Paddy Fahey’s reel

Seems to be about a half dozen Paddy Fahey tunes floating about, but in Dallas, this one is the king of them all. Pick up the Tir Na Nog CD titled Black Rose if you want to hear it properly. This tune lends itself to being played as a slow reel.

I’m glad that this one has been posted as it’s a favourite of mine and it’s good to hear you like it played slow as that’s my feeling too.

It’s often done a bit too quick for my liking at our local session but it still works and it usually goes into Julia Delaney.
dave

I’ve heard this chameleon of a tune played with some c sharps, and also in Dm with the B notes flatted.

This is the Fahey’s on Call of the Wild….

…with _lots_ of accidentals!

D2A,D FEFG|Add^c d2de|fedf edcA|dcAG FDEC|
DAAG FEFG|Add^c d2de|fedf edcA|dcAG FDD2:|
|:Ad ~d2 ^fded|c2 Gc EcGc|Ad ~d2 ^fded|cBcd ed ~d2|
a2 ^ga ABcA|dcAG FD ~D2|D2 A,D FEFG|Ad^ce d4:|

I’ve read that Maestro Fahey numbered his tunes, yet I rarely see them referred to by number. Why is this? Wouldn’t it be a lot easier to talk about them if we didn’t have to say, “you know, the one that goes ta da diddley diddley do”? I put in a request here for one of the reels and the only way I could refer to it was by its track position on a specific recording.

Is there a list somewhere that ties tune to number?

In the book Ceol Rince na hÉireann, the second part starts:

|:Ad ~d2 ad_Bd|~c3G EDG_B|Ad ~d2 ad_Bd|~c3d edcA …

I think the ad_Bd thing is really beautiful

The G# in the B-part can be played a little flat, but not as flat as a true G-nat.

This is Martin Hayes version from “Welcome Here Again”.

X: 1
T: Paddy Fahy’s Reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Gmaj
BGBd c3 d|BGBd cAFA|BGBd c3 d|fgaf gedc|
BGBd c3 d|BGBd cAF2|fgaf gdeg|fdfa gdgb|
g3 a bgag|fddf ecce|g3 a bgag|fdde =f3 a|
g3 a bgag|fddf ecce|fddg e2 ag|fdfa gedc|

That’s a different tune. There are two transcriptions of it on this site: https://thesession.org/tunes/3346; https://thesession.org/tunes/3738

The link from “Welcome Here Again” pointed to this tune, so I assumed it was supposed to be what was played on the CD. Should the link for that album point to the other Paddy Fahy reel?

Whatever it’s actually called it is what Martin Hayes plays on the CD. Thanks for pointing out the error.

The composer:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddy_Fahy

Pronounced FA-He in Ireland.

The reel on Alan Ng’s site:

http://www.irishtune.info/tune/1499/

same tune in E,
for the convenience of those who ‘still’ play diatonic instruments… ;- )

X: 1
T: Paddy Fahey’s
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K:E dor
E2BE GFGA|Beed e3f|gfeg f2dB|edBA GEDE|
EEDE GFGA|Beed e2ef|g2ag fedB|edBA GEE2:||
e2fe befe|d2Ad FdAd|e2fe befe|dcde fedB|
b2^ab BcdB|edBA GEDF|E2EF GFGA|1 Beed e2ef:|2 BeGE FEDF||

I play a version very similar to the second setting here, in D dorian. Great tune for concertina. I like to play Maghera Mountain after this one.

a version from the playing of Eileen O Brien

From the playing of The Tabs.

Only slight differences here in this version, I suppose, but somehow all the more satisfying to my ear because of them. I love that this tune includes all four strings on the fiddle. The dark, gutsy low start to the tune is quickly elevated to the high “A” on the E string, and is further tempered playful phrases and rocking between strings. As much fun to listen to as to play.

I found this version on the Wild Asparagus “Best of” album. They play many variations as they repeat sets, but this is the foundation version.

Here’a the version I learned in my local session. It’s coincidentally a perfect fit for the nyckelharpa.