Josephine Marsh

Debut album from delightful East Clare B/C accordionist and composer.

The tune that she plays at this CD as Matthew’s (I think is one of her own compositions, but no sure about that) is a waltz, not the polka to which the link leads you, also called “Matthew’s”.

I have posted a transcription of that waltz, here is the link:

https://thesession.org/tunes/11774

Here are the (updated) liner notes:

MUSICIANS
Josephine Marsh - accordion/concertina.
Patrick Marsh - Irish bouzouki/guitar.
Jim Higgins - piano/percussion.
Harrie Bartelink - Jews Harp/harmonica.
Catherine Custy - concertina.
Eithne Ni Dhonaile - harp.
John Weir - fiddle.
Paul O Driscoll - double bass.

Album recorded at Harmony Row Studios, Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland
Engineered by : Matt Purcell
Produced by : Josephine Marsh
Photographs by Mike Mulcaire, Christy McNamara & Carmel Doherty
Sketch Artists: Noel Marsh and Susan Byrt
Design by Carmel Doherty

Track Notes

1. The Boogie/The Cocktail - Reels : (John Nolan/Trad) Jo - accordion, Jim - piano
The first reel was composed by John Nolan and the second is a county Fermanagh version of the Dublin Reel. I learned these tunes from flute player Tim Goddard.


2. Cape Breton/Dancing Master - Jigs : (Trad/Trad) Jo - accordion, Pat - bouzouki, Jim - bodhran
The first jig is from Cape Breton and the second, also called the “Swallow Tail”, I heard Harrie Bartelink, playing at a session one night.


3. Tony Dalton’s/Tay In A Bucket - Hornpipes : (Trad/J. Marsh.) JO - accordion, Jim - piano
I learned the first hornpipe from Tony Dalton, the banjo player from Athay, Co. Limerick. Tay in a bucket was written during the Willie Clancy week. It was a surprise for Tina Barry on her return from delivering breakfast to some friends. Breakfast included a pot of tea carried in a plastic bucket.


4. Paddy’s Polkas : (Trad) JO - accordion, Cathy - concertina, Harrie - Jews Harp, Jim - piano, Pat - bouzouki/guitar
I call these, Paddy’s polkas, as I learned them from my late father, Paddy, many moons ago. My father would play a big old German concertina and I would play the accordion or the other way around sometimes.


5. Matthew’s Waltz : (J. Marsh). JO - accordion, Jim - piano
This waltz was in need of a title, then my little nephew Matthew Dillon arrived. One cuddle later I had it!


6. John Naughton’s/Return to Camden Town - Reels : (Trad/Trad). JO - accordion, Pat - bouzouki/guitar, Jim - bodhran/triangle
John Naughtotn’s I learned from the French fiddle player, Oliver Rosen and Return to Camden Town is one I’ve been playing for a while


7. Bold Doherty’s/Northern - Jigs : (Trad/Trad). JO - accordion, Pat - bouzouki, Harrie - Jews Harp, Jim - piano/tambourine
I heard this well-known folk song played as a jig at the Willie Clancy festival and liked the eerie feeling it created. The second, I again learned from Tim Goddard.


8. Bainis/Michael Joe Kennedy’s - Hornpipes : (J.Marsh/Trad) JO - accordion, Pat - bouzouki, Harrie - Jews Harp, Jim - piano/bodhran/clay drums, Paul - double bass
Bainis is dedicated to Kevin and Helen Griffin. It was written on the eve of their wedding and played for them the following evening. The second I learned from melodeon player Michael Joe Kennedy.


9. The Shepard - Slow Air : (Trad) JO - accordion, Harrie - harmonica
This is a little tune, which I first heard Harrie playing on the harmonica in Kilfenora. It is an old Dutch folk song.


10. Tommy Mulhare’s/East of Glendart - Jigs : (Tommy Mulhare/Trad) JO - accordion, Pat - bouzouki, Jim - bodhran
Tommy Mulhare is he composer of the first jig. These are jigs which have been around for a while and I think the take on a new meaning when played in a lower key.


