Annotation:Dever the Dancer

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 DEVER THE DANCER ("Cnuic Tiobraid-Arainn" or "Ua Duibir, an Rinnceoir"). AKA and see "Humors of Whiskey (2) (The)," "Peeler's Return (The)/Policeman's Return (The)," "Deel of the Dance," "Bridge of Athlone (1) (The)," "Dillon's Fancy (2)," "Crossroads Frolic (The)," "Barranna mora Chlann Donncha," "Humors of Derry," "Plearaca an Fuisce." Irish, Slip Jig (9/8 time). E Dorian ('A' part) & D Major ('B' part). Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB (O'Neill/Krassen & 1001): AABB (O'Neill/1850, Tubridy). Flute player John McKenna (1880-1947) and banjo player Michael Gaffney (d. 1972), both originally from County Leitrim, made a famous recording of the tune for Decca in 1934, in which they paired the slip jig (released as "Denver the Dancer") with the double jig "Connie the Soldier." McKenna and Gaffney were fast friends, remembers McKenna's daughter Catherine, who told Harry Bradshaw and Jackie Small that she could not remember a week that Gaffney was not in her father's house playing his banjo or rehearsing new numbers with the flutist for recordings, dances, weddings and other events they had booked.  Source for notated version: "Gillan" [O'Neill]. Probably John Gillan of Chicago, a successful man and an Irish music enthusiast who was a friend of O'Neill's. Gillan is mentioned several times in O'Neill's Irish Minstrels and Musicians (1913), and made several contributions to O'Neill's works.  Printed sources: Breathnach (Folk Music and Dances of Ireland), 1971; No. 10. Cotter (Traditional Irish Tin Whistle Tutor), 1989; 60. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; p. 83. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 1148, p. 216. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 431, p. 85. Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, Book Two), 1999; p. 41.  Recorded sources: Celtic Crossings CD0299-02, Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin & Patrick Ourceau - "Tracin" (1999). Decca Records (78 RPM), John McKenna & Michael Gaffney (1934). DREY 36192, Alan Stivell - "Live in Dublin." Kells Music 9507, Dervish - "At the End of the Day" (appears as part of "Packie Duignan Set").

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