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Julia Clifford’s polka

Also known as Johnny O’Leary’s.

There are 67 recordings of a tune by this name.

A tune by this name has been recorded together with O’Keefe’s (a few times) and Din Tarrant’s (a few times).

Julia Clifford's has been added to 20 tunebooks.

Download ABC

Four settings

X: 1
T: Julia Clifford's
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|: A |f>a ge | ff/a/ ge | fd ed | e/f/e/d/ Bd |
f2 ge | f>a ge | fd e/f/e/c/ | d2 d :|
|: d/B/ |A>F AB | Af af | ed ef/e/ | dA Bd/B/ |
A>F AB | Af af | ed ef/e/ | d2 d :|
X: 2
T: Julia Clifford's
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|: e |fa ge | ff/a/ ge | fd ed | e/f/e/d/ BA |
f2 ge | ff/a/ ge | fd ec | df d :|
|: B |A>B AF | Af af | ed ef/e/ | dA B/c/d/B/ |
A>B AF | Af af | ef gb | ef/e/ d :|
X: 3
T: Julia Clifford's
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|: e |ff/f/ ge | f>f ge | fd ed | g/f/e/d/ BA |
ff/f/ ge | ff/f/ g2 | f/e/d ed/c/ | df d :|
|: B |A>B AF | Af af | e>d ef/e/ | dA Bd/B/ |
AA/B/ AF | Af a2 | e>f gb | ef/e/ d :|
X: 4
T: Julia Clifford's
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|: B/ |A>F AB | A>F Af | e2 ef | dB B/c/d/B/ |
A>F AB | A>F Af | e/d/e/f/ gb | ef d3/ :|
|: e/ |f>f g/f/e | f>f g/f/e | fd ed | e/f/e/d/ BA |
f>f g/f/e | f>f g/f/e | fd e/f/e/c/ | df d3/ :|

Five comments

S: Julia Clifford (Murphy) ~ hence “Julia Clifford’s”

This is also know as Johnny O’Leary’s or Johnny Leary’s, but putting that down in the alternate titles section would swamp this entry with more unrelated links to recordings.

I’m surprised this isn’t here, but then, it is possible it was removed in the past when some folks left the site and all their contributions and comments went with them, as per their request, to leave completely…

The transcription given is from the playing of Julia Clifford, minus the fine details, ornamentation, etc. However, Julia starts it on the first bar so ~

|: f>a ge | ff/a/ ge | ~

And of the one recording still available she pairs this with ~

"Bill the Weaver"
https://thesession.org/tunes/1914

This pair available on the following recordings, and all 3 track given below are of the same Topic recording:

LP: "Music from Sliabh Luachra Vol. 3: The Humours of Lisheen - John and Julia Clifford/Murphy"
Topic 12TS311 - Ossian: OSS 14
https://thesession.org/recordings/display.php/1433
17.) Julia Clifford’s Polka / Bill the Weaver

CD: "The Rushy Mountain: Classic Music From Sliabh Luachra 1952-77"
https://thesession.org/recordings/display/1274
14.) Julia Clifford’s Polka / Bill the Weaver

CD: "Round the House and Mind the Dresser: Irish County-House Dance Music"
https://thesession.org/recordings/display/317
21.) Julia Clifford’s Polka / Bill the Weaver

“Julia Clifford’s” - another way with it…

X: 2
T: Julia Clifford’s
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Dmaj
|: e |\
fa ge | ff/a/ ge | fd ed | e/f/e/d/ BA |
f2 ge | ff/a/ ge | fd ec | df d :|
|: B |\
A>B AF | Af af | ed ef/e/ | dA B/c/d/B/ |
A>B AF | Af af | ef gb | ef/e/ d :|

& some other possibilities

X: 3
T: Julia Clifford’s
T: Johnny O’Leary’s
T: Johnny Leary’s
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: DMaj
|: e |\
ff/f/ ge | f>f ge | fd ed | g/f/e/d/ BA |
ff/f/ ge | ff/f/ g2 | f/e/d ed/c/ | df d :|
|: B |\
A>B AF | Af af | e>d ef/e/ | dA Bd/B/ |
AA/B/ AF | Af a2 | e>f gb | ef/e/ d :|

Denis Murphy’s Version

Here’s what I can get from Denis Murphy’s playing, he plays it 2nd part first, compared to Julia’s playing. A more common ending going up to the high b, compared with Julia’s version.

X: 1
T: Julia Clifford’s
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Dmaj
|: A>F AB | A>F Af | e2 ef | dB B/c/d/B/ |
A>F AB | A>F Af | e/d/e/f/ gb | 1 ef d>B :| 2 ef d>e ||
|: f>f g/f/e | f>f g/f/e | fd ed | e/f/e/d/ BA |
f>f g/f/e | f>f g/f/e| fd e/f/e/c/ |1 df d>e :|2 df d>B|

X: 4 “Julia Clifford’s Polka”

enirehtac - catherine’s transcription just above, with lead-ins…

It does make that ‘sense’, going from the low part to the high part…

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