Annotation:New Post Office (1)

Back to New Post Office (1)

NEW POST OFFICE [1], THE (Oifig Nua an Phoist). AKA and see "Humors of Scartaglen," "Gleanntán Reel (4) (The)," "Tom Billy's Reel (2)." Irish, Reel. D Mixolydian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Treoir): ABC (Breathnach). Editor Jackie Small (CRÉ V, 1999) says the tune is heard in two versions: in two and three parts. Kerry fiddler Denis Murphy recorded both two and three part versions. A version, distanced from the "New Post Office" usually played nowadays, was entered into the c. 1890's music manuscript collection of "Professor" Patrick D. Reidy, sent to his correspondent Francis O'Neill in Chicago around 1902. Reidy was a dancing master originally from Castleisland, County Kerry, but resident in London in the last quarter of the 19th century and into the 20th, who was employed to teach Irish dancing at Gaelic League functions. His manuscript is a collection of thirty-nine tunes played by fiddlers who accompanied dancers at Gaelic League events.

Source for notated version: a radio broadcast recording from Kerry fiddler Denis Murphy [Breathnach].

Printed sources: Breathnach & Small (CRÉ V), 1999; No. 146, p. 73.

Recorded sources: RTÉ CD 183, "Denis Murphy-Music from Sliabh Luachra" (three part version). Shanachie 34002, Denis Murphy & Julia Clifford - "The Star Above the Garter" (two-part version-appears as "Tom Billy's", originally released on Claddagh CC5CD, 1969).

See also listing at:
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [1]
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [2]