John McKenna's

reel

Key signature: Gmajor

Submitted on May 17th 2003 by gian marco.

This tune has been added to 28 tunebooks.

Also known as Happy Days Of Youth, The Happy Days Of Youth, Sean McKenna's, Thomas Byrne's, Thos Byrnes.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• A Breath Of Fresh Air by Kevin Crawford
• An Gaoth Aduaidh - The North Wind by Various Artists
• Croch Suas E by Frankie Gavin
• Easter Snow by Seamus Tansey
• Festival Of Traditional Irish Music by Various Artists
• His Original Recordings by John McKenna
• Isn't Anyone Going To Stop Them? by The Magic Square
• Meiteal by Seamus Begley And Stephen Cooney
• Memories Of Sligo by Tommy Healy And Johnny Duffy
• Sweeney's Dream by Kevin Burke
• The Best Of Seamus Tansey by Seamus Tansey
• The Boys Of Sligo by Dervish
• The Coleman Archive Vol. 2: The Home Place by Various Artists
• The Green Hills Of Clare by The Crehan Family And Carl Corcoran
• The Mountain Road by Various Artists
• The Three Sisters by Barry Kerr
• The Wyndy Turn by Dan Healy And Ciaran O'Raghallaigh
• Traditional Irish Flute Music by Fintan Vallely
• Whirlwind by Brian Hughes
• Whistle Stop by Brian Hughes
• Within A Mile O' Jamestown by Mick Mulvey
• Wooden Flute Obsession: Volume 2, Disc 1 by Various Artists

X: 1
T: John McKenna's
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Gmaj
efed BcBA|GABG AE~E2|~G2GB dBeB|dBAc BGGB|
efed B2BA|GABG AE~E2|~G2GB dBeB|dBAc BGG2||
faad (3fed ^cd|edef ~g3g|eBBe (3gfe dB|BAB^c dcdB|
faad (3fed ^cd|efgf ~g3a|baaf gfed|faad g2fd|

Sourcs: John McKenna
Transcription: g.m.p.
In Mckenna's recording this reel flollows http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/311

In both reels all the Cs are not exactly c natural. Many seem C sharp.

# Posted on May 17th 2003 by gian marco

This tune is also widely known as the Happy Days of Youth, and less frequently goes by the title Thomas Byrnes.

# Posted on May 19th 2003 by Will CPT

The Happy Days of Youth

This is slightly different version. My transcription of Liam O'Flynn's playing on "The Piper's Call"

X:1079
T:The Happy Days of Youth
T:Sean McKenna's #2
C:from Liam O'Flynn
D:Liam O'Flynn: "The Piper's Call"
Z:transcription Johannes Schiefner(jschiefner@gmx.net)
Z:id:js_1079
R:reel
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:G
.B/.c/d|~e3d ~B3 A|GABG AE ~E2|~G3 B dBeB|dBAc BGGd|
.e.f.ed B.d BA|GABG AE ~E2|~G3B dBeB|dBAc BG G2 ||
fa{b}af gfed|.B/.c/d ef ~g3 f|eB ~B2 .g.fed|BAGA Bcde|
fa{b}af gfed|.B/.c/d ef ~g3a|bgaf gfed|.e/.f/g af ~g3f:|]

# Posted on October 1st 2005 by Josie48

The Happy Days of Youth

Here's a version inspired by Frankie Gavin's "flashy" flute playing.

K: Gmaj
efed ~B3A|GABG AGEF|~G3B dg~g2|dBAd BG~G2|
~e3d BdBA|G2BG AGEF|~G3B dgge|dBAd BG~G2||
faag fedf|edef ~g3f|eB~B2 gfed|BAGA BA~A2|
f2ag fedf|edef ~g3a|bgaf gfed|egfa ~g3f||

I believe this is simpler and easier on the flute, but still as effective as other versions. There's lots of room for variation and ornamentation though.

# Posted on May 15th 2007 by slainte

here's a version I had from last year's Clancy festival

X: 1
T: John McKenna's reel #2
S: Siobhan ni Chonarain (Clancy Week 2007)
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Gmaj
efed ~B3A|GABG AGEF|GAGE DEGB|dBeB dBAd|
efed ~B3A|GABG AGEF|~G3F DEGB|dBAc BGG2||
e|fgag fd~d2|(3Bcd ef ~g3f|eB~B2 gB~B2|BAGA BA~A2|
fgag fd~d2|(3Bcd ef ~g3a|bgaf gfed|egfa ~g3|

# Posted on March 17th 2008 by WhistlinLeeds