Annotation:Garrett Barry's Jig

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 GARRETT BARRY{'S JIG} (Gearóid de Barra). AKA and see) "Ladies' Fancy (6) (The)," "Tune the Fiddle." Irish, Double Jig. D Mixolydian/Major (Flaherty, Sullivan): D Mixolydian (Harker/Rafferty, Mallinson, Mitchell). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB (Flaherty, Mallinson, Sullivan): AA'BB (Mitchell): AABB' (Harker/Rafferty, Mitchell). Garrett Barry was an influential blind piper from Inagh, County Clare, born to the Irish-speaking community at the height of the Great Famine in 1847. Unfortunately, Barry was permanently blinded by malnutrition and famine sickness as a result of the famine, but he was given the opportunity to make his livelihood through music and undertook the uilleann pipes. He remained a piper until his death in 1899, and although died in the Ennistymon Poor House, he was successful in supporting himself for his lifetime among the farming communities of West Clare. Pat Mitchell says his "memory is very much alive in the locality to the present day." In addition to the jig that bears his name, he is remembered in present day dance repertoire by "Garrett Barry's Mazurka" and "Garrett Barry's Reel," and he is associated with the tunes "I Buried My Wife and Danced On Top of Her" and "Humours of Glen (The)," all of which Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin points out are "still part of the vernacular folk tradition in Clare." There are two main versions of the tune played in modern sessions: the first (X:1, below) is in 'D' mixolydian, while the second (X:2, below) is a version popularized by fiddler Kevin Burke in the dorian mode. "Sergeant Early's Jig" is a related melody. "Garret Barry's Hornpipe" is a the name given to the hornpipe pipe setting of "Garret Barry's Jig."  Sources for notated versions: flute player Sonny McDonagh (b. 1926, Rinnarogue, Bunninadden, Co. Sligo) [Flaherty]; piper Willie Clancy (1918-1973, Miltown Malbay, west Clare), who had the tune from his father who had learned it from Garrett Barry himself [Breathnach, Mitchell]; Chieftains [Sullivan]; Na Filí (1971 recording) [Miller & Perron]; New Jersey flute player Mike Rafferty, born in Ballinakill, Co. Galway, in 1926 [Harker]; adapted from a recording by Bobby Gardiner [O'Malley].  Printed sources: Breathnach (CRÉ I), 1963; No. 46, p. 19. Flaherty (Trip to Sligo), 1990; p. 123. Harker (300 Tunes from Mike Rafferty), 2005; No. 223, p. 68. Mallinson (100 Enduring), 1995; No. 48, p. 21. Mitchell (Dance Music of Willie Clancy), 1993; No. 36, p. 49 & No. 59, p. 64 (two versions). Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 1977; vol. 1, No. 21. O'Malley (Luke O'Malley's Collection of Irish Music, vol. 1), 1976; No. 106, p. 53. Sullivan (Session Tunes), vol. 3; No. 9, p. 4.  Recorded sources: Claddagh 4CC 39, "The Pipering of Willie Clancy vol. 2" (1983). Columbia CAL505-1 (78 RPM), Paddy O'Brien (195?. Appears as "Garret Barry's Favorite"). Green Linnet GLCD 3002, Kevin Burke & Jackie Daly - "Eavesdropper" (1981). Larraga MOR1302, Mike Rafferty - "Speed 78" (2004). Paddy Canny - "Milestone in the Garden" (reissue of original 1959 78 RPM recording). Gearóid Ó Allmahuráin (with Martin Hayes) - "Traditional Music from Clare and Beyond." Tara 3019, Davy Spillane - "Atlantic Bridge" (1987. Appears as part of "Tribute to Johnny Doran").  See also listings at: Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources Alan Ng's Irishtune.info

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