The Harsh February reel

Source: Laurence Nugent
Transcription: g.m.p.

A fine reel, Gian Marco, and doesn’t yer man Larry play it well ? Breandan made some comments when he posted the recording this came from, which I wholeheartedly agree with. Please correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t this a Jerry Holland composition ? If so, credit where it’s due, please.

I don’t know who’s the composer of this reel, it is marked as "traditional" in the inner notes of the Larry’s album.
I like a lot the way Laurece plays this reel, and I agree with Brendan and his comments to the album this came from.

David White is a Cape Breton stepdancer of years ago, and Jerry wrote that tune for Dave years ago. The only recording (that David knows) of Jerry playing the tune is on the CD "Traditional Music from Cape Breton Island".

Yeah, Gian Marco - it says "Trad. arr Liz Carroll" under the actual listing of the 2 tunes, but if you look at the "Special thanks to…" section, the third line says : "for their compositions: Gerry (sic) Holland, ("Dave White’s " and "Just Cruzin’ "). Sorry to be such a stickler !

I first found this song on Wolfstone’s Year of the Dog. It’s in their tune "Morag’s Reel." I also heard it on Jerry Holland’s Fiddler’s Choice, in the tune "Glenn and Karl’s Set."

This tune is by Phil Cunningham, who is quickly becoming one of my favorites. He sure does write some great tunes!

I’m sure I have seen this tune attributed to Jerry Holland, but can’t remember where.

It’s in the second collection of Jerry Holland tunes, but it’s attributed there to Phil Cunningham. (The collection is of tunes from the repertoire of Jerry Holland, not just his compositions.)

Guarantee it’s one of Phil’s.

The tune has been submitted already under the title "Dave White’s". Check the comments for composer discussion!

AArgh - he got me ! Longnote - you’re right. I’d never recognised them as the same tune.
Amazing how 2 musicians can make a tune sound so different by putting different emphasis on certain notes. Phil certainly composed this, and recorded it, I’m sure, on a record with Andy M.Stewart and Manus Lunny some years before Larry Nugent’s 1st CD came out. Not recognising Larry’s version, I took him at his word on the CD sleeve notes. Have to say, it makes a great Irish reel the way Larry plays it.
Thanks - Kenny [ wi’ a red face ! ].

Kenny, I honestly could not remember where I had gotten the notion it was a Jerry Holland tune until I realized it might been here. Took me a while to remember the title even though I learned it once upon a time from the recording of Nugent.

this tune was actually composed by Phil Cunningham

Longnote pointed that out to us a few days ago. But he never wrote it the way Larry Nugent plays it.

https://thesession.org/tunes/857

I just found this website while searching for postings on Jerry Holland on the event of his death. This is the David White that Jerry worte the reel for and "ktmacm’s" comments are right on the money. Jerry and I were good friends in our young dance going days woth him playing and me step dancing and he gave me the great honour of writing this amazing reel for me!!!!!

This is called The Harsh February and was composed by Phil Cunningham. David White’s, by Jerry Holland, is another tune entirely as appears on his "Fiddler’s Choice" CD. I think the David White’s titled should be removed.

The actual tune called "Dave White’s" is now here as well: https://thesession.org/tunes/20102

Since several people have now recorded "Harsh February" under the title "Dave White’s", I suppose we should leave it on as an alternate title for this tune as well. Sigh.

There is a terrific live video of The Alan Kelly Gang performing this as the last tune of what is titled "The Rookery Set".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXWcq45UdTs&list=RDpXWcq45UdTs&start_radio=1

play video