The Luachrachán’s jig

Hello.

To the best of my knowledge this is an original tune from the band Beginish (their second album: Stormy Weather). But since information regarding this band is scarce on the net, I can’t be sure.

Here is a variation on the second part:

|: EAA A2 A | BAB cAF | ABc BAF | EFA B2 c |
BAF FEA | FEc BAF | EFA BAB |1 cAA A2 F:|2 cAA A3:|

I personnaly don’t like to play the (very) high C sharp on a D whistle, so I adapted the second part. Essentially I lowered everything down, but I had to modify it a bit to make it fit (as I can’t play a low C sharp on a D whistle…). It adds a new twist to the tune, but I like it! 🙂

Enjoy the music,

Loa

Beginish attribute this tune to Junior Crehan, but Kevin Crehan didn’t star it as a Junior composition on An Bh

Lovely.
( the tune )

I just noticed something unusual about this tune: there are no C notes.

To me, it has a similar kind of feel to The Humours Of Glendart (East At Glendart).

Very nice tune (but then, I like The Lark In The Morning so what do I know?). One for the tunebook.

Nice one, I’m gonna learn it….I’m also supposed to learn another Junior Crehan tune, Her Dark Hair or something like that…..it’s also quite lovely……

The absence of the C# and the G gives it that distinctive pentatonic feel, based on the pentatonic scale D-E-F#-A-B-d. This means you are allowed to give a good hard stare at a guitarist (or any other accompanist) who introduces a chord with a G or C# in it 🙂
Trevor

Hey, I just thought of another tune with no C notes; The Mist Covered Mountain:

https://thesession.org/tunes/256

Composed by none other than Junior Crehan.

Hmmm… seems like he really liked that pentatonic-ish sound. In any case, he certainly came up with the goods when it came to composing jigs.

Junior Crehan wrote the best tunes!

And if you like Junior Crehan tunes, you *need* this album:
https://thesession.org/recordings/57

Yeah, I listened to the samples on Kevin Crehan’s website:

http://www.kevincrehan.com/

Sounds like really good stuff.

Kitty Hayes played this in a little session we had in Clare in January 2005, and told us Junior’s story (which she said that only he could tell!) about how it was written.

It seems that Junior and a friend (whose name I didn’t catch) were up late one night. They decided to try to catch the Luathradain (kind of like a leprechaun), so they raked the ashes over the coals and waited for him to come down the chimney. When he did, they grabbed him and demanded gold. He said he didn’t have any, so they asked him to give them a tune instead. Junior was able to memorize the A part and his friend memorized the B part.

If that’s what it takes to get a great tune, so be it.

I think Kitty plays it in F. I first learned it in D, but lately I’ve been playing it in G.

A great jig and his other composition “The Mist Covered Mountain” mentioned above by Jeremy goes nicely after it. We usually finish the set with Paddy Taylor’s jig. The Lurgadan also has similarities with Health to the Ladies which is normally played in the key of “A”.

This melody can be played in the keys of A (as in the original submission here), G & way down and nicely low in D Major…

While no one doubts the ‘source’ as Junior Crehan, there is some question as to whether this is actually one of his compositions, I personally don’t believe it is but haven’t yet traced an earlier version I vaguely remember… But I haven’t everything at my disposal I’d like to have. So, anyone else? ~ Kenny? ~ Slainte? ~ Dow? ~ ???

Submitted on July 25th 2006 by Ptarmigan.

~ a transcription from the recording “The Ballydesmond Polka”, Dan Herlihy & John Drew…

T: Crehan’s
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: G Major
|: g |
edB dBA | GBG AGE | DEG AGA | BAA A2 g |
edB dBA | GBG AGE | DEG AGA | BGG G2 :|
|: D |
GBd g2 g | aga bge | gab age | deg a2 b |
age edB | GBG AGE | DEG AGA | BGG G2 :|

Submitted on July 25th 2006 by Ptarmigan.

K: D Major
|: d |
BAF ABA | D2 F EDB, | A,B,D EDE | FEE E2 d |
BAF A2 B | D3 EDB, | A,2 B, D2 E | FD/D/D D2 :|
|: A, |
DF/G/A dcd | ede fdB | d2 f edB | AB/c/d e2 f |
edB B2 A | DFD E3 | A,B,/C/D E2 G | FDC D2 :|

While there is no question that Junior Crehan is the source many have for this tune, here is some question as to whether or not this is actually one of his compositions…

However, while I have my doubts, Kitty Hayes has her story which is much better… 😉

Dow’s link just abouve also for Kitty Hayes’ story about this tune and the title “The Lúradán’s Jig”… It’s a sweet tale, despite my peristant doubts of origin… It could be that a strong familiarity leaves me skeptical, but I love the tale just the same… Besides, I can’t remember where I first heard it or learned it… 😉

You know me Dow, I always favour the earlier transcript, whatever state it is in ~ unless it really is dreadful… I’d forgotten the links, good on you for catching them…

# Posted on April 19th 2005 by GaryAMartin

Kitty Hayes played this in a little session we had in Clare in January 2005, and told us Junior’s story (which she said that only he could tell!) about how it was written.

