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Píobaire, An, Volume 4, Issue 33, Page 10

Píobaire, An, Volume 4, Issue 33, Page 10
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periodical Publisher
Na Píobairí Uilleann
periodical Editor
Chairman, NPU
periodical Title
Píobaire, An
volume Number
4
issue Content
19Bar 1 2nd time3331 233331 2333 3331 23333 331 2Johnny Cope Joe Doyle18~ From the Archive ~Johnny CopeSometime in the early 1980s I sat spell-bound in the Hotel in Miltown Malbayas Sean Keane played “Johnny Cope”to a rapt audience. He played in HenriettaStreet in November, along with Conor McKeon, and they included the tune in their set.Quite by coincindence Joe Doyle had givenme a transcription of his playing of the tune acouple of weeks beforehand, so here it is – agreat piping tune.There are two-part versions of the tune inO’Neill’s and Roche’s collections, but onehas to go back to O’Farrell’s Pocket Com-panion to get an early extended (four-part)version in Ireland. Breandán Breathnachincluded a version from Seán Keane in CeolRince na hÉireann Vol III, but PádraigO’Keeffe seems to have been the ultimatesource for the tune as played here in moderntimes. Séamus Ennis learned the tune fromO’Keeffe and passed it on in turn to LiamO’Flynn who recorded it with Planxty.The tune is named for its connection with asong lampooning the behaviour of GeneralSir John Cope who came up against the armyof Prince Charles Edward Stuart at the battleof Prestonpans, September 21st, 1745. Hispoorly trained troops fled at the onset of theHighlanders’ charge, and Cope achieved thenotable feat of having been the first general inhistory to bring news of his own defeat.The song was written by Adam Skirving, alocal farmer, and Seán Donnelly tells me thatwhen the outraged Cope challenged him to aduel, Skirving accepted on condition that hewas allowed the same option that Cope hadexercised at Prestonpans, ie. to run away if hedidn’t like the look of his opponent!Terry MoylanA contemporary print showing Sir John Cope arriving at Berwick to announce his defeat at Prestonpanswww.britishbattles.com/battle_of_prestonpans.htm
issue Number
33
page Number
10
periodical Author
[Periodical]
issue Publication Date
2005-12-01T00:00:00
allowedRoles
anonymous,guest,friend,member

Píobaire, An, Volume 4, Issue 33

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