The Old Blackthorn reel

Shouldn’t this be in Dmaj?

Yes it should…those Cnats should be C Sharps.

Key signature: D Major
Submitted on May 31st 2007 by JACKB.
~ /tunes/7290

X: 1
T: Jack McGuire’s
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Dmaj
|: d2 FB AFEF | D2 dc BABc | dF F2 AF F2 | AFEF D2 fe |
d2 FB AFEF | D2 dc BABc | dF F2 AF F2 | AFEF D4 :|
|:defd (3efg ec | A2 cA EAcA | defg e2 fg | abag fgfe |
defd (3efg ec | A2 cA eAcA |defg e2 fg | abag fgfe :|

This is the Old Blackthorn which was recorded by Danú some time ago. It’s one of those tunes from the Sligo tradition (Coleman, Killoran or Morrison - I’m not sure which).

# Posted on May 31st 2007 by Bannerman

Sometime ago I acquired the title “Rising Sun” as an alternative for “The Jolly Clamdiggers” but now realise that this is possibly incorrect as the reel “Rising Sun” already on this data-base is a completely different tune.

# Posted on May 31st 2007 by hetty

and I would think is older than Martin Mulhaire.

# Posted on May 31st 2007 by Kenny

Sounds more like a barndance. There is a nice version on the album from The Blackthorn Band.

On Mick Moloney & Eugene O’Donnell’s album they play it in Gmaj.

And here it is:

X: 110
T: The Blackthorn Stick
M: C|
C: Trad
S: Mick Moloney / Eugene O’Donnell (#6.1)
Z: JQQ (10-23-2007)
K: Gmaj
BA|GDB,E DB,A,B,|G,DGF EDEF|GB,~B,2 DB,A,B,|CEDB, G,2BA|
GDB,E DB,A,B,|G,DGF EDEF|GB,~B,2 DB,A,B,|CEDB, G,2G,D||
GABG AB (3cBA|D2 (3FED ADFD|GABG A2Bc|dBcA BGAF|
GABG AB (3cBA|D2 (3FED ADFD|GABc d3c|BdAc BGBA|]

Key signature: D Major
Submitted on August 1st 2008 by ceolachan.
https://thesession.org/tunes/8772

Nobody can play this tune like Joe Cooley did and if I’m not mistaken he credits the Flanagan Brothers as his source.

Watch a lovely fiddle and banjo duet: http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_290_6_erin_mcgeown_and_colin_greene/

It sounds like the Morning Thrush.

Dat wold be de auld shilleleagh; an auld man’s club!

It was made out of that spiny auld blackthorn wood, alright:
http://www.wildflowersofireland.net/plant_detail.php?id_flower=30#glos
http://www.brc.ac.uk/plantatlas/index.php?q=plant/prunus-spinosa
Same tree, different part is used in the mixing of sloe-gin

http://treegrowing.tcv.org.uk/identify/blackthorn

Frank Quinn (1893-1964) of Greagh, Drumlish, Co. Longford recorded this tune on the fiddle in 1926 under the title “Rafferty’s Reel”. Coleman recorded it two years before him in 1924 entitled “The Real Blackthorn Stick”. They share a similar first part but diverge on the second part.

THIS TUNE SHREDS! First heard this tune on the Chieftain’s album, “Water From the Well.” They play it with “Within a Mile of Dublin” as the first tune. It’s a rippin’ set. I love this tune because it’s kinda tricky for the phrasing, but it isn’t crooked, so you can play it at a dance! Enjoy.

https://thesession.org/tunes/720

Hi Wesley, welcome to “thesession”. If you’re going to post a tune, it’s always best to do a search first to see if it’s already here.
You can either search on the tune title you have, or any of the words in it, or if as in this case, you’re posting a setting from a particular recording, look it up and see if the tune has already been posted - see link below.

https://thesession.org/recordings/192

This particular reel was posted here by Josh Kane 13 years ago.

Version roughly taken from Danu’s “Think Before You Think” album, where it follows their version of the Cameron Highlander. A pretty non-standard version, I’m sure, but my favorite.

As played at the session in O’Ceallaigh’s, Groningen, the Netherlands.

This is my transcription of the Dubliner’s version, played with the Musical Priest.

Wonderful version heard here with Uilleann Pipes & Harp:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ7RaKf6DsI

play video