Annotation:Derry Hornpipe (The)

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 DERRY HORNPIPE, THE. AKA and see "Cash's Hornpipe," "The Ladies Hornpipe (1)," "The Londonderry Hornpipe." Irish, Hornpipe. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AA'BB'CC'DD'EE. The name Derry is Gaelic in origin and means an oak-wood. "The Derry Hornpipe" is heard in four, five and six part versions. It was a favorite of uilleann piper John Cash, born in Wexford in 1832 and taught piping by an uncle, James Hanrahan from Tipperary. His wife, Polly Connors, had a reputation as a renowned step-dancer. Unlike many pipers of his time Cash did not have to depend solely on his music for his livelihood, and made a comfortable living tinsmithing and dealing in horses. The turn-of-the-century revival in Irish music helped sustain him, and he took first prize at the Feis Ceoil in 1900. "The Derry Hornpipe" was so associated with him that it was locally known as "Cash's Hornpipe" (Breathnach, 1997). The two strains of "The Elk's Festival" hornpipe are frequently employed as the last two parts of the "Derry Hornpipe." Fermanagh flute player Cathal McConnell thinks the "Derry Hornpipe" may have originally been sourced to the great County Offaly piper Barney Delaney, who emigrated to America and became one of Chief O'Neill's primary sources. See "Streams of Poulaphouca (The)." Frank Roche prints the tune under the title "The Ladies Hornpipe."  Source for notated version: piper Willie Clancy (1918-1973, Miltown Malbay, west Clare) [Mitchell]  Printed sources: Giblin (Collection of Traditional Irish Dance Music), 1928; 62 (appears as untitled hornpipe). Mitchell (Dance Music of Willie Clancy), 1993; No. 131, p. 105.  Recorded sources: Cló Iar-Chonnachta CICD 167, Peter Horan & Gerry Harrington - "The Merry Love to Play" (2007). Compass 7 4287 2, Cathal McConnell - "Long Expectant Comes at Last" (2000. Learned as a four-part tune from his first teacher, Kinawley, County Fermenagh, fiddle and flute player Peter Flanagan).

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