It seems that Junior and a friend (whose name I didn’t catch) were up late one night. They decided to try to catch the Luathradain (kind of like a leprechaun), so they raked the ashes over the coals and waited for him to come down the chimney. When he did, they grabbed him and demanded gold. He said he didn’t have any, so they asked him to give them a tune instead. Junior was able to memorize the A part and his friend memorized the B part.

If that’s what it takes to get a great tune, so be it.

I think Kitty plays it in F. I first learned it in D, but lately I’ve been playing it in G.

# Posted on April 19th 2005 by GaryAMartin

NOTE: The story is actually supportive evidence that backs the idea that it isn’t one of Junior Crehan’s own compositions ~ but one forced out of one of the wee folk…
😉

Except ~ it is only just dawning on me, it supports my original feeling ~ that it isn’t one of Junior Crehan’s own compositions but one he got from someone else… 🙂

Key signature: A Major
Submitted on July 29th 2003 by Loa.
https://thesession.org/tunes/1851

For 4.5 other settings in 3 different keys, including the earlier of these two duplicates…

How’s that Dow, I did what you asked me to do, was that what you wanted? 😛

Key signature: D Major
Submitted on August 13th 2003 by Jeremy.
https://thesession.org/tunes/1880

That other transcript in D Major to compare with the one I’d given above:

K: D Major
|: d |
BAF AFE | D3 EDB, | A,B,D ~E3 | FEE E2 d |
BAF AFE | D3 EDB, | A,B,D ~E3 | FDD D2 :|
|: E |
DFA ~d3 | ede fdB | def edB | ABd e2 f |
edB AFE | D3 EDB, | A,B,D ~E3 | FDD D2 :|

I’ve only ever heard the Dmaj version in sessions here. Another tune in A https://thesession.org/tunes/327 must surely be related.

From the Fiddler’s Companion: “Although some in the family attribute it to Junior, his grandson Kevin Crehan believes Junior had the tune from his mentor, Sculley Casey”.

I like it in A, but I love a good growl over a squeal anyday…

https://thesession.org/recordings/2099

Disc 1 of 2 ~ track 1: “The Luachrachán” ~ story and jig,
the tale of the tune as told by Junior Crehan himself,
and the jig of it courtesy of his bow…
16 minutes and 40 seconds

I love the tune, so sweet :D

Played here by the Mucahy’s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0HeLCY2Et4

play video

There is a beautiful version of this, under the name “Dermot Grogan’s” paired with “Joe Derrane’s jig”, under the name“Hardiman’s Fancy“, played by Angelina Carberry on banjo. Her flowing melodic playing of these tunes are almost enough to persuade me to buy a banjo and learn to play this
much-maligned instrument - but I’m having enough trouble learning the fiddle! Anybody who hasn’t heard AC…. check her out. You won’t be disappointed.

This isn’t the version Kevin Crawford plays on the d Flute Album.

Would play well followed with “Jim Ward’s”-

https://thesession.org/tunes/793

Angelina Carberry has this as Dermot Grogan’s, the first tune on her fine album An Traidisiun Beo: https://thesession.org/recordings/1873

A few notes different, but a lovely setting.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm6fAHY3M_g

play video

This tune is found in the book “Martin Junior Crehan: Musical compositions and Memories” as “The Luachrachan’s Jig. In this book, Junior Crehan provides the following story:
As i sat by the fire with my son Paidin, a sudden change come over the scene
Down the chimney came a little man so old, and I asked him for the Crock of Gold.
“‘No gold I have but good advice, and if you heed it you will be wise,
Grow small barley and keep a pig, and play this tune The Luachrachan’s Jig”!

You can hear Junior tell the story of this tune himself here. www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/music/live/bonavella_JH24-3.htm

Here’s me playing The Luachrachán on mandolin:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdAHrhZwNd8

play video

Thanks for reminding me of this tune! I agree with your old comment about Humours of Glendart. Anybody who knows that one can learn this one in a short time.

From 2:31
https://youtu.be/b8v_7D2c7OQ?t=151

play video

I came across a version of this recently by a band called Bunoscionn from Co Kildare on their album Hot Sup which they call The Lurgan Jig. Clearly a mishearing of Luachrachan and nothing to do with my hometown in Co Armagh, which I doubt Junior ever had any call to visit…

https://fb.watch/8nqi0d1rr5/

This clip has a recording of a version of The Luachrachán. 1929. This supports the claim that Jr. Crehan learned it from someone else. Tune starts about 45 seconds in.

Maybe someone can use this one with chords!

X: 5
T: The Luachrachán’s
T: comp. Junior Crehan
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|:“D”BAF AFE|DED EDB,|A,B,D “E”EDE|“A”FEE E2 d|
“D”BAF AFE|DED EDB,|A,B,D “E”EDE|“A”FDD “D”D3:|
|:“D”DFA dcd|ede fdB|def edB|ABd “E”e2 d|
“D”BAF AFE|DED EDB,|A,B,D “E”EDE|“A”FDD “D”D3:|

Judging by the alternative name The Baby Finger I would say that the name of this tune is a corruption of the Irish “lúdagán” meaning “little finger” from “lú” meaning “small”. Does anyone know the origins of the name The Baby Finger?