The Porthole Of The Kelp reel

One of the many many "Bobby Casey’s" out there. Pat O’Connor plays it on his CD "The Green Mountain" as a standalone tune (ending with a cheesy major, but what the hell) and it’s absolutely gorgeous, played with Pat’s old-style, swingy, swoopy thing. It’s also on Na Connery’s Part II — there it’s played straighter and the ornaments are totally different. Pat O’Connor plays it with his fiddle tuned down, and John Carr, the fiddler in Ft. Collins I learned this from, says that when you tune down and play such a low tune, it’s practically self-hypnotic, all gravelly and crunchy.

I’ve been putting it with Michael Tennyson’s when I want to stay in the same mode, or it’s great to start a BTST and then switch keys (and maybe speed) for a nice performance kick.

Zina

I was hoping someone would correct the key — I knew it was going to be dorian or mixo or something, but I’m really not too swift on that stuff yet…

Zina

Henrik Norbeck also has a version of this in Ador (#530) but I don’t like it as much. JC’s index mistakenly attributes this to Paddy Fahy (#31).

Another Paddy Fahy tune and one of my all-time favourites.
I fell in love with this mighty reel hearing it as a nameless tune in Enda Scahill’s "Pick it Up," and accidentally found a similar setting of the tune at JC’s tune finder later. This plain version is the modified one based on Enda’s banjo playing.

I always transpose this tune into Ador to play on the d whistle, though I should get a G whistle to play with fiddlers. Is there any other whistle-friendly Paddy’s tune? If so, please post it here.

funny i know the same tune under the name "Porthole of the Kelp" and written by Bobby Casey…

I agree with paul-leray.This tune was recorded on "Bakerswell’s" 1st CD as"Porthole Of The Kelp" . It is also in David Lyth’s book "Bowing Styles In Irish Fiddle Playing Vol.2". where it is listed as a composition of Bobby Casey.

I don’t know the origin of this reel. I just found it’s called Paddy Fahy’s at JC’s, and then heard it played as Paddy’s again in a session. Whatever it is called, it is a great composition.

Here are the ABCs of Frog and Porthole from JC’s. They are almost identical, so we need more information about the tune to decide if it’s Bobby’s or Paddy’s.

X: 31
T:Paddy Fahy’s
T:Hairy Chested Frog, The
M:C|
L:1/8
C:Paddy Fahy
R:reel
K:Ddor
DE|:~F3E FGAG|~F3G EDCE|EFFE FGAG|FDEC DCA,C|
~F3E FGAB|cAGF EDCE|DEFG AddB|cAGF EDCE:|
|:Dddc dcAG|~F3G EDCE|Dddc dcAG|Addc d2de|
^fd~d2 dcAG|~F3G EDCE|DEFG AddB|cAGF EDCE:|

X:398
T:Porthole of the Kelp, The
R:reel
C:Bobby Casey
M:C|
K:Ddor
DE|:~F3E F2DE|FEFG ECCE|F2DE FGAG|FDEC A,DDE|
~F3E FGAd|cAGF EDCE|DEFG AddB|cAGF EDCE:|
|:Dddc dcAG|~F3G EDCE|Dddc dcAG|Addc d2de|
eddc dcAG|~F3G EDCE|DEFG AddB|cAGF EDCE:|

to add the confusion, there is a tune in Henrik Norbeck’s collection (tube 451) called "
T:Hairy Chested Frog, The
R:reel
C:Bobby Casey
Z:id:hn-reel-451
M:C|
K:G
but as you said Slainte, the most important is to enjoy playing it .
I think the confusion comes from the fact that there is a Paddy Fahey’s reel very close to this tune. The one played as a slow reel on Arcady’s many happy returns" after Paddy Ryan’s.

Either way, this tune already exists on the database at https://thesession.org/tunes/263

I think it’s unlikely that this was composed by Paddy Fahy for 2 reasons:
1) Paddy Fahy never bothered naming his tunes, and
2) He often played and popularised his versions of other people’s compositions. An example is that reel in G that goes G,2B,D GBdB|c2ag fgdc… which I think was written by Ed Reevey.

There’re many possibilities for the variations of this tune, so I didn’t notice it’s already on this database. Should I ask Jeremy to remove this one?

Likely he would have already removed it and sent you a note with why, if Jeremy wanted it gone, slainte!

