Annotation:Jackson's Combs

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JACKSONS' COMBS. A group of tunes from Donegal attributed to the Bundoran Jacksons, which includes some tunes attributed to the Limerick uilleann piper Walker (sometimes 'Walter') Jackson. It seems that a branch of the Jackson family moved from Mayo to Donegal early in the 19th century, and had a number of talented musicians on fiddle and pipes, who toured the county playing at fairs and other gatherings. The tune repertoire of the family was taken up by Donegal lilters (who at the time provided most of the music for local dancing by their lilting of tunes) who would sometimes hum through paper-and-comb to imitate the sound of the pipes. These tunes became collectively known as "The Combs" or "Jacksons' Combs," and included such titles as "Jackson's Hi-Ho." (See also note for "Kitchen Comb.")

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