Annotation:Mountain Lark (4) (The)

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MOUNTAIN LARK [4], THE ("An Fuiseog On Sliab" or "Fuiseog an tSléibhe"). AKA and see "Connacht Rangers (The)," "Colamór Súgach (An)," "Father Henebry's Reel," "Frieze Kneebreeches (The)," "Gauger (2) (The)," "Lady O'Brien's Reel," “New Tobacco,” "O'Connell's Reel (1)," "Steampacket (The)," “Touhey’s Favorite.” Irish, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Breathnach, Mitchell): AAB (O'Neill). The tonality is modal and fluid throughout the tune. Breathnach (1963) thinks Roche's setting (called "An Colamór Súgach") to be poor.

Sources for notated versions: piper Willie Clancy/Liam Mac Flannchadha ((1918-1973, Miltown Malbay, west Clare, Ireland) [Breathnach, Mitchell]; "Delaney" [O'Neill]—Uilleann piper and tin whistle player Bernard Delaney, originally from Tullamore, County Offaly, was largely self-taught. He came to America in 1880, eventually landing in Chicago where he became a policeman and Chief O'Neill's brother-in-law. O'Neill devotes a couple of pages to him in Irish Minstrels and Musicians (1913, pp. 310-313). He retired in 1912 to Mississippi, on the Gulf of Mexico, and died around 1923.

Printed sources: Breathnach (CRÉ I), 1963; No. 84, p. 37. Mitchell (Dance Music of Willie Clancy), 1993; No. 45, p. 55. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 1244, p. 234.

Recorded sources: Regal Zonophone G23380 (78 RPM), Michael Grogan (1937. 1st tune in medley, followed the "Traveler (The)"). Topic TSCD604, Michael Grogan – "Past Masters of Irish Dance Music" (2000. Various artists).

See also listing at:
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [1]