Annotation:Bank of Ireland (1) (The)
Back to Bank of Ireland (1) (The)
BANK OF IRELAND [1], THE (Bannc na h-Éireann). AKA and see "First Day in Ireland (The)," "Follow Me Down to Carlow (4)." Irish, Reel. A Dorian or Mixolydian ('A' part) & D Major ('B' part). Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Miller): AA'B (O'Neill/1850, 1001 & 1915): AABB (Harker/Rafferty, Mallinson, O'Neill/Krassen, Taylor). "Bank of Ireland" is a popular reel at Irish sessions today. The first strain is built on a C Major chord at the beginning of each four bar phrase, but resolves to a D Major chord at the end of each. "Bank of Ireland" was recorded in the 1924 by flute player Tom Morrision with fiddler Tom Higgins and melodeon player P.J. Conlon. Although the 'c' note is usually played natural in the tune, the melodeon does not have a 'c' natural note in the scale, necessitating the players to either play the note as a 'c sharp' or modulating to a relative minor key [1]. Researcher Conor Ward finds a version very close to that printed by O'Neill under the title "Follow Me Down to Carlow (4)" in the c. 1885 music manuscript collection of fiddler Francis Reynolds of Gaigue, Ballinamuck, County Longford (albeit "Follow Me Down to Carlow" is a title usually applied to other, unrelated, tunes). Reynold's version is played with two sharps throughout. Ward also finds another manuscript version as "First Day in Ireland (The)" in the c. 1883 copybook of Gortletteragh, Co. Leitrim, musician Stephen Grier. See also note for "annotation:Reidy's Reel."
Sources for notated versions: a recording of Miltown Malbay, County Clare, fiddler Bobby Casey (1926-2000), winner of the All-Ireland fiddle in 1952 and 1968 [Miller & Perron]; New Jersey flute player Mike Rafferty, born in Ballinakill, Co. Galway, in 1926 [Harker].
Printed sources: Cotter (Traditional Irish Tin Whistle Tutor), 1989; 73. Harker (300 Tunes from Mike Rafferty), 2005; No. 56, p. 18. Mallinson (100 Essential), 1995; No. 60, p. 26. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 1977; vol. 1, No. 19. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 2nd Edition, 2006; p. 48. O'Neill (O'Neill's Irish Music), 1915; No. 266, p. 136. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; p. 93. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 465, p. 90. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 1186, p. 224. Taylor (Through the Half-Door), 1992; No. 27, p. 20.
Recorded sources: Comhaltas Ceoltoiri CL13, Tommy Peoples. Decca 12059 (78 RPM), Johnny McGreevy and Pat McGovern (1935). Rounder CD 1087, Michael Grogan - "From Galway to Dublin" (1992. Reissue of 1942 original). Wild Asparagus WA 003, Wild Asparagus - "Tone Roads" (1990).
See also listings at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [2]
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [3]
Hear the 1935 recording by Johnny McGreevy and Pat McGovern at the Internet Achive [4] [5]