Loftus Jones reel

A Carolan composition, correct? Seems like I’ve run into this in G also, and maybe other keys as well.

So can someone enlighten me as to the life and times of Loftus and why Turlough C. felt compelled to honor him with a tune?

Yes, this is one of Carolan’s many wonderful compositions. (If anyone ever asks me who my favorite composer is, I always answer "Turlough O’Carolan".) The definitive resource about Carolan is "Carolan: The Life Times and Music of an Irish Harper" by Donal O’Sullivan (2nd edition, 2001, Ossian Publications Ltd.). O’Sullivan doesn’t have much information about Loftus Jones under the notes to the tunes, just who his parents were (Thomas and Susanna Jones or Ardnaglass, County Sligo), when and to whom he was married, and that this tune was likely composed near the end of Carolan’s life.
This tune is in A in the O’Sullivan book, but it could easily be played in other keys. I’m not sure what keys I’ve heard it in — I don’t have a good enough ear to tell the key just by hearing.

Patrick Street did a nice version of "Loftus Jones" on their album titled "Patrick Street." I really enjoy the different sound the accordian brings to the tune — very different from straight harp versions I’ve heard. One of the great things about Carolan’s melodies is that most hold up under a wide variety of interpretations, with different tempos and instruments.

Sarah

I believe there is a nice version of this tune on The Irish Tradition’s album called "The Corner House".

Rich

Recorded by Patrick Street on " Compendium " -the best of Patrick Street.

This tune can also be found on the Abby Newton CD, "Crossing to Scotland". I’m planning to play this tune for my brother’s wedding.

He does a fine version on mandolin on his “Strings Attached” album.

The version The Irish Tradition recorded on their album "The Corner House" is in G.

https://thesession.org/recordings/display/993

X: 1
T: Loftus Jones
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Gmaj
|:g4 f2 e2|d2 c2 Bc d2|cBAB G2 z2 |BcBA G2 A2|
Bc d2 cd e2|d2 cB cBAG|FGFE D2 z2|GAGF E2 c2|
|:dcdB cBcA|G2 D2 E2 F2|G2 E2 F2 G2|A2 F2 G2 A2|B2 G2 A2 B2|
c4 d2 z2|cBAG FG A2|G2 dc B2 d2|g4 g2 z2 :|
|:d2 F2 G2 E2|F2 D2 E2 F2|G2 A2 F2 B2|E4 F4|
BBBz AAAz |GABc B2 A2|GABc dcBA|G2 F2 E4|
BEGE BEGE|DFDF DFDF|EGEG EGEG|FAFA FAFA|
GBGB GBGB|GBGB GBGB|ef g2 f2 gf|e4 e2 f2|
gGgG fGfG|eGeG dGdG|cGcG BGBG|AGFE DE F2|
G2 dc B2 d2|AGFE D2 d2|cBAG FGAF|G4 G2 z2 :|

Fits just right in G on the concertina and the flute. On the fiddle it’s nicer in A.

Here is a live version of the tune played by the fantastic Kevin Burke with an hilarious intro…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0jK6313U7I&list=WL71CB4ABC774CA1FF&index=16&feature=plpp_video

play video

Enjoy

I like the Baroque rising tension in the 7th line…

I’ve seen the dots for, and heard played, a version with an extra bar at the end of the second part, basically so that both parts end the same. In fact, it seems to fit better for me with that extra bar. But I’ve also heard more or less the version transcribed here, with one bar fewer than the other one.

Anyone any thoughts? It might make it a trial to play in a session, I should think, depending on what people are used to …

Listen to Paul Dooley play the piece on the wire-strung harp: http://www.itma.ie/digitallibrary/sound/loftus-jones-dooley

Here’s the setting to be found on The Fiddlers Companion (slightly edited ABC). I think this answers Ben’s question - it has 25 bars in the B music as he describes.

X:1
T:Loftus Jones
M:4/4
L:1/8
C:O’Carolan
S: The Fiddlers Companion (http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/LOA_LOM.htm#LOFTUS_JONES)
N:Arr. Jan DeWeese
Z:transcribed Trish O’Neil oneil@cybernw.com
K:G
g4 f3e|d3c BcdB|cBAF G3A|BcBA G2A2|BcdB cdec|d2cB cBAG|
FGFE D2DF|GAGF Eccc|d^cdB =cBcA|G2D2 E2F2|G2E2 F2G2|A2F2 G2A2|B3G A2B2|
c3A dBBB|cBAG FGAF|G2DC B,2D2|G,7:|]|:B|A3F G2E2|F2D2 E3F|G2A2 F2B2|
E4 F4|B3c A3B|GABc B2A2|GABc dcBA|G2 F2 E4|B,EGE B,EGE|DFFF DFAF|
EGEG EGEG|FAFA FAFA|GBBB GBGB|GBGB GBGB|efg2 f4|
e4 e3f|gbgb fafa|eccc dBdB|cAcA BGBG|AGFE DEFD|
G2DC B,DGB|”AGFE D2d2|cBAG FGAF|G2DC B,2D2|G,7:|]

Does anyone have the notation for the edel fox version. Its beautiful too. I heard this tune first from her and cant believe that I yet agaim have fallen for another o carolan piece wen I discovered he was the composer!

“CAROLAN: The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper” – by Donal O’Sullivan, in two volumes
ISBN: 0 9503784 8 8

Volume One, Part Two: The Music – I. Tunes for Patrons –
page 198, tune 64 – Loftus Jones – a transcription in the key of A

Volume Two, Part Three: The Notes to the Tunes – I. Tunes for Patrons – page 40, tune 64 – Loftus Jones

64. Loftus Jones

Loftus Jones was the son of Thomas and Susanna Jones, of Ardnaglass, County Sligo. He married, in 1740, Jane Henry, the daughter of Hugh (or Joseph) Henry, a rich Dublin banker. She died in Italy in August, 1754 and he died in 1781 [Crofton Memoirs, p. 267, footnote, and O.A.]. As Loftus Jones must have been a young man at Carolan’s death, it seems probable that this tune was composed towards the end of the latter’s career. - Donal O’Sullivan

C: Turlough O’Carolan
S: the usual sources, including - “CAROLAN: The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper” – by Donal O’Sullivan, in two volumes
Volume One, Part Two: The Music – I. Tunes for Patrons –
page 198, tune 64 – Loftus Jones – a transcription in the key of A

S: the usual sources, including - “CAROLAN: The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper” – by Donal O’Sullivan, in two volumes
Volume One, Part Two: The Music – I. Tunes for Patrons –
page 198, tune 64 – Loftus Jones – a transcription in the key of A

# Posted by Jemtheflute - May 19th, 2014 - (see above)

C: Turlough O’Carolan
S: The Fiddlers Companion -
http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/LOA_LOM.htm#LOFTUS_JONES
N: Arr. Jan DeWeese
Z: transcribed Trish O’Neil (with minor adjustments)

Z: Chords by Ken Laberteaux