The West Wind reel

Comment later - off to hear Sharon Shannon.

Thought to be an older version of “Colonel Fraser”, the similarities are obvious. I first heard it played by Finbar Furey, but a recording I particularly like is by John & James Kelly along with Mick Crehan on pipes, and Mick Gavin on flute.

I always hear this tune played with no repeat in each part. I wonder if this is really Kenny’s transcription. Claire Keville recently recorded the unusual Paddy Fahy version with only 2 parts.

A great piping friend of mine always played this in sessions, and I ended up learning it. Now it’s one of my favourite tunes, and I’ll probably keep playing it while he’s away for months.

You wonder whether it’s really Kenny’s transcription? 🙂

I’d say it probably is. It looks like his normal transcription style - neat and accurate, with no ornamentation.

Kenny, please inform who recorded this tune with all the repeat in each part.

I can’t remember, “slainte” - it was 3 years ago | posted this. I know I have 2 transcriptions, from different sources, and I’ll need to take a look at them. My initial thought is to agree with you, certainly Willie Clancy plays it “single” - I listened to a recording of him playing it this morning. Incidentally, he plays it 3 times, but only plays all 3 parts the third time round, which is strange. This is on one of the “The Piping of Willie Clancy” LPs. I’ll get back to you on this.

Ronan Browne and Peter O’Loughlin recorded it “single” but the sleeve notes don’t mention the source. Probably W. Clancy, though. John and James Kelly play it the same way with Mick Gavin and Michael Crehan as you know, and John Kelly Sr. is cited as the source with his opinion: this is “more traditional and unspoilt” version of the tune.

I don’t see the problem. It works fine both as a single and as a double. If that’s the way Kenny plays it, who cares if it’s different to recorded versions? Settings from recordings don’t have to be definitive you know, Slainte.

Don’t tease me, Dow. I just tried to clarify who were the sources of the “single” settings, and the reference to recordings is incidental.

By the way, what Paddy Carty recorded as “West Wind” is not this tune. It’s Gilbert Clancy’s (aka. Sean Reid’s): https://thesession.org/tunes/2249

Here’s a unique version of the tune learned from the fiddle playing of Breda Keville.

K: Gmaj
B/c/d GA BGBd|cAFG ABc2|B/c/d GA BGBd|cAFA G2GA|
B2BG c2cA|d2dB cdef|g3a gfdg|fdcA BGAF||
G2Bd gfde|=f2af ABcA|G2Bd gfdg|fdcA BGAF|
G2Bd gfde|=f2af ABcA|~g3a bgag|fdcA BGG2||

Sláinte, Seamus Tansey recorded this tune as a double on ’King of the…

Listen to Willie Clancy and Bobby Casey play the tune together: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyyOBQ-Wl1s

play video

A version I play

Finbar Furey’s version on “low whistle” :
https://youtu.be/DtluiWzfbNc

play video