Annotation:Drunken Landlady (The)

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 DRUNKEN LANDLADY, THE. Irish, Reel. E Dorian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. Many have pointed out the similarity of this tune with the perhaps better known "Pigeon on the Gate," which sometimes makes for confusion in sessions. Seamus Ennis is often cited as the source for this tune, and, according to piper Néillidh Mulligan, Ennis collected the tune as an untitled piece in Inishnee, Connemara, in the 1940's, but subsequently heard the title "The Drunken Landlady" from musicians in County Cavan. However, it was not until the 1970's that "The Drunken Landlady" was recorded commercially, and it does not appear in printed collections until the next decade after. Breandan Breathnach included the tune "The Drunken Landlady" (in A Dorian) is his Man and His Music article on Seamus Ennis, from 1982. A similar tune called "The Drunken Tailor" was recorded by accordionist Michael Grogan and fiddler John Howard in 1946.  Sources for notated versions: Donal De Barra (Co. Limerick) [Mulvihill]; Bothy Band [Sullivan]; from the playing of piper Séamus Ennis (Dublin), who learned them from his father, a piper taught by Nicholas Markey who in turn had been taught by the renowned piper and pipemaker Billy Taylor of Drogheda and later Philadelphia [Breathnach]; New Jersey flute player Mike Rafferty, born in Ballinakill, Co. Galway, in 1926 [Harker].  Printed sources: Black (Music's the Very Best Thing), 1996; No. 9, p. 5. Breathnach (Ceol V, No. 2), 1982. Breathnach (The Man and His Music), 1997; No. 2, p. 71. Cotter (Traditional Irish Tin Whistle Tutor), 1989; 63. Harker (300 Tunes from Mike Rafferty), 2005; No. 77, p. 24. Mallinson (100 Essential), 1995; No. 70, p. 30. Miller (Fiddler's Throne), 2004; No. 149, pg. 97. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 5, p. 2. Peoples (Fifty Irish Fiddle Tunes), 1986; 36. Sullivan (Session Tunes), vol. 3; No. 61, p. 25. Taylor (Crossroads Dance), 1992; No. 33, p. 24. Taylor (Traditional Irish Music: Karen Tweed's Irish Choice), 1994; p. 15.  Recorded sources: Atlantica Music 02 77657 50222 26, Kim Vincent - "Atlantic Fiddles" (1994). CCE Néillidh Mulligan - "The Leitrim Thrush" (learned from Seamus Ennis). DMPCD 9401, Karen Tweed - "Drops of Springwater" (1994). Islander Records, Kim Vincent - "Welcome Paddy Home" (1989). Shanachie 79006, Mary Bergin- "Feadoga Stain." Shaskeen - "My Love is in America."  See also listings at: Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources Alan Ng's Irishtune.info

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