Annotation:Piper's Chair (The)
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PIPER'S CHAIR, THE (Cathaoir an Phíobáire). AKA and see “Catholic Boys (1) (The).” Irish, Double Jig. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The tune was named after the sometimes practice of leaving an empty chair at local musician’s gatherings for a noted player who passed away. The Piper’s Chair is also the name of a rock formation at the Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, where in times gone by a piper used to sit and play for tourists. The tune itself is from the Doolin, County Clare, area. Caoimhin Mac Aoidh remembers that Packie Russell used to be very fond of playing there on warm summer days. See note for “annotation:Catholic Boys (1) (The)," by which name it appears in Petrie's collection.
Sources for notated versions: Rod Miller (Antrim, N.H.) [Miller & Perron]; accordion player Sonny Brogan (County Sligo/Dublin), who had the tune from piper Willie Clancy [Breathnach].
Printed sources: Breathnach (CRÉ I), 1963; No. 9, p. 6. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music vol. 2), 1977; No. 1. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 2nd Edition, 2006; p. 32. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 57, p. 77. O’Neill (Music of Ireland), 1903; No. 18 (air setting).
Recorded sources: Outlet SOLP 1010, Na Filí - "Farewell to Connacht" (1971). Shanachie 79033, Paddy Maloney & Sean Potts - “Tin Whistles.”
See also listings at:
Jane Keefer’s Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources []
Alan Ng’s Irishtune.info []