments

Loftus Jones

A Carolan composition, correct? Seems like I’ve run into this in G also, and maybe other keys as well.

So can someone enlighten me as to the life and times of Loftus and why Turlough C. felt compelled to honor him with a tune?

# Posted .

RE: Loftus Jones

Yes, this is one of Carolan’s many wonderful compositions. (If anyone ever asks me who my favorite composer is, I always answer "Turlough O’Carolan".) The definitive resource about Carolan is "Carolan: The Life Times and Music of an Irish Harper" by Donal O’Sullivan (2nd edition, 2001, Ossian Publications Ltd.). O’Sullivan doesn’t have much information about Loftus Jones under the notes to the tunes, just who his parents were (Thomas and Susanna Jones or Ardnaglass, County Sligo), when and to whom he was married, and that this tune was likely composed near the end of Carolan’s life.
This tune is in A in the O’Sullivan book, but it could easily be played in other keys. I’m not sure what keys I’ve heard it in — I don’t have a good enough ear to tell the key just by hearing.

# Posted by x .

Patrick Street did a nice version of "Loftus Jones" on their album titled "Patrick Street." I really enjoy the different sound the accordian brings to the tune — very different from straight harp versions I’ve heard. One of the great things about Carolan’s melodies is that most hold up under a wide variety of interpretations, with different tempos and instruments.

Sarah

# Posted by x .

Another recording of Loftus Jones

I believe there is a nice version of this tune on The Irish Tradition’s album called "The Corner House".

Rich

# Posted by Rich .

Recorded by Patrick Street

Recorded by Patrick Street on " Compendium " -the best of Patrick Street.

Recorded by Abby Newton

This tune can also be found on the Abby Newton CD, "Crossing to Scotland". I’m planning to play this tune for my brother’s wedding.

Recorded by Mick Moloney

He does a fine version on mandolin on his “Strings Attached” album.

In G Major

X: 1
T: Loftus Jones
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Gmaj
|:g4 f2 e2|d2 c2 Bc d2|cBAB G2 z2 |BcBA G2 A2|
Bc d2 cd e2|d2 cB cBAG|FGFE D2 z2|GAGF E2 c2|
|:dcdB cBcA|G2 D2 E2 F2|G2 E2 F2 G2|A2 F2 G2 A2|B2 G2 A2 B2|
c4 d2 z2|cBAG FG A2|G2 dc B2 d2|g4 g2 z2 :|
|:d2 F2 G2 E2|F2 D2 E2 F2|G2 A2 F2 B2|E4 F4|
BBBz AAAz |GABc B2 A2|GABc dcBA|G2 F2 E4|
BEGE BEGE|DFDF DFDF|EGEG EGEG|FAFA FAFA|
GBGB GBGB|GBGB GBGB|ef g2 f2 gf|e4 e2 f2|
gGgG fGfG|eGeG dGdG|cGcG BGBG|AGFE DE F2|
G2 dc B2 d2|AGFE D2 d2|cBAG FGAF|G4 G2 z2 :|

# Posted by JACKB .

Fits just right in G on the concertina and the flute. On the fiddle it’s nicer in A.

I like the Baroque rising tension in the 7th line…

Loftus Jones - a puzzling question

I’ve seen the dots for, and heard played, a version with an extra bar at the end of the second part, basically so that both parts end the same. In fact, it seems to fit better for me with that extra bar. But I’ve also heard more or less the version transcribed here, with one bar fewer than the other one.

Anyone any thoughts? It might make it a trial to play in a session, I should think, depending on what people are used to …