The Curragh Races reel

This comes from the Bothy Band. Tying in to Danny’s discussion about sets, I’ve one other reel to post and then I’ll tell you about what I think was the greatest set of reels never recorded.

P.S. -I think this is sometimes called “The Maid InThe Cherry Tree”.

A slightly different setting is found in O’Neill’s. Either way a cracking tune.

https://thesession.org/tunes/5195

See https://thesession.org/tunes/1981 for a possibly-related tune.

T:The Maid In The Cherry Tree
M:4/4
L:1/8
S:ORION - Restless Home
R:reel
Z:gian marco pietrasant
K:ADOR
gfa|eA~A2 eABA|GBde dBGB|eA~A2 eABA|GBdB BAfg|
(3ege dg e^cdB|GABG dGBd|cBAc ~B2ge|1dBGB A2:|2dBGB BAAB|:
cdef gc~c2|gceg dBGB|cdef gceg|dBGB BAAB|
cGEG ~g3e|dedc BGBd|cBAc ~B2ge|1dBGB BAAB:|1dBGB A2|

% ABC2Win Version 2.1 09/03/2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXvVNn-za1w

play video

Followed up by Swallow’s Tail

The reel that John Carty plays after “The Galway (or Galloway) Hornpipe” listed on his 2005 album “I Will if I Can” as “The Maid in the Cherry tree is also known as “The London Lasses”

Ceol Rince na hÉireann 1. Brendán Breathnach. 1963 p.44 no.103. “An Gearrchaile sa gCrann Silíní”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5eG8ozCmyg

play video

paired with Jenny’s Wedding

On their album ‘Lonesome Blues and Dancing Shoes’ (2002), The Boys of the Lough play this tune as a polka and call it “Curragh Races Polka”. I also learned it from Midlothian harper Mairi Robertson as “The Toureendarby Polka” - which is also here under that name (https://thesession.org/tunes/8895). I can’t change the time signature or the tune type, but you get the gist of it.

To me that’s a completely different tune, Nigel. Minor similarities in the first part, but none at all in the second. I could well be wrong, but can you come up with an instance of that polka being called “The Curragh Races” before the “Boys Of The Lough” recorded it under that title ?

Nah, none at all. I was going by the A part, in which there are a few similarities, but you’re right about the B part. The BOTL probably did the same thing as I did and just assumed it was a polka version of the tune. Dash it all!!!!

From piper Nollaigh McCarthy, Willie Clancy Summer School 1990

From the CD “Irish Jigs”, https://thesession.org/recordings/1506

Joey Abarta and Owen Marshall playing something very close to @Swisspiper’s setting #4: https://youtu.be/ShI8y7i9jb4

play video

Source: Fintan Vallely
Transcription: Gian Marco Pietrasanta

A Donegal version played by John Doherty on “Bundle and Go”, track 9. Sometimes Doherty replaces the initial “eA{d}BA” figure in the opening bars with the “eA^cA” figure seen later in the first part. I like the modal contrasts in this setting that is so indicative of Donegal music especially.

I transcribed this from Cape Breton fiddler Wilfred Prosper on the album “Bras D’Or House”, which is a compilation of Cape Breton fiddle recordings from Rounder. I think this setting is very close to the one on the Macnamara Family’s “Leitrim’s Hidden Treasure” which they call “The London Lasses”.

Heard a piper play it something like this. Like the low e much better in the first and subsequent bars.

Another tune from:
Lets Have A Session,
Continuing The Tradition,
A Second Complication Of Traditional Irish Music,
Settings Selected And Arranged By Kathleen Harte.

I prefer notation with C flat (eAcA), like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5eG8ozCmyg in other setting you play first measure eABA. Sometimes C sharp is a good variation

play video

Another variation.