Annotation:Jim Kennedy's Favorite
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JIM KENNEDY'S FAVORITE (Roga Seamus Uí Ceinneidig). AKA and see "Bundle of Straw (The)," "Corry Boys (The)," "Follow me to Carlow," "Hare's Foot (The)," "Hare's Paw (1)," "Kennedy's Favourite," "Kennedy's Reel," "Lowlands of Scotland (The)," "Silvermines (1) (The)," "Tralee Lasses (The)." Irish, Reel. E Dorian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AA'B. The title probably refers to Chicago fiddler and park policeman James Kennedy, whom O'Neill called "a sweet, expressive fiddler" (Irish Minstrels and Musicians, p. 368). Kennedy was born in the early 1860's in Ireland, and learned his music from his father. A number of tunes in the early O'Neill collections are attributed to him as source. In a 1906 letter to Alfred Percival Graves in 1906 (printed in "A Few Gossipy Notes" in the Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society, London, O'Neill wrote: "James and Ellen Kennedy, Ballinamore, Leitrim, fine violinists: father a noted player, said to be the best in the country--James is remarkable for his smooth, round tones, and the entire absence of scratching of bow." '
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 1296, p. 243. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 561, p. 104.
Recorded sources:
See also listing at:
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [1]