The Ballyfin 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

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).

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

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 😎.

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.

OK, can you show me the dots via a link, I’ll make a recording for you with some chords and the tune.

--Eliot

http://www.norbeck.nu/abc/

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.

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

This is not one of the ones numbered 1, 2 & 3 on the CCE Foinn Seisiún CD 1

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? 😎

Submitted on January 20th 2012 by ceolachan.
https://thesession.org/tunes/11708

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