The Independence hornpipe

This was recorded back in the 30’s or 40’s (a long time ago, anyway) by piper Leo Rowsome.

Also recorded more recently by “Danu” - flute solo by Tom Doorley on their 1st CD, and by “Craobh Rua” from Belfast.
Named after a steamship, I believe.

alan doherty of grada and lords of the rings soundtrack fame does a rather grand rendition of this tune on gradas first album they made before endeavour which i dont think is in circulation anywhere
theres a good selection of tunes and songs and i would post it only i dont have the case with me
so itll have to wait

i would post it only i dont have the case with me
so itll have to wait [sic]

Posted on June 30th 2003 by timo

When I play this tune at a faster pace, I love doing some variations in the second half of the B part like this:

“(3e^de (3ceg (3c’ba (3gfe|(3d^cd (3Bdg (3bag (3fed”

Or the way Flook play it with holding out the “ c’ “ and “ b “ notes, and then the last time through will do something like this:

“~e2 (3ceg e’2z2|~d2 (3Bdg d’2z2”

No matter how it’s played, or what speed it’s played at, this is a seriously awesome tune, I must say. First heard it on a recording from TV of Matt Molloy, and was just hooked.

This tune may well have started of as “The Vendome” (from the Scottish collection, “Kerr’s Merry Melodies” Book 2)

Is that a flute tune? How they play the high C on the flute at last part?

No problem for me with a “c” natural key, but it’s still a fairly tricky tune. The only option if you don’t have a key is to half-cover the top-hole by sliding or rolling your top finger. It is quite popular with flute players. I think there may be a video on “YouTube” somewhere of Matt Molloy playing it as a duet with Cormac Breathnach from a concert programme with the Donal Lunny Band from the 80s, I would think. Molloy also recorded it with James Galway and the Chieftains. As I said above, I recommend Tom Doorley’s solo version on the 1st “Danu” recording, if you can still get hold of it. Good luck !

Thank you Kenny. I’ve listen the Matt Molloy version on youtube and it’s great! I still not have keys on my flute, i’m going to try that sliding trick. Thanks!

McGoldrick ripping it up on this tune. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tQt8zC0DnQ&feature=relmfu

play video

Molloy doing his hornpipe thing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RPRVI0pWFg

play video

Use fingering < oxo xxx

Bc| dgfa gab gd|efg dc Bcd BG|FGAB cBce|aba gfe ded|
Bc| dgfa gab gd|efg dc Bcd bg|fedc BAGF| A2 G FG|
AB |cdc BAG FAc edc|ded Bdg bag fed|
cdc BAG FAc edc|ded Bdg bag fed|
e2 ceg c’ba gfe|d2 Bdg bag fed|
cdc BAG fed cBA|GBd gdB G:|

Please forgive my very basic notation.
This is as close as I could get it to how Mike plays it in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tQt8zC0DnQ

play video

As hnorbeck said, play the extra high c like this: oxo xxx

I just half hole the third octave c. It is pretty easy because it flows nicely in the b.

Tweaked version of Joanna’s setting above

Just found this on “Youtube”……

https://youtu.be/zAkfr2OfRAQ

play video

Dave Sheridan putting his own spin on it: https://youtu.be/Y_Zzt3uEVt8

play video

Bobby Gardiner plays this in D Major.

Here’s a setting with an accompanying harmony part, from the Rude Mechanicals’ Tune Library (www.rudemex.co.uk).

I see a variant of this tune is also listed on this site as ’The Independence (Fiddlers Cramp), in F and with slightly different phrasing.