11. Lad O Beirne’s/Phyllis’ Birthday - Reels : (James Lad O Beirne /J. Marsh) JO - accordion, Eithne - harp, John - fiddle
The first reel, a composition of fiddle player James “Lad” O Beirne, I learned from the fiddle player Kevin Burke, and Phyllis’ Birthday I wrote for my mother on her birthday.


12. O Carolan’s Receipt - Planxty : (O Carolon). JO - accordion, Pat - guitar, Eithne - harp
Eithne Ni Dhonaile played this tune at a Siamsa we were doing in Scarriff Secondary School years ago and I have liked it ever since.


13. Wallop the cat from under the table/Onions and Bunions/The Split-Second Jig - Jigs : (Trad/J. Marsh/J. Marsh). JO - accordion, Pat - bouzouki, Jim - bodhran
This is another of Tony Dalton’s followed by two jigs, which as the name of the last implies, were composed on the spur of the moment.


14. Raitlin Island/Michael Joe Kennedy’s - Reels : (Peter Browne/Trad) JO - accordion, Pat - bouzouki, Jim - piano/bodhran/clay drums
The first tune, a composition of the piper, Peter Browne, I learned from Bedford whistle player Kathleen Conneely and the second is again from Michael Joe Kennedy

"I was wondering when this great event might take place; this album is long overdue. From my first hearing Josephine’s music I have been a fan, a devoted one at that. I will try and describe why I became so ardent.
Josephine’s music sounds as if it’s devil-may-care, free-fall of spaces and delicate little pauses, whimsical, as Shane Holden said ‘like a mountain stream bubbling down’. It seems so effortless, less of the head and more of the spirit. It can be forceful but only when the tune demands it. She lets every tune speak for itself, with it’s own particular voice and style. She is never the same but yet a distinct style of her own, not an imitator, though she will have many.
Considering that I’m writing these notes with only an ‘unfinished version’, to use Josephine’s words, I’m over the moon already, what will the real thing be like? The recording is full of strange and quirky tunes from slow airs to waltzes, marches, reels, jigs, hornpipes and polkas. It’s real happy dance music at least it makes me want to dance.
She has chosen very carefully and wisely her fellow musicians expect the best and you’ll get it. I have favourite tracks but I’ve decided to keep them to myself, you pick your own!
Enjoy it, this will stay with you for a long time, when many records of today will be forgotten, this will more than stand the test of time."
Sean Tyrrell

Thank You to the following:
My Parents; Phyllis and Paddy, also Noel, Patrick, Maureen, Mike, Matthew, Emma, Claire, Tina for their inspiration and encouragement, Sean and Nuala Moloney and Family, Geraldine McNamara, Susan Byrt, Eileen Byrt, Frances and Cathy Custy, Drew Hillmann, Harrie and Annelies Bartelink and family, Eithne Ni Dhonaile, John Weir, Paula McMahon, Deirdre O Brien Vaughan, Christy McNamara, Kevin Crawford, Tim Goddard, Aine Henessy, Austin Durack, Eoin O Neill, Derek Goulding, Tina Barry, Johnny McCarthy, Conor Tully, Jim Higgins, Tess and Jim Higgins snr., Matt Purcell and Teres, Paul O Driscoll, PJ King, Siobhan Peoples, Claire Goff, Sean Tyrrell and Connie, Domhnall O Loinsigh, PJ Curtis, John Dillon, John Cook, Eilleen Hassett jnr., Mike Hanrahan, James Duddy, John O Rourke, Tommy Keane, Jacqueline McCarthy, Pat Pidgeon and Brid, Maurice and Veronica McHugh, Carmel Doherty, Mike Mulcaire, Tony McInerney, Annie & Brendan Minish and Don Meade.
Everyone who had an input into the making of this album the musicians, artists, tune composers and special friends, have personalised the whole experience and given me the encouragement and inspiration I needed to complete it. Fair play to you all! .