John Joe Gardiner’s jig

A lovely jig learned off the recent recording of Angelina Carberry, who in turn got it from Harry Bradley. Is it on his first album? I haven’t got it yet.

The sleeve notes point out this is closely related to “Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part”: https://thesession.org/tunes/1154 But when I first heard it, I thought it’s similar to “The Castlebar Races”: https://thesession.org/tunes/1205; https://thesession.org/tunes/1160 And there is an interesting tune called “Up Sligo #2” posted by Brad: https://thesession.org/tunes/2272 However, this one is a bit different from any of these tunes.

You’re mad ‘slainte’, but I love it. I had intended on contributing something for you this Christmas but it will just have to sit in with the other offerings. What I’d done to one of the few Japanese melodies I know was unforgiveable, so I won’t be contributing that here… Thanks for your many contributions here and whatever comes your way this Winter I hope it is warm and joyful, with music and laughter… ~ ‘c’

Mad? What do you mean, ‘c’? I just had nothing else to do.

Thanks for your kind words. I’m just curious what kind of Japanese tunes you know. Jig, reel, or strathspey?

So, this is also on Harry Bradley’s first album. Several weeks ago I found it goes nicely after the Tenpenny Bit (Gmaj one), and am surprised to know Harry recorded the two tunes in reverse order.

Listen to Seamus Tansey play tunes and talk about John Joe Gardiner: http://www.rte.ie/radio1/ceilihouse/rams/24july.ram (19:00-36:15) That’s from Ceili House Archive 2004: http://www.rte.ie/radio1/story/1015163.html

john joe was from sligo and was the leader of the siamsa ceili band, band members, including matt molloy called him “the boss”.

i learned this jig from angelina carberry when she did a banjo workshop in belfast, she plays it with another sligo jig “farewell to gurteen ”, i think she mentioned she learn both from harry bradley.

I’ve just heard this jig played by John Wynne and John McEvoy on radio programme “Culan.” It seems on their recent duet album “Pride of the West” and listed as “Happy To Meet, Sorry To Part.” I’m very reluctant to add that as an alternative title, though. If you already have a copy of their album, please inform the source of their version, which is close to what I’ve posted here.

Here’s the comment from John Wynne.

This is a well known trad tune with a few different versions,I believe. I know three versions quite well, and all are great, but i think theres more. The most “mainstream” version was recorded by De Danann an the eighties, and also by Joe Burke and piper michael Cooney. our version comes from Patsy hanly who got it originnaly from flute and fiddle player,John joe Gardiner of Ballymote,co.Sligo. The other version I have was given to me by john Carty. Angelina Carberry also plays a similiar version on one of her recordings. Hope this helps! John Wynne

# Posted on June 16th 2007 by johnwynne

From: https://thesession.org/recordings/2602/comments

Watch Patsy Hanley play this jig: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwZ9dFUSDCs It’s the second tune of the set.

play video

Listen to John Joe Gardiner himself play this jig on the flute: http://dynamic.rte.ie/quickaxs/209-rte-radio1musiccollection-rmc-2009-04-29.smil (starts around 38:27)
The entire programme about John Joe Gardiner is worth a listen.

from The Rolling Wave 2009: http://www.rte.ie/radio1/therollingwave/1251860.html

I have added the setting of Patsy Hanley, according to the video above mentionned.
This has an AAB structure with slight differences between the beginning of each A part.
Sorry if this transcription is thus a little verbose…
Not sure if the GDG are not GEG (and vice versa). And the triplets are not triplets, just to show that a lot of things happened in Patsy’s flute (as in his whole rendition of the tune), as it happens too between the beginning B and d in bars 3 and 7.

This lines up closely to the Priest’s Jig in Breathnach CRE4, No. 18. From Breathnach “A version of Happy to Meet and Sorry to Part (DMI, 78) [and CRÉ II 28].” Source - Unknown Manuscript.