Congress Reel (The)

 CONGRESS REEL, THE (An Chomhdháil). Irish, Reel. A Aeolian (Brody): A Dorian (most versions). Standard tuning. AABB. It is said that this reel was composed in honor of the World Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, in 1932, or was popular around that time and the name became attached. Gerdie Commane, a concertina player from the Kilnamona area, has said that it was written by Joe Mills of Athlone to commemorate the Dublin Congress (Jim Coogan points out the Joe Mills, the accordion player, was from Ballinasloe, County Galway, although he had a brother, Alfie, in Athlone). Philippe Varlet finds the earliest recording of the tune to be from the 1950's. The melody shares similarities with "The Hunter's Purse." Sources for notated versions: piper Pat Brophy/Patrick Ó Broithe (Ireland) [Breathnach]; The Irish Tradition (Washington, USA) [Brody]; New Jersey flute player Mike Rafferty, born in Ballinakill, Co. Galway, in 1926 [Harker]. Printed sources: Breathnach (CRÉ I), 1963; No. 122, p. 50. Breathnach (Folk Music and Dance of Ireland), 1971; 4. Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; p. 73. Cranitch (Irish Fiddle Book), 1996; No. 54, p. 146. Cranitch (Irish Session Tunes: Red Book), 2000; 54. Harker (300 Tunes from Mike Rafferty), 2005; No. 9, p. 3. Mallinson (Essential), 1995; No. 36, p. 16. Taylor (Traditional Irish Music: Karen Tweed's Irish Choice), 1994; p. 31. Recorded sources: Clachán Music CMCD001, "Two Gentlemen of Clare Music." Gael-Linn CEF 069, Seamus Creagh- "An Fhidil Straith II." Green Linnet 1016, The Irish Tradition- "The Corner House" (1978). Green Linnet 1122, Kevin Burke - "Open House" (1992). Shanachie 29008, Frankie Gavin- "Traditional Music of Ireland." Varrick VR-038, Yankee Ingenuity - "Heatin' Up the Hall" (1989). See also listings at: Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources, Alan Ng's Irishtune.info. X:1 T:Congress Reel M:4/4 L:1/8 R:Reel K:A Dorian eAAG A2 Bd|eaaf gedB|~c3d eged|(3cBA BG A2:|| eaag a2 ag|eaaf gedB|c3 d eged |(3cBA BG A2:||
 * Bd|eAAG ABcd|eaaf gedg|eA(3AAA EAcA|BG G2 DGBd|
 * Bd|eaag a2 ag|eaag egdg|(3efg dg (3efg dg|eaaf gedg|

X:2 T:The Congress M:4/4 L:1/8 R:Reel S:Brian Conway Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:Ador eA (3AAG ABcd|e(a{b}a)f {a}gedf|eA (3AAA EA (3AAA|B~G3 DGBd| eA (3AAA ABcd|e(a{b}a)f gedB|~c3(d e)ged|1 (3cBA BG A2 (Bd):|2 (3cBA BG ABcd||: e(a{b}ag a3)g| e~a3 gedg|(3ege dg (3ege dg| e(a{b}a)(f g)edg|e(a{b}ag a3)g|e~a3 gedB|~c3(d e)ged|(3cBA B(G A3)z:||

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