Five comments
Well, of course, this is not a reel. It’s actually a laidback groove (if there is such a thing), at about 126 quarter notes per minute.
But it is Irish, by Donal Lunny. However, according to some, it’s awfully gimmicky because it’s a bit syncopated here and there. But I think it’s pretty cool - a refreshing change.
Spanish Point—time signature?
I think this is a good (and perhaps rare) example of how "jazzy" and "Irish" can be combined to good effect. (Tripswitch is another such tune.) But is it really in 4/4? Could it actually be 6/8, or 12/8, maybe? I seem to count it in sixes—but then, I don’t really count much, at all, usually just fly by the seat of my pants.
I tried to play this with a guitarist at one point, but he kept getting out of rhythm, and there was nothing I could do to get him back in the groove. That was a few years ago, though, so maybe we ought to give it another try.
Spanish Point - time signature
Sorry to take so long to reply, mickray. Yes, you’re right, it’s not in 4/4, it’s in 3/2 (I think). Of course 18 bars of 4/4 equals 12 bars of 3/2. I got hung up on the syncopation and didn’t use my ears enough. The percussion seems to be playing in 3/4 (or emphasising crochets 2 and 5 of the 6 that make up 3/2).
I’ll repost it underneath in 3/2 (when I have a moment).
Here’s the abc’s in 3/2:
X: 1
T: Spanish Point
C: Donal Lunny
M: 3/2
L: 1/8
Q: 1/4=126
K: Edor
B,/D/E2D EGF2(EF/E/)DLE|z/(E/D)B,D LEz/(E/D)B,- B,(A,/B,/)D2|
A,B,DG- GA2F (G/F/)EDLE|z/(E/D)B,D LEz/(E/D)B,- B,(A,/B,/)D2|
EGAB A2GF- FDB,LG|z/(G/F)ELG z/(G/F)ED E(A,/B,/)D2|
EGAB d2cA- AFB,LG|z/(G/F)ELG z/(G/F)EA FDB,LE|
z/(E/D)B,D LEz/(E/D)TB, A,B,D>(D|B,)A,B,LD z/(D/TB,)A,B, D(A,/B,/)DLE|
z/(E/D)B,D LEz/(E/D)TB, A,B,D>(D|B,)A,B,LD z/(D/TB,)A,B, DB,/D/B,2:|
Spanish Point—tricky rhythm
Thanks, DonaldK. In truth, I am less thrilled with this tune than I used to be, but it still has special significance for me. I was sitting in Mulligan’s in Amsterdam in late 1999—a typical American tourist, if you get my drift—heard this tune, and thought "Now, this is music I could really get into." (Up to that point, my exposure to Irish music was mostly with a punk band that played Pogues songs.) And before long I became the full-time Irish-tune addict that I am today.