Richard Dwyer’s reel

Thank you Binioubraz for posting this tune. It is an awe inspiring tune (not that I play it anything but only vaguely like either of these versions). It is amazing that it has been recorded by so many ITM musicians. It is simply a knock out of a tune. Fabulous.
PS: I play it with a G# (bar 4) an F natural (bar 5) in part A. I usually like to roll a couple of times each tune, but not in this one. I don’t think it should be played too fast. I think it is a real listening to it tune. Lovely.

Yes thanks for taking the time to cut & paste the abc. Great tune. I’ve just learnt a great Amin setting with Fnats that gets played at my session, and I would have submitted an original transcription, but gotta rush.

I was talking with someone this weekend who said that they thought this might be a Mary Bergin tune. Anyone know if that’s true?

Mar y recorded this on her 2nd CD, I’m sure, but I’m equally sure that Richard Dwyer composed it himself. I’ll check Mary’s sleeve notes, as she’s pretty good about crediting composers.
I think her only association with the tune is that she recorded it.

yes, please — thanks Kenny!

Yes, Richard Dwyer wrote this one. And as a matter of fact, it shows up as the first tune on his recording, "In a Creative Mood."

Mary’s sleeve notes do – in a round-about sort of way – acknowledge Richard Dwyer as the composer of this reel.
Jack – could you post Richard Dwyer’s recording in the “Recordings” section, and tell us a bit about it. It’s not a recording I’ve heard of - is it recent ? Also I have to admit I don’t know much about the man. Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks Kenny!

Thanks Kenny? What am I, chopped liver? Geezzz Zina, it’s as if you’re intentionally avoiding thanking me for answering your query. What’s up with that?

Anyway, Kenny, I’ll post his recording in the recording section — I didn’t realize it wasn’t there already. The recording has all those great tunes he’s written. Richard plays the accordion mostly but also plays fiddle on one track. He has a distinctive heavily dotted rhythm in his style that you don’t find by other artists who’ve recorded his tunes. Personally it’s not my cup of tea, but Dow might enjoy it. No one can dispute that Richard Dwyer is one of the great living composers of today though.

Thanks , Jack.

Here’s a flute-friendly setting I put together from Paul Smyth’s and Paddy Carty’s recordings.


X: 1
T: Richie Dwyer’s
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
S: Paul Smyth, UP AND AWAY & Paddy Carty, TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC
K: Ador
A2EA (3Bcd e^c|d2BG AGEz|EAcA (3Bcd gf|eaag a2ag|
e2ed cA A2|Bgdc BdcB|AEcE d2 (3Bcd|edcA EA A2:||
a2ea c’aea|g2dg bgdz|aged c2ed|cABG EAA2|
a2ea c’aea|gedc BGG2|A2 (3Bcd e2af|gedB cAA2:||
"version 2"
A2EA (3Bcd e^c|d2BG AGEG|EAcA (3Bcd gf|eaag a2ag|
e2ed cA A2|Bgdc BdcB|AEcE d2 (3Bcd|edcA EA A2:||
a2ea c’aea|g2dg bgdg|aged c2ed|cABG EAA2|
a2ea eaea|gedc BGG2|A2 (3Bcd eaaf|gedB cAA2:||

From the album O’Carolans Welcome by Joakim Friis-Holm & Henrik Bjørslev

is already here… https://thesession.org/tunes/1131
You might also have a look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_signature :~/

I love the hypnotic pulse of this tune.

A fun tune!

Hmm, Josephine Keegan calls this tune ‘Michael Dwyer’. Is there a story behind that?

A fairly uncommon (I think) G minor version of the tune. Played by Dale Russ in this video that I found on youtube. It’s the second tune. The transcription more or less follows the first time through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WK2867CIi8

play video

The tune starts at 1:19.

Great tune!