Annotation:Old Favourite (The)
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OLD FAVOURITE, THE. AKA and see "Kilfenora Jig (2)," "Micko Doyle's Jig." Irish, Jig (6/8 time) or Slide (12/8 time). Ireland, County Clare. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB (Silberberg): AABB' (Boys of the Lough, Miller & Perron, Songer, Sullivan): AA'BB' (Mallinson). It has been suggested that the title derives from the name a pub, "The Favourite," in Holloway, North London, a rendezvous for Irish musicians and the location of the live Topic recording "Paddy in the Smoke." Source Mac Gabhann/Smith, however, says it is a jig from County Clare, where he learned it (Miller & Perron).
Sources for notated versions: A (Co.) Clare jig learned from fiddler Antóin Mac Gabhann/Tony Smith (County Cavan, lately removed to County Meath, Ireland) [Boys of the Lough, Miller & Perron]; John Keenan [Sullivan]; Laurie Andres [Silberberg].
Printed sources: Boys of the Lough, 1977; p. 26. Breathnach (CRÉ II), 1976; No. 67 (appears as untitled slide). Bulmer & Sharpley (Music from Ireland, vol. 4), 1976; No. 53. Mallinson (100 Enduring), 1995; No. 66, p. 28. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music, vol. 2), 1977; No. 65. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 2nd Edition, 2006; p. 29. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; p. 110. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; p. 149. Sullivan (Session Tunes, vol. 3); No. 16, p. 6.
Recorded sources: Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann No. C18, Tony Smith - "From the Homes of Ireland" (1973. Various artists). Philo 1042, Boys of the Lough - "The Piper's Broken Finger" (1976). Transatlantic TRA 311, Boys of the Lough - "The Piper's Broken Finger." Green Linnett SIF1155, Martin Hayes - "Under the Moon" (appears as "Kilfenora Jig"). Green Linnett SIF3084, Four Men and a Dog - "Shifting Gravel" (appears as "Kilfenora Jig" in the key of A Major).
See also listings at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [2]
Hear flute player Tony Smith play the tune at the Comhaltas Archive [3]
Hear fiddler Antoin Mac Gabhann play the tune at the Comhaltas Archive [4]