Zina

Confusion reigns supreme, but I’m positive this is a Bobby Casey composition, and not Paddy Fahy, and here’s the evidence.
I’ve listened to Enda Scahill’s playing of this tune - ( a fine CD , that), and also the following sources :
Sleeve notes for "Bakerswell" ‘s CD - by Sean Potts, formerly of the Chieftains: "Bobby Casey was born in Co. Clare, and he composed "The Porthole Of The Kelp". John Kelly Jnr., who has Clare connections himself, and John McEvoy have been playing Bobby’s tune with "The BoysOf Portaferry", and "The Old,Worn,Torn Petticoat" as a set at their frequent sessions in Dublin." It’s the same tune.
From sleeve notes with "Happy To Meet", by PJ Crotty, James Cullinan, and Carol Cullinan: "I learned the first tune from fiddle player Bobby Casey, who composed it". It’s named "The Porthole In The Kelp", but again,it’s the same tune.
These are all highly respected traditional Irish musicians,who knew Bobby Casey personally.
As I said before, it’s also attributed to him in David Lyth’s book - see previous.
I do not believe this is one of Paddy Fahy’s tunes, and furthermore, out of the 25 Paddy Fahy tunes listed as appearing in the"Recordings" list, I can guarantee that 17 of them are not this tune. I haven’t heard the others.
To confuse matters even more, the only recording I have heard of a tune called "The Hairy Chested Frog" is by Tommy Keane, and it’s a different tune altogether !
As to whether or not it should be removed, I think it should, because it’s already in the database, having been posted already by Zina.
Sorry,slainte - nothing personal in this, and I hope I haven’t caused offence. Keep posting the tunes.
We all agree it’s a fine tune, but I have strong opinions on composers being given credit for their work. All the best.

I agree, it’s the same tune as the one that’s already there.

Does anyone know the other "Hairy Chested Frog" well enough to post it? I don’t really want to request it formally in case this confusion arises again.

Sorry to be late to be back here. I’ve just contacted Jeremy, and he replied we’ve got many useful comments for the tune on this page, so he might not remove it.

Cheers to Mark for pointing out it’s already on the database. I need to be more careful to submit tunes. I also appreciate Paul-Leray and Kenny’s comments. Now I agree this is Bobby Casey’s composition. Thanks Zina and Jeremy for your kindness.

I forgot to mention Seamus Egan also recorded this tune on the banjo in his "A Week in January," but again he didn’t name it.

I received an e-mail from Claddagh records this morning, which mentions a new CD by one Sean Casey - son of the late Bobby.
Title of the CD is - wait for it - "The Porthole Of The Kelp". If anyone gets hold of it, could they check out the sleeve-notes, then we can all get some peace ! :)

James Kelly taught this tune to his fiddle class at Willie Clancy Week in ‘00. The name he gave is what you’ve listed here, and he credited it to Bobby Casey. He said that Bobby and some other Clare bloke were walking along the beach one day and he spotted a ship’s porthole laying among the kelp, whence the name. One might’ve guessed that I suppose. Can’t vouch for the truth of it—it’s just what JK said…

according to John McEvoy one of Bobby Caseys relatives found the port hole of the sunken ship Kelp on the beach. he brought it home, cleaned and varnished it and put it on the wall of his house. Sitting under it and playing Bobby got this tune and so he named it …

Here is the version John McEvoy tought to his class at Willie Week 03 …. it is a little bit different to Zina

Yeah, it is. I just came across Bobby Casey’s playing of this tune, which was on the air three months ago, and he himself explained about the title as what’s informed above. You can still listen to it: http://www.rte.ie/radio1/story/1015163.html Click for the show on 7th August. I think it will be available for another few weeks.

https://thesession.org/tunes/1533 - many good comments on this tune there as well.

This is the first tune in track 9 on Enda Scahill’s "Pick It Up" album. He plays it as a slow reel and doesn’t give a title for it.

This midi and sheet music version isn’t the version it is on "If the Cap Fits."

According to Paddy O’Brien, the Kelp was a spanish sailing ship that sank somewhere off the coast of Ireland on the voyage home around the northern end of the British isles after the Spanish Armada failed.

The connection with the Spanish Armada seems far-fetched. Aside from "kelp" being a very odd name for the Spanish to use for a ship (not being a Spanish word, for example), the rather comprehensive Wikipedia article doesn’t mention it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Armada_in_Ireland

In the Ceilidh house show that slainte mentioned three years ago, Casey says that Kelp was the name of the ship. I think he says it was his cousin who found the porthole. No mention of the Armada that I can remember.

Hairy Chested Frog is a Bobby Casey tune as posted above in G. Porthole of/in the Kelp is also a Bobby Casey tune posted here in Ddorian. This is simple stuff, guys. Do your homework.
Btw, no Armada ship was ever named the Kelp. That’s just common sense and their is also the historical evidence or lack thereof. Ceilidh House was correct in their history of the tune name.

We did our homework. We sorted this out with "slainte" in 2004. The names attached to Irish tunes is not simple, otherwise there wouldn’t be so much confusion, but if you’re such an expert, there are plenty "Gan Ainms" around here which I’m sure you could identify.

Yeah, and to be fair on slainte, to date he’s posted 181 tunes, whereas you’ve only posted 5, Aiki. Don’t you think that rather increases his odds of posting the odd duplicate posting?

