The Hairy Dogleaf reel

This is the tune that Susan Songer is seeking a name (and any other info) for, for publication in the next volume of the Portland Collection. She sent the sheet music to me, and I’ve entered the abcs verbatim from that.

I haven’t heard this tune, but coming from Hayes (it has his trademark long-note phrasings) I suspect it’s more of a barndance than an actual reel. But I could be wrong. Susan might be able to add some information here to help clear that up, and maybe also reveal her source—whether a recording, performance, workshop, or other.

Anyone recognize this tune?

I think it might be a version of something called Hairy Dogleaf that has turned up at our session. The tune played is more of a reel, but I’ll take the music along on Thursday and check it out.

Martin

An interesting lead. What the heck is a hairy dogleaf? Some sorta tree?
I found several recordings with the Hairy Dogleaf (apparently composed by fluter Francis O’Connor) listed in the liner notes, but so far no transcriptions or sound files to check against the tune here.

Dunno, but I don’t think I’d like one to turn up at my session!

Thanks, Will, for posting this for me. I learned the tune from Kerry Elkin who plays it on his recording "the Turning of the Tide." It has come up occasionally in Irish sessions around the Northwest. I don’t have any other identifying information about it. I appreciate any ideas at all.

Susan Songer

One way to check if it’s the Hairy Dogleaf is for someone who has a copy of Sliabh Notes (Matt Cranitch, Donal Murphy, and Tommy O’Sullivan) to compare the notes here against the first tune on track 4 of that recording. Hairy Dogleaf also appears on Soundpost and Bridle by the Neff Brothers.

A Dogleaf is a plant that usually grows near nettles. As children when we would get stung we were told to put the leaf of the dogleaf on the sting. Hairy…just a description

I’d have to listen to the CD, but it does look like one of Francis O’Connor’s tunes from the "Sliabh Notes" recording. I seem to remember that "The Hairy Dogleaf" goes with "The Ganger’s Ass"- no further comment!

We always called them "dockleaves" when I was a kid.

I just listened to the Sliabh Notes recording, and I do think it’s the same tune. Different setting, but the shape of it is pretty much the same. Unless I hear otherwise from any of you (very possible considering the other Gan Ainm post that Will made on my behalf), I’ll go with this.

Susan Songer

I just had a listen to the Sliabh Notes setting, and though a different approach, it does seem to be the same tune. It would be nice to corroborate this with another recording or someone else’s setting of the Hairy Dogleaf.

This is the version played at our session. I didn’t get it right away, although it’s esentially the same tune it sounds quite different. This version really swings along:

K:Dmaj
D3 B ADFA |\
B2 dB BAFE |\
D3 B ADFA |\
dBAF EGFE |\
D3 B ADFA |\
B2 dB BAFA |\
B2 dB BAFA |1 |\
dBAF EGFE :|2\
dBAF EFGA |: d3 f edfd |\
B2 dB BAFA |\
d2 fd efge |\
affa fgfe |\
dAdf edfd |\
B2 dB BAFA |\
B2 dB BAFA |1 |\
dBAF EFGA :|2\
dBAF EGFE ||

learnt this tune by ear from Enda Scahill’s Banjo CD. Anyone know the name?

It sounds like it could be a version of John Henry’s:

https://thesession.org/tunes/2209

But it’s certainly different enough to have a different name.

This tune is very new and was written by Frankie O’Connor, flute/fiddle player from Limerick. It is recorded by Slibh Notes (Donal Murphy)where Francis joins them. Danny broudar of Duchas also recorded this tune. It is usually played with 2 more of FranKies tunes.

"compaqjohn" pointed out that this was recorded by "Sliabh Notes". The title they give is "The Hairy Dogleaf", and it was posted on the site by Will Harmon in November 2003.

https://thesession.org/tunes/2185

K:D Major
|: D3 B ADFA | B2 dB BAFE | D3 B ADFA | dBAF EGFE |
D3 B ADFA | B2 dB BAFA | B2 dB BAFA |1 dBAF EGFE :|
2 dBAF EFGA ||
|: d3 f edfd | B2 dB BAFA | d2 fd efge | affa fgfe |
dAdf edfd | B2 dB BAFA | B2 dB BAFA |1 dBAF EFGA :|
2 dBAF EGFE ||

Brought together…

Key signature: D Major
Submitted on December 5th 2004 by banjaxbanjo.
https://thesession.org/tunes/3961

"Maeve Scahill’s Reel" ~ not knowing the title
Key signature: D Major
Submitted on August 2nd 2006 by PaddyCmusic.
https://thesession.org/tunes/6050

K: D Major
|: ~D3 F ADFA | (3BBB dB BAFE | ~D3 F ADFB | dBAF EDCE |
~D3 F ADFA | (3BBB dB BAFA | (3BBB dB BAFB |1 AFEF DB,CE :|
2 AFEF Dgfe ||
|: cd (3ddd defd | ~B3 d BAFA | defd efge | afge fdec |
d2 (3ddd edcd | ~B3 d BAFA | (3BBB dB BAFB |1 AFEF Dgfe :|
2 dBAF EGFE ||

"I learnt this tune from Enda Scahill’s "Pick it Up" album. The tune was under track 2 which was called "Maeve’s Reels". It consisted of 3 reels Enda learnt from his concertina playing sister, Maeve but he did not have any names for them. The second and third reel in the set are listed in the comments of his album in the recordings section here at thesession.org . No one found a name to the first unfortunatley. Still, this is how I play it. Enda adds a lot of triplets and changes it quite a bit each time through (3 times in all) but I’ve just transcribed a basic version, taking different parts from each time he played it.

It’s a nice tune on banjo though I don’t know how it would sound on other instruments. I’m guessing it would sound well on accordian.

There’s a lot of room for ornamentation and variation. If you have Enda’s album, you’ll hear that alright.

Have fun playing!"

# Posted on August 2nd 2006 by PaddyCmusic

"The Hairy Dogleaf" ~ the ‘y’ went missing above…

Key signature: D Major
Submitted on November 24th 2003 by whoosis.

You will also find the ABC’s for other versions in the comments…

Setting #4 is transcribed from a session recording from Drumshanbo in 2011, played by a bunch of players from Belfast (none of whose names I can remember). Thanks to Ben Hall for identifying the tune.

This is a cracking version by Ímar from their album "Afterlight"