Annotation:Eagle's Whistle (1) (The)

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 EAGLE'S WHISTLE [1], THE. AKA - "The Eagle's Tune," "Fead an Iolair," "Fead an Fhiolair." Irish, March (2/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). One part (Vallely): AAB (Joyce, O'Neill). Joyce (1873) identifies this as the marching tune of the O'Donovans whose ancient lands consisted of the territory of Hy Fidhgheinte, a district lying west of the river Maigue in county Limerick. "I gave a setting of this in my Ancient Irish Music {"Eagle's Whistle [2]"}: and there are two others in the Stanford-Petrie Collection. These three are in 3/4 time: whereas the setting I now give is in 2/4, which is no doubt the proper original form, inasmuch as this was the marching tune of the O'Donovans (see my Ancient Irish Music, p. 53). The Cork MS. has this remark:--'The legend tells that with this tune the eagle whistles his young to rest'" (Joyce). Bayard believes this tune to be the common ancestor to the "Bonaparte's Retreat (1)" family of tunes (see Bayard's (Hill Country Tunes, 1944) note for Bonaparte's Retreat," No. 87), even though most Irish versions seem to be in triple meter.   Source for notated version:   Printed sources: Hannagan and Clandillon, "Londubh an Chairn," No. 22, (lullaby version). Henerbry, Handbook, p. 212. JFSS, VII, 171 (appears as "Frog Dance"). Joyce (Ancient Irish Music) 1872, No. 53. Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Song), 1909; No. 361, p. 166. O'Neill (O'Neill's Irish Music), 1915; No. 41, p. 28 (appears as "The Eagle's Tune"). Petrie, No. 1424. Vallely (Learn to Play the Fiddle with Armagh Pipers Club), 197?; p. 21.  Recorded sources: Flying Fish FF-407, Robin Williamson - "Winter's Turning" (1986). Flying Fish FF 70572, Frank Ferrel - "Yankee Dreams: Wicked Good Fiddling from New England" (1991. Learned from Shetland fiddler Aly Bain). Green Linnet GLCD 3127, Sharon Shannon - "The Best of Sharon Shannon: Spellbound" (1999. Appears as "Fead an Fhiolair/Cry of the Eagles," first tune of "Kids").

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