John Walsh’s polka

Learned and transcribed from "Patrick Street" CD "Irish Times". The first of three polkas which will follow soon. The booklet says it

Key signature: G Major
Submitted on April 21st 2007 by brotherstorm.

X: 1
T: John Walsh’s
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Gmaj
G>A BA | GE ED |BD ED | BD ED |
G>A BA | GE ED | BD ED | ~G3 z :|
ga/g/ fg | ag ge | dB BA | GA Bd |
ga/g/ fg | ag ge | dB AB/A/ | G2 G2 :|

Tune origin ~ Hi, I learned this polka from Nils Nolte. He refers to it as no-name polka played in a set of polkas followed by ‘Lakes of Sligo’ and ‘Captain Byng’. He seems to have learned them from Eamonn Cotter, but not sure about that.

Enjoy it, Moritz

# Posted on April 21st 2007 by brotherstorm

Key signature: G Major
Submitted on March 11th 2007 by MTGuru.

X: 1
T: John Walsh’s
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Gmaj
G>A BA | GE ED | B,D ED|B,D ED |
G>A BA | GE ED | B,D ED|G2 G2 :|
g2 gf/g/ | ag ge | dB BA|GA Bd |
g2 gf/g/ | ag ge | dB BA|G2 G2 :|

John Walsh’s Polka

According to Fiddler’s Companion: John Walsh is from near Kanturk, County Cork, and has composed several slides and polkas that have entered tradition. In 1999 he was described (by Jackie Daly via Paul de Grae) as being in his 60’s, and as being a nice, quiet, shy man.

This setting is transcribed from CCÉ’s CD "Foinn Seisiún" Volume 2, Track 26, where it is played with the A and B parts reversed.

There’s also a nice recording by Jackie Daly on Patrick Street’s "Irish Times", Track 5. It’s the first tune of the "Newmarket Polkas" set, and played with the parts in the same order as transcribed here.

# Posted on March 11th 2007 by MTGuru

There are a few tunes like this where the A and B parts can be interchanged depending what session you play in - Anderson’s reel is another one that immediately comes to mind. The result of this at a session can be highly amusing as if you have a fairly even split of musicians playing together with the different interpretation of the tune in their heads, then it can go on for ages! It happened with this very polka some years ago at the Monkstown session where local musicians started with the high bit while the visitors were used to starting on the low bit. Never have I experienced a polka being played so many times! I should also say that this is a great polka and I wonder if John has composed any others.

# Posted on March 11th 2007 by Bannerman

X: 1134
T: The Newmarket Polka
T: John Walsh’s No. 1
T: John Walsh’s Polka
T: Walsh’s Polka
R: polka
K: A Major
|: E |
AA/B/ cB | AF FE | CE FE | CE FG |
A>B cB | AF FE | C/D/E FG | A3 :|
|: c/e/ |
ab/a/ ga | ba af | ec cB | AB c/d/e/g/ |
a2 g>a | ba a>f | ec cB | A3 :|

X: 1135 😉
T: The Newmarket Polka
T: John Walsh’s No. 1
T: John Walsh’s Polka
T: Walsh’s Polka
R: polka
K: G Major
|: D |
GG/A/ BA | GE E>D | B,D ED | B,/C/D EF |
G>A BA | GE EE/D/ | B,/C/D EF | G2 G :|
|: d |
ga/g/ fg | ag g>e | dB BA | G>A B/c/d |
ga/g/ ff/g/ | ag ge | dB BA | G2 G :|

Link to the duplication in Gmaj https://thesession.org/tunes/6923

Some bug in the old ABC renderer (The Session uses a different one nowadays, right?) has mangled the fifth measure of the A part. It’s pretty clear what’s meant, though, and the ABC confirms the guess.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egxa2Hn_rcA

play video

2.) Pádraig O’Keeffe’s / John Brosnan’s Polka
Also known as John Clifford’s, Johnny O’Leary’s, Johnny O’Leary’s #1, Johnny O’Leary’s No 1, Johnny O’Leary’s No.1.
Submitted on August 6th 2005 by slainte.
https://thesession.org/tunes/4824

3.) ~ ??? ~ gan ainm polka
Submitted on April 11th 2009 by Bogman.
https://thesession.org/tunes/9520

Thanks for posting these!

I like both parts but feel they’re mismatched.

I think this may be in the Comhaltas books? I got it in Boston, and sure enough Sliabh Notes seem to play it in this order too if I remember correctly. I prefer it switched, but I don’t like playing it 6 and a half times…

For some variety, try switching from octaves on the below the staff B the second or third pass through the tune in the B part. For b/c players, doing the high B on the last bded can be nice if you finish on two push b’s (middle, high) and high G.

X:1
T:John Walsh’s
T:Derrygallen Bridge
S:John F. Walsh
L:1/8
M:2/4
R:Polka
K:G
D|:G>A BA|GE ED|B,>D ED|B,D ED|
G>A BA|GE ED|B,>D ED|1G2 G2:|2G2 G||
B/d/|:g2 fg|ag g/a/g/e/|dB B/c/B/A/|G>A Bd|
g>g fg|ag g/a/g/e/|dB {c}BA|1G2 G2:|2G2 G||

AKA “The Most Popular Tune In The World” (Sliabh Luachra estimate;)

READ MORE about John under “Brogeen”

John Walsh’s No.1 aka Derrygallen Bridge
https://thesession.org/tunes/6923
John Walsh’s aka Monvara Bridge
https://thesession.org/tunes/9520
John Walsh’s aka Daly’s Mill
https://thesession.org/tunes/8918
John Walsh’s aka Goblachan
https://thesession.org/tunes/15266
John Walsh’s aka Brogeen
https://thesession.org/tunes/16020

Спасибо тебе очень большое, Антон.
Go raibh míle maith agat, a Antóin! Maith an fear!