Annotation:Carolan's Concerto

Back to Carolan's Concerto

CAROLAN'S CONCERTO (Ceolcuirm Uí Cearballain). AKA – "O'Carolan's Concerto." AKA and see "Mrs. Power," "Mrs. Power of Coorheen," "Mrs. Poer." Irish, Air or Planxty (4/4 time). E Flat Major (Bunting, Haverty): D Major (most versions): G Major (Complete Collection...). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB (most versions): AB (Bunting, Haverty, Mallinson, O'Sullivan): One part (Williamson). The air is considered to be the most famous composition of blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670–1738) who fashioned it in honour of Elizabeth Keating, who became Mrs. Power of Coorheen (County Galway) when she married David Power (the subject of another of Carolan's compostions). The tune is sometimes known by the name "Mrs. Power" (she was also the mother of Fanny Power, the title of another of O'Carolan's famous compositions). It was also Carolan's own favorite among his compositions, according to Grattan Flood. Irish Collector Edward Bunting (1773–1843), in the preface to his General Collection of the Ancient Irish Music (London, 1796), says that in this piece and "Madam Cole" "the practitioner will perceive evident imitations of Corelli, in which the exuberant fancy of that admired composer is happily copied." The name 'concerto' perhaps became attached to the tune because of a famous, colorful story of dubious veracity (but nevertheless persistent), retold by Grattan Flood (1906) and Williamson (1976) among others (and critically examined by Donal O'Sullivan), of an incident between O'Carolan and the famous Italian violinist and composer Gemeniani, who was then resident in Dublin. Hearing of O'Carolan's musical skill and wishing to test him, Geminiani sent him a piece of Italian music which he had altered to include very subtle and changes and flaws. Upon being presented with the music through an intermediary O'Carolan listened to the piece and praised it but said, in Irish, "Here and there it limps and stumbles." He instructed the correction of the piece and had it sent back to Geminiani who is then said to have declared him il genio vero della musica. It has been remarked upon that the piece seems to contain influences of various Italian masters, especially Corelli, whose music Carolan was said to have admired. The air was played by one of ten Irish harp masters in competition, recorded the Belfast Northern Star of July 15th, 1792, at the last great convocation of ancient Irish harpers, the Belfast Harp Festival, held that week. See also note for "Annotation:Mrs. Power/Poer" for more on this tune.

The tune was printed in John Lee's A Favourite Collecgtion of the so much admired old Irish Tunes, the original and genuine compostions of Carolan, the celebrated Irish Bard. etc. (Dublin, 1780), where it appears as "Mrs. Poer."

Source for notated version: John Lee's Favourite Collection of the so much admired old Irish Tunes, the original and genuine compositions of Carolan, the celebrated Irish Bard (Dublin, 1786) [O'Sullivan].

Printed sources: Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; p. 62. Bunting (Ancient Music of Ireland), 1796; No. 42, p. 23. Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 154, p. 105. Haverty (One Hundred Irish Airs, vol. 3), 1859; No. 275, p. 137. S. Johnson (Kitchen Musician No. 3: Carolan), 1983 (revised 1991, 2001); p. 11. Mallinson (100 Enduring), 1995; No. 94, p. 39. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 2nd Edition, 2006; pp. 138–139 (includes harmony parts). O'Farrell (Pocket Companion, vol. 1), 1805; p. 16. O'Flannagan (The Hibernia Collection), 1860; p. 5. Howe (The Musician's Companion), Boston, 1844; p. 129 (unnamed tune #1 in a cotillion set). O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; p. 229. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 633, p. 113. O'Sullivan (Carolan: The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper), 1958; No. 154 (appears as "Mrs. Power or Carolan's Concerto"). Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, vol. 1), 1999; p. 41.

Recorded sources: Adelphi 2004, The Delaware Water Gap – "String Band Music." Claddagh Records, Leo Rowsome – "Ri na bPiobaire" (1959). Claddagh CC10 or Island ILPS 9379, Chieftains – "Chieftains 3" (1971). Claddagh CC18, Derek Bell – "Carolan's Receipt" (1987). Gael-Linn Records 78 RPM, Tommy Reck (c. 1957). Island ILPS 9501, "The Chieftains Live" (1977). Outlet 1031, Seán McGuire – "Ireland's Champion Traditional Fiddler." RCA 5798-2-RC, "James Galway and the Chieftains in Ireland" (1986). RCA 09026-61490-2, The Chieftains – "The Celtic Harp" (1993). Shanachie 79023, "Chieftains 3" (1982). Shanachie 79013, Derek Bell – "Carolan's Receipt" (1987).

See also listings 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].