Not to mention the fact that you posted Soldier’s Joy with no hint of irony. For me that instantly invalidates any opinions you might have on any kind of music, let alone Irish music. :-D

First off, with due respect to slainte, I was referring to him not you, Kenny. So, easy on the tone. The fact that this is what most would consider to be a more recent composition makes it easier to identify as opposed to a 200 year old unknown reel. No confusion necessary with a Bobby Casey tune. Btw, I’m sure I could sit down at a good many of the gan ainm’s and sort them out if I weren’t gigging so much. Dow, this isn’t about fairness or attacks or tune correctness ratios. I understand your cheekiness regarding Soldier’s Joy, but one must admit the popularity of the tune is unchallenged. For that reason, it should be in The Session’s database. It’s certainly not my favorite tune, but I won’t refuse to play it. I would also mention that I most recently played this tune in a session led by Grada and other well-known Celtic musicians. I guess it’s not beneath them starting it off in a session. One might question your sanity whilst playing anything Northumbrian, Dow :). My friends in England hate the stuff, LOL ;) Slainte chugat!

Why do you find fault with this post now? As Kenny wrote, we’ve sorted it out more than 3 years ago. I’ve been doing more sophisticated research, so please don’t reopen old sores!

It’s actually much more difficult to track down the source and the original title of a recent compositions. Think about John Brady’s "McIntyre’s Fancy": https://thesession.org/tunes/819 Few people knows its true composer and its original title. You have much less reliable sources of infomation on the tune unlike old tunes, so if someone give a new title, it takes less time to be accepted rather than another "gan ainm," and it takes more time to be corrected if it’s completely wrong. That’s the case with this B. Casey tune too. Someone else had already confused this tune with another B. Casey tune and even Paddy Fahy tunes before I posted it.

Yes Aiki, one might question my sanity. But then again, I don’t pretend to be anything other than insane.

Patrick Ball plays a tune called "Bobby Casey’s" on his album Fair Play, but it’s absolutely nothing like this one, and I can’t find his version elsewhere on this website.

Is it this one, lighthouse?

https://thesession.org/tunes/270#comment995

The ‘Bobby Casey’s’ on Kevin Burke’s ‘If the cap fits’ is
https://thesession.org/tunes/9987/comments#comment476099

pchaffee above has the right story of the tune title (as others do) - The Porthole of the Kelp is the name. I asked Bobby Casey himself, at the Willie Week, the year before he died.

Charlie Piggott has done/is doing some research and he can’t find a record of a boat/ship called the Kelp. There was one called the Kelpie though.

Anyone know where the Kelp was from?

Bobby told me this tune was composed by his Uncle Scully Casey

played grandly by PJ and Martin Hayes here:

http://youtu.be/7MrtctwuVCY

play video

‘Bobby told me this tune was composed by his Uncle Scully Casey’

Scully was Bobby’s father. Maybe you misheard and he was talking about Thady?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv45vnQaUaQ

play video

(first tune)

This is called "Sheaf of Wheat" on the Ciorras album *Silver Lining*, played with a slightly different B part:

|: F2DE F2DE | FEFG ECCE | F2DE FGAG | FDEC A,DDE |
F2DE FGAB | cAGF EDCE | DEFG A2dA |1 cAGE EDDE :|2 cAGE EDDA ||
|: ~d3c dcAG | FEFG ECCE | Dddc dcAG | Addc ~d3e |
efed dcAB | cAGF EDCE | DEFG A2dA |1 cAGE EDDA :|2 cAGE EDDE ||

I have edited the first setting of the tune, which is now closer to what I’ve been trying to play on the D whistle along with fiddlers in sessions. I believe Peadar O’Loughlin and Maeve Donnelly recorded this tune in Amin, but there’s nothing like the composer’s own version in the original key.

Now that Céilí House Archive 2004 is defunct, I have uploaded Bobby Casey’s playing of it onto SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-roving-bachelor/bobby-casey-the-porthole-of-the-kelp

I did a bit of research and found it’s not from Bobby Casey’s commercial recording "Taking Flight" (1979).

The recording by Téada (Ainneoin Na Stoirme / In Spite Of The Storm) has this in Gdor rather than Ddor. Still sits quite nicely on mandolin.

Here’s a really nice take on this tune. Fiddle & guitar, studio recording.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S5KcBiiEL0

play video

The first tune from a set played by Ciorras here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U5otcJKLUw

play video

I don’t know what the specific title of the tune is, since Google can’t find me the names in that set. So please, correct me if I’m wrong.

I transposed it up a whole step to play in my D whistle and made the following note change:
Measure 8, the first 8th should be a B below the staff (B3), and the 2nd is the E (E4).

Update, I’m a doof.

The Porthole of the Kelp.
https://thesession.org/tunes/263

I wish I could delete this myself to hide my shame…

Was that title based on the scene from Annie Hall? :)

Re The Hairy Chested Frog - this was a name Bobby used if he didn’t have a name or just wanted to stick a spanner in the works. There is no such tune!

There is now - has been for over 12 years : https://thesession.org/tunes/3051

As an aside, "Archivist", watch your mail box for a private message later today - have to go out just now.
A’ the best, Kenny

Played by Seamus Egan on banjo :

https://youtu.be/0__oamLxJGc

play video