Charlie Lennon’s reel

This is probably not exactly how Charlie composed this “note for note”, but it’s how I learned it from one-while contributer to the site, “Ptarmigan”. A lovely reel, on any instrument.

I love this tune, its about time someone posted it -good one! I learnt this tune in Dublin off a lovely fiddle player called Noreen Leech (she does gigs in gogartys as well) but they used to have a session in Keatings, thats going back about 5 years now!

sometimes also called Charlie Lennon’s N

Charlie Lennon himself does an excellent job of this tune on the album “Lucky in Love” - the medley starts off with “Francis John McGovern’s” then moves to “Road to Cashel” and ends with “Charlie Lennon’s No. 4.” A great reel!

Just by way of comparison, here’s how this reel appears in Charlie Lennon’s tunebook “Musical Memories 1”:

UF2AF dFAF | DFAF GBAG | F2AF dFAF | (3GAG FG EFGE | F2AF dFAF | DFAF GBAG |1 FAdf ecAB | (3cBA eA cAGA :||
2 FAdf e^def | (3gag ec ABcA||:Udefd Adfd | eA{d}BA ge{a}fe | d2fd adfd | (3Bcd ef gece | d2fd Adfd | (3BdB GB g2fg |
(3agf ge {a}fded |1 cded cAce :||2 cded cAGE | D8 ||

thats from enda scahills-pick it up. it´s gan ainm from track
no. 11.

I’ll have to listen to the recording again, but I reckon this is Enda Scahill’s version of “Charlie Lennon’s No.4” which I posted some time ago.

on the cd enda plays it in Eb.

Aye, just stumbled on this, & it brings back many happy, although distant, memories of Bell’s in the late 70’s, when this, & Charlie’s No 3, were great favourites of the regular sessioneers, back then.

I actually bumped into Charlie in a session in Spiddal around that time, & when I told him about this great Edinburgh session Pub, Sandy Bell’s, he asked me to play a couple of our favourite tunes, & I couldn’t resist the temptation so played his No 3 & No 4.
Naturally he beamed with pride, although I no doubt made a complete mess of them!

Anyway, this is how I play NO 4 these days - but of course Charlie’s [above] is the right way!

X: 1
T: Lennon’s No 4
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Dmaj
DE|:F2 AF dFAF|DFAF GBAG|F2 AF dFAF|GABG E3 G|
F2 AF dFAF|DFAF GBAG|FAdf ecAB|1 c/B/A/ ed cAGE:|2 (3cBA ed cABc||
d2 fd Adfd|eA (3AAA afge|d2 fd adfd|ce (3eee gece|1 d2 fd Adfd|BG (3GGG g2 fg|afge fded|(3Bcd ed BABc:|2 defd Adfd|BAGB g2 fg|afge fded|(3Bcd ed cAGE||

Sorry, end of 1st part should have read:
|1 (3cBA ed cAGE:|2 (3cBA ed cABc||

The version I learnt is exactly like Kenny’s except for bar 6 of the B-part, where I go down to G and play |BG~G2 g2fg|…

To hear tune played go to=
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1VUn05iO_RY

play video

jim,,,

Or try this kitchen version by Cathal Hayden with variations, accompanied by Arty McGlynn. It’s the second tune of the two played. (I think the first is Tom Ward’s Downfall). I never tire of hearing this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx8lRx7BTTA&feature=related

play video

Peter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbXheT7r_eo

play video