The Ballyfin polka
Also known as The Ballydesmond, The Ballyfin No. 2, Donncha Lynch’s.
There are 4 recordings of this tune.
The Ballyfin has been added to 2 tune sets.
The Ballyfin has been added to 53 tunebooks.
Fifteen comments
Name of Polka
This polka is the second polka in a polka medley titled “Ballyfin Polkas” recorded by The
Chieftains in their CD WATER FROM THE WELL
The other two polkas in “Ballyfin Polkas”
Thanks for posting this one!
The other two are “Gurteen Cross” (already here on thesession.org) and “Peggy Ryan’s Fancy” (in Henrik Norbeck’s tune collection elsewhere on the web).
I found a variation of yours also in Norbeck’s collection, entitled “Ballydesmond Polka” with the alternate title “Donncha Lynch’s” (#69 in his polka listing).
Anyone got the chords for ballydesmonds polka Dmix
Its the one cooney and begley play its hard to suss out a tonality for it especially the B part as it just seems to drift from one thing to another
Re: Anyone got the chords for ballydesmonds polka Dmix
Irish tunes don’t have specific chords that go with them … though they do have keys and modes…
just play whatever feels right and make sure it is tasty.
Whatever you do, don’t play an ascending scale of chords, or you are sure to get a look from at least one musician who is sick of that progression 😎.
Re: Anyone got the chords for ballydesmonds polka Dmix
Not the answer i was looking for sorry.
Im ok at backing and have knowledge of modes keys but this tune is just a white elephant.
Re: Anyone got the chords for ballydesmonds polka Dmix
OK, can you show me the dots via a link, I’ll make a recording for you with some chords and the tune.
--Eliot
Re: Anyone got the chords for ballydesmonds polka Dmix
Chords to the B part
On the Chieftains‘ recording of this polka, the A part is chorded in D mix, and the B part in D major (as suggested by the C#’s in the melody). Therefore the A part is dominated by D and C chords, and the B part by A and D chords. Odd, but cool.
The Ballydesmond Polka
This is a polka version of The Beauty Spot: https://thesession.org/tunes/1270
or vice versa?
There’s a slightly different version here https://thesession.org/tunes/298
Getting more confused how many of these are there ?
This is not one of the ones numbered 1, 2 & 3 on the CCE Foinn Seisiún CD 1
“The Balyfin Polka No. 2”
This is the second polka of the set called “Ballyfin Polkas”, track 14 of:
“The Chieftains: Water from the Well”
https://thesession.org/recordings/192
Should it have been in the ‘comments’? ~ It’s already here twice in one form or t’other 😏
“The Ballydesmond Polka”
Submitted on September 29th 2001 by Bloomfield.
https://thesession.org/tunes/298
https://thesession.org/tunes/298/comments
“The Ballydesmond Polka”
Submitted on October 11th 2004 by Jane Scott.
https://thesession.org/tunes/3681
Hmmmmmm? 😎
“The Balyfin Polka No. 2” ~ a different version
Submitted on January 20th 2012 by ceolachan.
https://thesession.org/tunes/11708
“The Balyfin Polkas” 1 & 3
1. ) “The Ballyfin Polka No. 1”
Submitted on January 18th 2012 by ceolachan.
https://thesession.org/tunes/11702
3. ) “Gurteen Cross” / “St. Mary’s Polka” / “The Ballyfin Polka No. 3”
Submitted on April 2nd 2003 by Bannerman.
https://thesession.org/tunes/1564