Annotation:Darby's Farewell to London

Tune properties and standard notation

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DARBY'S FAREWELL TO LONDON. AKA and see "Josie McDermott's Reel (3)." Irish, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. The tune is the composition of blind flute and whistle player Josie McDermott (Ballyfarnon, Co. Roscommon), who also was a lilter, singer and saxophone player, who died in 1992. David Taylor (1992) relates the origin of the title:

Darby is the nickname of Josie's compatriot Tom Hart; the title of the tune came about when, on missing a plane to Birmingham, they flew to London instead, only to miss the train to Birmingham ...so Josie made up the tune in the back of the taxi traveling between the two cities.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 66, p. 17 (appears as "Josie McDermott's"). Taylor (Crossroads Dance), 1992; No. 11, p. 10.

Recorded sources: Shaskeen - "The Mouse Behind the Dresser."

See also listing at:
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [1]
Hear Josie McDermott playing the tune at the Comhaltas Archive [2]
Hear harp player Barbara Dolye play the tune at the Comhaltas Archive [3]

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Tune properties and standard notation