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Captain Kelly reel

Also known as Captain Kelly’s, The Indian On The Rock.

There are 47 recordings of this tune.
This tune has been recorded together with

Captain Kelly appears in 4 other tune collections.

Captain Kelly has been added to 21 tune sets.

Captain Kelly has been added to 137 tunebooks.

Download ABC

Seven settings

1
X: 1
T: Captain Kelly
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
GBAF G2 ge|dBAc BGEF|GBAF G2 ge|dBAc BGGF|
G2 Bd g2 ge|dBAc BGEF|GBAF G2 ge|dBAc BG G2|
dgbg agbg|egdg egde|g2 bg agbg|egfa g3 e|
dgbg agbg|egdg eg de|g2 gd edBd|egfa gedB|
2
X: 2
T: Captain Kelly
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
||b~g3 g2 bg|eg dg eg dg|b~g3 g2 bg|egfa ~g3z|
b~g3 g2 bg|eg dg eg de|gzga gfed|egfa ~g3z||
3
X: 3
T: Captain Kelly
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|:DFEF D2(dB)|AFDF E(B,B,2)|DFEF D2(dB)|AFEG (FD) D2|
DFEF D2(dB)|AFDF E(B,B,2)|DFEF D2(dB)|AFEG (FD) D2||
d2(fd) edfd|BdAd BdAc|d2(fd) edfd|Bdce d2A2|
d2({e}dc) dfed|cAeA fAeA|decd BcAc|1 ,2 (3(Bcd) (ce) dBAF:|["Last time" (3(Bcd) (ce) d2d2||
4
X: 4
T: Captain Kelly
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
GBAB G2 ge|dBGB AE~E2|GBAB G2 ge|dBAd BGGF|
GBAE G2 ge|dBGB AE~E2|GBAB G2 ge|dBAd BGBd||
g2bg agbg|defg agfa|g2 bg agbg|defg agfa|
g2bg agbg|defg afdf|gfeg fdd2|eaaf gedB||
5
X: 5
T: Captain Kelly
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
GBAB G2 ge|dBGB AE E2|GBAB G2 ge|dBAd BGGF|
GBAB G2 ge|dBGB AE E2|GBAB G2 ge|dBAd BGBd||
g2bg agbg|defg agfa|g2 bg agbg|defg agfa|
g2bg agbg|defg afdf|gfeg fdd2|eaaf gedB||
6
X: 6
T: Captain Kelly
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
G2GF GBDF|GBDB AGDF|Gz GF GA(3Bcd|egdB ADBA|
GBAF GBDF|GBDB AGDF|Gz GF GD(3Bcd egdB abgz||
~g2bg agbg|egDg egDg|~g2bg agbg|eafd ~g3z|
~g2bg agbg|egDg egDz|eBea f2df|gbaf GBDF||
7
X: 7
T: Captain Kelly
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
GBAB G2 ge|d2BG AGEG-|GBAB G2 ge|dBAB G2(3GGG|
GBAB G2 ge|d2BG AGEG-|GBAB Gege|dBAB G2(3GBd||
g2bg agbg|d2fd fdad|g2 bg agbg|egfa g2(3def|
g2bg agbg|d2fd fdad|gbag bgag|egfa gedB||

Thirteen comments

Captain Kelly

Not a reel I’ve heard played much, but it’s been recorded by at least three prominent flute players.

Do you know a Scottish flute player called…

Kenny Hadden?

Posted by .

That’s me

Howzaboutye, cos ? Hope all is well. Long time no see.

Very long time ,no see

about 28 years to be correct!I`ve still got the tape of Shetland fiddle music you sent me.

Posted by .

Conal O’Grada, Top of Coom

Second part on Conal’s recording seems to go:
||b~g3 g2 bg | eg dg eg dg | b~g3 g2 bg | egfa ~g3z |
b~g3 g2 bg | eg dg eg de | gzga gfed| egfa ~g3z ||

Re: Captain Kelly

Here is an interesting version of Geraldine & Eamonn Cotter, Maeve Donnelly & Charlie Harris :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYeNxZlqeII


X:1
T:Captain Kelly
T:Captain Kelly’s
Z:Pierre LAÏLY
D:Video de Eamonn Cotter Maeve Donnelly Charly Harris
M:4/4
L:1/8
R:reel
K:Gmaj
GBAB G2 ge|dBGB AE~E2|GBAB G2 ge|dBAd BGGF|GBAE G2 ge|dBGB AE~E2|GBAB G2 ge|dBAd BGBd||
g2bg agbg|defg agfa|g2 bg agbg|defg agfa|g2bg agbg|defg afdf|gfeg fdd2|eaaf gedB||

Re: Captain Kelly

Kenny
No offence, but this sounds to me like Bill McNamara maybe?

I studied under both Bill and Seamus.
Tell me to p** off if you like , just wondering
Pat

Re: Captain Kelly

No Pat - 100% certain it was Seamus MacMathuna, not Bill MacNamara. I was very meticulous about recordings in those days, and have just checked both the tape and the track list of contents which I would have made very soon after. I did realise that the recording wasn’t from the Flute & Whistle recital of that year, but was made when Seamus was invited in to our class as a guest to play a few tunes for the students. I have amended the notes accompanying the “Youtube” clip accordingly.
I would say that Seamus has more of the “Leitrim rush”, John McKenna-style in his playing than Bill Mac, which is fairly evident in that recording.
Bill MacNamara isn’t nearly as well known as he should be, a great player, and a real character. I did a flute class with him in 1982, which was very entertaining as well as musically informative. I doubt if very many people here have either heard, or heard of him. I will try to post an example of his playing on “Youtube” soon, as he never was recorded commercially, as far as I know.
All the best, Kenny.

Captain Kelly, X:3

This is the version from Allan’s Irish Fiddler.
I prefer it in D because it gets you down to that low B on the G string which lets you bite in and get that growling sound I like on a fiddle.

Captain Kelly, X:4

This setting is from Pierre’s comment above. I thought it merited inclusion. It is distinctive especially in the turn.
John Brosnan plays a version that is close to this setting.

Captain Kelly, X:6

Harry Bradley: As I Carelessly Did Stray
One of my favourite tunes and one of the best pieces of flute playing you’ll ever hear. Powerful rhythm and drive.

| G2GF GBDF | GBDB AGDF | Gz GF GA(3Bcd| egdB ADBA |
GBAF GBDF | GBDB AGDF | Gz GF GD(3Bcd egdB abgz |
~g2bg agbg | egDg egDg | ~g2bg agbg|eafd ~g3z|
~g2bg agbg | egDg egDz | eBea f2da | gbaf GBDF

https://youtu.be/FcJfdJaMrtA