Kitty Goes A-Milking reel

“nobu” submitted “Chieftains 1” in the recording section in April. I noticed that of the dance music on the recording only 2 tunes were missing from the tunes section, so I’ve already posted the “Limestone Rock”(although the Chieftains have a third part from somewhere), and “Kitty” gives us a full house. I agree with “longnote”’s comment about their early recordings. A lot of us cut our musical teeth on those albums, and the tuneson them will still stand you in good stead in any session.

I love this tune--it’s one of my current faves; I recently learned it from harpist Grainne Hambly at a workshop.

a nice variation is to play at the beginning Or wherever it fits in
dG 3)G
I think that’s what’s in Mary Bergin’ recorded version. The rythm gets less rigid like that.

Wow, 10 years and no one has anything alternate for this warhorse of a reel. X:2 is from Willie Clancy; the 4th bar of the 2nd part especially sounds like his characteristic way of playing a tune, something in the motion of the melody, the choice of notes; and of course him lifting the chanter up and down and sliding into notes, giving it that “bluesy” or “Munster” or “Clare” sound.

You can hear him play this on the Gold Ring 2CD, or the old The Pipering Of Willie Clancy. Vol 2 LP/cassette. I’ve a copy of an old tape Martin Talty made of Willie where he also plays it, lots of clowning around there, and Martin tells us in the old days people in Clare called this by another name, The Long Hills of Mourne.

From piper Gab McKeon Milltown Malbay 1990

this is a version with a stable, but less rigid rythm…

Ash Plant · Éamonn Coyne

Through the Round Window

Released on: 2002-08-13

https://youtu.be/BfdIgj6-1XU

play video

A transcription of the tune as played by John Doherty.