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The Flying Wheelchair jig

Also known as An Chathaoir Rothaí Ar Eitilt.

There are 17 recordings of this tune.

This tune has been recorded together with Port Tom Mor (a few times) and The Spotted Dog (a few times).

The Flying Wheelchair appears in 1 other tune collection.

The Flying Wheelchair has been added to 12 tune sets.

The Flying Wheelchair has been added to 152 tunebooks.

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Five settings

1
X: 1
T: The Flying Wheelchair
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
~G3 GED|~E3 AB/c/d|efg edB|Age dBA|
~G3 GED|~E3 AB/c/d|efg edB|ABG EFD:|
|:GAB ~d3|deB dBA|GAE ~e3|efg edB|
GB/c/d efg|eaf g2b|age dBG|ABG EFD:|
2
X: 2
T: The Flying Wheelchair
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
~G3 GED|DEG A3|efg dBG|~A3 ~B3|
~G3 GED|DEG A3|efg dBG|AGF ~G3:|
|:GAB ~d3|deB dBA|GA ~e3|efg edB|
GBd e2g|eaf g2b|age dBG|A2G E2D:|
3
X: 3
T: The Flying Wheelchair
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
G2 A GED | E/F/GE ABd | e2 g edB | Age dBA |
GBA GED | E2 G AB/c/d | e/f/ge edB | AeG E2 :|
GA/B/c d3 | deB dBA | GG/A/B e3 | e/f/gf edB |
GB/c/d g2 b | aef g2 b | age d2 G | A/B/cG E2 :|
4
X: 4
T: The Flying Wheelchair
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
~G3 GED|EAA ABd|efg edB|Aee edB|
~G3 GED|EAA ABd|efg edB|ABG EDE:|
|:GAB ~d3|deB dBA|GAE ~e3|efg edB|
GBd efg|eaf gab|age dBG|ABG EDE:|
5
X: 5
T: The Flying Wheelchair
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|: GBG GED | ~E3 AB/^c/d | efg edB | Age dBA |
~G3 GED |~E3 AB/^c/d | efg edB | ~A2G ~E2D :|
GAB d3 | deB dBA | GAB ege | efg edB |
AB/^c/d efg | eaf g2b | age dBG | ~A2G ~E2D |
GAB d3 | deB dBA | GAB {d}e2{d}e- | efg edB |
AB/^c/d efg | eaf g2b | age dBG | ~A2G ~E2D |]

Fourteen comments

Yet another fine Charlie Lennon tune

from Kevin Crawford’s "In Good Company". As someone whose tried his hand at writing tunes, I’m in constant amazement of those can do it well. There are few who do it better than Charlie Lennon: The Road to Cashel, Kilty Town, The Handsome Young Maidens, The Dowry Reels, All About Weaving, The Ladies’ Choice, … The list goes on.

Thanks for this charming tune! Since I’m planning to learn it to play to my brother (who is in a wheelchair, and who bowls along at a fair clip!), does anyone know the origin of the title?

Composed by fiddler Charlie Lennon in honour of the late Donncha O Briain who despite his disability became a very highly regarded whistle player.

Doesn’t sound all that major to me. It’s a little ambiguous, but E Minor seems more likely.

Recording of The Flying Wheelchair

I think June Ni Chormaich put this out on an album

this is the way we play it….
~G3 GED|DEG A3|efg dBG|~A3 ~B3|
~G3 GED|DEG A3|efg dBG|AGF ~G3:|
|:GAB ~d3|deB dBA|GA ~e3|efg edB|
GBd e2g|eaf g2b|age dBG|A2G E2D:|

we usually play it after the first pint… (jig)

"The Flying Wheelchair" ~ C: Charlie Lennon ~ crediting sources!?

The Fiddler’s Companion ~ Andrew Kuntz
http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/index.html
http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/FLOW_FLYN.htm

FLYING WHEELCHAIR, THE. Irish, Jig. G Major. Standard. AABB. Composed by Leitrim pianist and fiddler Charlie Lennon in honor of Donncha O’Brien (1960-1990, brother of well-known piper Mick O’Brien), a Dublin whistle player with the CCE Clontarf branch (and piper Mick O’Brien’s brother). O’Brien was confined to a wheelchair by muscular dystrophy for much of his life, although this diminished his playing not in the least! He won All-Ireland titles, recorded a solo LP, taught Irish music, notes Philippe Varlet, all while restricted to his wheelchair. Lennon (Musical Memories). O’Briain (The Golden Eagle, second edition). Green Linnet GLCD 1211, Kevin Crawford – “In Good Company” (2001). Liam Farrell & Joe Whelan – “They Sailed Away from Dublin Bay.”

The transciption given here and under ‘Fiddler’s Companion’ is note for note ~ Philippe Varlet…

"The Flying Wheelchair" ~ C: Charlie Lennon ~ a different take on it

X: 3
T: Flying Wheelchair, The
C: Charlie Lennon
N: for Donncha O’Brien
L: 1/8
M: 6/8
R: jig
K: GMaj
|: D |\
G2 A GED | E/F/GE ABd | e2 g edB | Age dBA |
GBA GED | E2 G AB/c/d | e/f/ge edB | AeG E2 :|
|: D |\
GA/B/c d3 | deB dBA | GG/A/B e3 | e/f/gf edB |
GB/c/d g2 b | aef g2 b | age d2 G | A/B/cG E2 :|

Another transcription

After Charlie Lennon’s gig with The Tune Makers, 2012.

X: 1
T: Flying Wheelchair, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Gmaj
~G3 GED|EAA ABd|efg edB|Aee edB|
~G3 GED|EAA ABd|efg edB|ABG EDE:|
|:GAB ~d3|deB dBA|GAE ~e3|efg edB|
GBd efg|eaf gab|age dBG|ABG EDE:|

Donnacha O’Briain - This is the subject of Mr Lennon’s tune

http://youtu.be/YIJnafX5ubw


One of my favourite musicians and a big influence. Stay watching ‘til 2:35 as things move up a little…

BT

Re: The Flying Wheelchair

A.good tune. Needs some skill as not simple and goes at a quick pace. I’d value a wheelchair as confined depressingly to my flat. Wldnt feel safe in a flying one though, poor me, am needing to be cautious with lousy broken hip.

The Flying Wheelchair, X:5

From the playing of Litha.

The first time through they play it nearly identical to X1, the second time through they change it up a bit. These are some (not all) of those variations.