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O'Neill - Irish Minstrels and Musicians, Volume 1, Issue 1, Page 63

O'Neill - Irish Minstrels and Musicians, Volume 1, Issue 1, Page 63
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periodical Publisher
Regan Printing House, Chicago, 1913
periodical Editor
[none]
periodical Title
O'Neill - Irish Minstrels and Musicians
volume Number
1
issue Content
Irish Minstrels and MusiciansALLISTRTJMS I 1ARCH-Irish Folk Music ExemplifiedDANCING THE BABY4 iii iiJThis ancient war march presents a typical instance of how Irish tunes havebeen both preserved and varied, in their transmission traditionally from onegeneration to another throughout the nation. Buntings setting of Mac DonnellsMarch, printed in his third volume was obtained in 18o2, from a piper at West-port, county of Mayo. It consists of but three parts.A variant of this march with but two strains and named Sarsfields quick-step is included in Havertys Three Hltndred Irish Airs, published in 1858-1859.MISCELLANEOUS MELODIESBefore terminating this chapteralready extended far beyond anticipation,it may not be unwise to take advantage of this opportunity for presenting a fewspecimens of unclassified tunes.From Mr. Quinn, a famous Irish piper of Chicago, his friend Sergt. JamesEarly many years ago learned an odd jig called The Goats Song in whichthe bleating of that sportive animal is an ever-recurring tone. Its antiquity isundeniable for an almost identical version of the tune under its Irish nameCronan Gabh air is to be found in Logans Scottish Gad.I Ij 2By a strange coincidence a roll of manuscript music, after passing throughmany hands in two hemispheres came into the possession of the present writer.It proved to have been originally owned by an OMahonya maternal relativeof Dunnianwa county of Cork. Among its contents was a tune so peculiar andstaccata in its movements that it naturally suggests the jockeying of a child on thenurses knees. The rapid alteration of long and short notes, as in a strathspeyrenders it rather difficult of execution except on the violin.4 U1- rr rIn an age when the knowledge of the customs and social life of our immediateancestors is little more than legendary, few could be exDected to have any concep-tion of the Mumrners of the olden time or their annual festivities.More ancient than the Wren Boys of St. Stephens Day who also had theircharacteristic song and tune the Mummers were according to Walker strollingcompanies of young men and maidens who like the English \Vassailers went aboutcarousing from house to house during the Christmas holidays attended by rudemusicians. Each mummer personates an eminent saint, and before the dancebegins, these different characters form themselves into a circle, and each in histurn steps forward declaring at the same time his assumed name, country, quali-fication and other circumstances, in a kind of rhyme.After scanning the contents of the Bunting, Petrie and Joyce collections ofIrish music in vain, kind fortune finally favored us. Unexpectedly a setting ofThe Mummers March with other valued contributions reached us from thehand of the helpful and versatile Patrick Whelan of Scarawaish Ballycarney nearFerns county of Wexford. \Vere Ireland blessed with more men of his typeGaelic Revivals would be unnecessary.*r t Jr I r fl I.!I r Mc .1 t124ILtii4 t)I 2-Ii THE GOATS SONG(A ?t Crcnc G b4a&) w I -*r 1 krTHE MTJMMTERS ORDROGHEDY MARCH - .
issue Number
1
page Number
63
periodical Author
O'Neill, Capt. Francis
issue Publication Date
1913-01-01T00:00:00
allowedRoles
anonymous,guest,friend,member

O'Neill - Irish Minstrels and Musicians

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