The Phoenix reel

A sweety reel, hot fingers !!!

I believe this tune was named not for the mythical bird with asbestos-like qualitites, but rather for the pub in Cork.

The Phoenix is (or, at least, was) across from City Hall, sandwiched between Charlie’s and The Donkey’s Ears. Together with The Lobby on the corner, these pubs formed what was affectionately known as “the strip”. Sort of like Vegas, sort of like Gaza.

I never spent so much time in The Phoenix - I was always next door in Charlie’s. Does anyone know if it’s still there?

I believe this was composed by a Dave Hennessy - does anyone know anything about him?

Dave Hennessy’s an accordion player from Cork. He recorded a couple albums with Matt Crantich and Mick Daly; titled ‘Crossing’ and ‘Phoenix.’ Now I gather he’s romping about with Gerry Harrington. As far as I know he is the author of this tune. Here’s a quote from the liner notes of Vancouver session album “In the Heather” (Track 1, REELS: Kavana’s Craic/The Punter’s Graveyard/The Phoenix):

“We finish with a reel written by Cork accordion player Dave Hennessy, and named after a pub on Union Quay in Cork City. Apparently the pub is no longer there, but we’re happy the tune remains.”

Hope that helps!

A while ago I was playing in a session and heard a box player play an amazing version of this tune. I’d never heard it played like that before, but it turned out that this box player was the composer himself. The version most people play seems to be the one popularised by Sharon Shannon, but the original feels more arpeggio-based than scale-based, and is much more interesting with its variations and pleasing twists and turns. Here is the original version from the horse’s mouth:

X: 1
T: Phoenix, The
C: Dave Hennessy
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Dmaj
fAdf edce|BAGB AGFA|fAdf edce|BAGB A3f|
faaf edce|BAGB AGFE|D3d dAdf|1 edce d2ag:|2 edce d2z2||
|:FBBA B3f|fedf edce|FBBA Bcde|fdef decd|
B2FB B2FB|B2dB cBAB|FBBA Bcde|1 fedc d2z2:|2 fedc d2ag||
%Variation for Bar 4 of B-part
|~d2~c2 ~B2Ac|
%Variation for Bar 7 of A-part
|Dccd dAdf|

Under the notes for the Phoenix

https://thesession.org/tunes/1105

Dow posted a comment about Sharon Shannon having popularized it, but I’ve been all over youtube and I can’t find a recording of this tune anywhere handy. Can someone point me in the right direction? Thanks…

I don’t know too much about youtube but this is the link to Arcady’s recording

https://thesession.org/recordings/66

thanks cp and clear drops - I downloaded the composer’s version from this recording:
https://thesession.org/recordings/1106
still curious about Sharon Shannon’s setting though…

Thanks for the thanks Airport.
I hadn’t heard of the band “Any Old Time” until you pointed out Matt Cranitch was in it.

If anyone is interested, the album:
https://thesession.org/recordings/1106
it is available for download from eMusic and I downloaded it within my monthly quota.

So thank you so much for that … its great to be able to obtain Trad via the internet, and even better to instaneously obtain a recording straight from the composer, hey. Great stuff. Thanks.

‘Crossing’ and ‘Phoenix’ albums Trinil mentioned are both recorded under the name Any Old Time.

‘Phoenix’ is a fantastic album with great songs, as well as tunes. Their version of Field Behind The Plow was one of my favourite songs growing up. Worth digging around for 🙂

Mentioned by “airport”above, 5 years ago …. better late than never.

http://youtu.be/Z-fHWIPpdac

play video

Source: “Bimis ag ol” by Ronan Le Bar & Nicolas Quemener
Transcription: Gian Marco Pietrasanta

Source: Arcady
Transcription: gian marco pietrasanta

Transcribed from the playing of Dave Hennessy & Matt Cranitch on the Any Old Time LP, “Phoenix”. Note: they play it in E/C#m !

Here’s Sharon playing her version in a session in Kinvara this weekend
https://www.facebook.com/201656216525834/posts/2763808576977239