Annotation:Skylark (1) (The)

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SKYLARK [1], THE (An fhuiseog). AKA - "The Birds." Irish, Reel. D Major (most versions): G Major (Laufman). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB (most versions): AA’BB’ (Harker/Rafferty). The melody is often credited to Sligo fiddler James Morrison, who recorded it in 1935 on a 78 RPM record for Columbia (in a medley with “Maude Millar”). The tune bears Morrison’s name as composer on the record. According to Philippe Varlet, he originally played it in the key of C major. Some similarities to “St(e). Anne’s Reel” in the ‘A’ part. The “Skylark” is often played in a medley with “Roaring Mary,” in deference to the famous pairing with that tune by the Kilfenora Ceili Band. Accordion great Joe Cooley played the same medley, with the addition of “Humors of Tulla (The)” as a first tune. Hudson Valley, New York, flute player Mike McHale, originally from County Roscommon, played this tune when he won the All-Ireland in 1958.

A skylark features in a tale of an early 19th century uilleann piper named Jack Rotchford of Slieveardagh, Co. Tipperary, who achieved some regional renown for his skill. It seems that a neighbor of Rotchford's called "Old Butler" or Williamstown was visited one day by a friend who was also a skilled piper, and the two of them contrived to bet on whether Rotchford or the visitor was the better musician. To decide the issue, both pipers were summoned and asked to perform right through the night. Both played with consummate skill, and at the conclusion the adjudicator could not decide who had emerged the victor of contest. However, "the bet was settled when a skylark laded on the windowsill and tapped and sang approvingly when Rotchford played, but remained silent while the other contestant played^[1]".

Additional notes
Source for notated version : - piper Matthew Tiernan/Maitiu Mac Tighearnain (Ireland) [Breathnach]; flute player Pat Meehan (b. 1960, Killaraght area, south Sligo) [Flaherty]; “from Gail” [Mulvihill]; John Higgins [O’Malley]; New Jersey flute player Mike Rafferty, born in Ballinakill, Co. Galway, in 1926 [Harker].

Printed sources : - Breathnach (Ceol Rince na hÉireann vol. I), 1963; V. Flaherty (Trip to Sligo), 1990; p. 104. Harker (300 Tunes from Mike Rafferty), 2005; No. 80, pd. 25. Laufman (Okay, Let's Try a Contra, Men on the Right, Ladies on the Left, Up and Down the Hall), 1973; p. 35. Mallinson (100 Essential), 1995; No. 33, p. 15. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 212, p. 57. O’Malley (Luke O’Malley’s Collection of Irish Music, vol. 1), 1976; No. 4, p. 2. Peoples (Fifty Irish Fiddle Tunes), 1986; 21.

Recorded sources : - MKM 7590, Mike McHale – “The Schoolmaster’s House” (2000). Philo 2005, John McGreevy and Seamus Cooley - "McGreevy and Cooley" (1974). Philo F12018, "Jean Carignan - Plays the Music of Coleman, Morrison, and Skinner" (appears as one of "Jim Morrison's Reels"). Siobhan Peoples & Murty Ryan – “Time on Our Hands” (played in the key of C). Sound Records SUN CD30, Seamus Tansey and Jim McKillop - "To Hell with the Begrudgers" (1998). Tara 2006, Noel Hill and Tony Linnane - "Noel Hill and Tony Linnane" (1978).

See also listing at :
Alan Snyder’s Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index [1]
Jane Keefer’s Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [2]
Alan Ng’s Irishtune.info [3]

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↑ Related by Fintan Deere in "Forgotten Pipers of Tipperary" in Treoir, vol. 37, No. 4, 2005, p. 40.

[1] Related by Fintan Deere in "Forgotten Pipers of Tipperary" in Treoir, vol. 37, No. 4, 2005, p. 40.

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