this is a tune I learned a little while back, and it reminded me of one of my cousins, Chris Hannon, who’s got a flute with a solid ivory headjoint. Enjoy, people!
The Ivory Flute
This is a nice tune. I assume the transcription’s from Breathnach is it?
Actually, I THINK I learned it from a Mr. Bill Black at one of the sessions in Cape Cod, though I could be wrong… It was a while ago, so I don’t know where/how/when/what/if it was transcribed.
Anyway, it’s a fun tune, in my opinion. Not too many people know it though, so it’s a little frustrating when I try to play it at local sessions.
Ah, that explains why the only other transcription I can find on the net is by Bill Black. I looked it up on JC’s because the tune is balanced so weirdly that I thought there must’ve been a mistake like the bar lines being in the wrong place or something. What a great tune!
Composer
This tune was composed by the Fermanagh flute player James McMahon, who indeed played an ivory flute. Some more of his tunes can be found in the Hidden Fermanagh collection.