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O'Neill - Irish Minstrels and Musicians, Volume 1, Issue 1, Page 66

O'Neill - Irish Minstrels and Musicians, Volume 1, Issue 1, Page 66
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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
i i- j IJ ii FJ:II: ir j .i11 H J ) iJ J Jrir 1n rTHE FOXOJIASEfrom ONeills MusicIreland- - pf rrri J i i niti i W fJ. J. lJ r Ji r rn r - 1 JJ Jr Cr I4t JJJ JiJ rriJ I IJJ IjJJ Ir ?irJ rir rrr irr . i J+ r IrrrI - r wr-trIr II L rn r iJ j .iJ4 i J I JJ J- n J)j J J I .J Jj J i j- jji r jJ130Iris / i Minstrels and MusiciansThe Development of Traditional Irish .LV [ usic 131THE BL\CKBIRDDeservedly popular whether as an air or dance tune in the late generations,The Blackbird was one of those allegorical SOfl S much in vogue in the daysof the Old Pretender in the beginning of the eighteenth century.The earliest printed setting of this melody which we have been able to discoveris that found in A Pocket Volume of Airs, Ducts, Songs, Jlarches, etc., vol. i,published by Paul Alday at Dublin about i8oo- 18o3. Included among SixFavorite Original Airs never printed till now we find:THE BLACK BIRDfrom Paul AIday s- A Pocket Volume etcI -Ii _* _-... - - p-.-fl-H - .-VThe following version was taken from OFarrells Pocket Companion forthe Irish or Union Pipes, etc., published about i8o6 and entitled:TIlE BLACK BIRD_Very oldfrom OFarrells Pocket Companion for the Irish or Union PipesSlow vol 1 Book 2 circa 1806V -;.-. I_._. It is indeed surprising to find that no setting or version of this noted tunecan be found in the Petrie Collections of Irish music. The setting of this melody which Bunting credits to D. ODonnell. harper,county Mayo, although obtained in 18o3the same year in which Aldays versionwas printedwas withheld until the publication in 1840 of The Ancient Musicof Ireland, his third volume. This florid setting serves to illustrate what skillfulinstrumentalists can accomplish in the elaboration of the most simple compositions.As Buntings version of The Blackbird with a traditional and long dancesetting are included in Appendix C, of Irish Folk Music: A Fascinating Hobb ,their reproduction in this work is unnecessary.Had we then possessed the ancient versions above presented they also wouldhave been included in that work.Faga;naoid sud mar atct Sc, and [ HE FIRST OFA prominent advocate of traditional Irish music who was enthusiastic inhis praise of a hornpipe known as The First of May was asked if he consideredit a very old tune. Unhesitatingly he replied that it was one of the very oldest.A brief discussion which followed gave the learned gentleman much food forthought for the evidence of its derivation from a niuch older melody was mostconvincing.We can assume that no one will question the antiquity of the air calleda
issue Number
1
page Number
66
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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