The Old Copperplate reel

Also known as The Copper Plate, The Copperplates, Leitrim, The Old Copper Plate, The Pewter Teapot.

There are 80 recordings of this tune.

This tune has been recorded together with

The New Copperplate (lots of times),
The Five Mile Chase (a few times),
Ah Surely (a few times),
The Green Groves Of Erin (a few times) and
Hendon Road (a few times).

The Old Copperplate appears in 3 other tune collections.

The Old Copperplate has been added to 193 tune sets.

The Old Copperplate has been added to 979 tunebooks.

Download ABC

Eight settings

X: 1
T: The Old Copperplate
R: reel

X: 2
T: The Old Copperplate
R: reel

X: 3
T: The Old Copperplate
R: reel

X: 4
T: The Old Copperplate
R: reel

X: 5
T: The Old Copperplate
R: reel

X: 6
T: The Old Copperplate
R: reel

X: 7
T: The Old Copperplate
R: reel

X: 8
T: The Old Copperplate
R: reel

Twelve comments

We were taught this in a Hibernian Centre workshop the other day, usefully so, because I know the tune only from sessions. The version posted by Brad is virtually identical to that which we were taught.

I forgot to add that we followed this tune on from “Jenny’s Wedding”.

Some verion

Hi,
I noticed, that this reel is payed in some significantly diferent ways. I’m looking for old copperplate like this on film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG3HhJ5XAyo

play video

Has anybody notes of this version and can post it here?

Truth Revealed

I’d like to cancel my previous post.
I was missleaded by the titles of the tunes New/Old Copperplate, and now i know that the tune posted here is The New Copperplate, and I was searching for “The Old..” which is called “The New C..” at thesession.org 🙂

One of the Copperplates

Listen to East Galway flute legend Eddie Moloney play this tune: http://www.lafferty.ca/files/flute-geezers/edmaloney3.mp3
From Rich Lafferty’s “flute geezers”: http://www.lafferty.ca/music/irish/flute-geezers

Different metal, different vessel, same tune?

I’ve always know this as ‘The Pewter Teapot’ and find it runs nicely into ‘The Salamanca reel’ .

Re: The Old Copperplate

I realize I may be exposing my ignorance, but here goes. In the second measure of X:1 (aged cAFA), there is an F# which jangles in my ear. It seems to be crying out for an E instead. Yet it is the same in the first three versions of this tune (X:4 cleverly finesses the issue). Is this a feature of the Dorian mode that I need to train my ear to accept? Is the E just wrong?

A Mixolydian variant

In a 1990 TV performance Catherine McEvoy plays both the Old and the New as a set, and she plays mostly C#, not C natural, in both tunes. Thus, more Mixolydian than Dorian.
And it doesn’t clash on the ear. Sounds like it fits.
A course, that was a solo rendition. Wouldn’t work in a session

The Old Copperplate, X:7

Another take, fairly barebones.

Re: The Old Copperplate

Final tune played in this cracking video of PJ and Martin Hayes https://youtu.be/rhf2XhsQw3U

play video

The Old Copperplate, X:8

A version I play often at the session geared towards the banjo. Just some added options for trebles and triplets.

If you are a member of The Session, log in to add a comment.

If you aren’t a member of The Session yet, you can sign up now. Membership is free, and it only takes a moment to sign up.