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X:1
T:Silver Spire
M:4/4
L:1/8
R:Reel
K:D
A,C|D2 FE DFAc|dcde fdAF|GABG FADF|(3GFE FD EGFE|!
D2 FE DFAc|dcde fdAF|GABG FADF|EDCE D2:|!
|:z2|A,B,=CD EFGE|FDEF GABc|dcdA Bcde|fdgf ecAc|!
defd ceAc|dcdB AFDF|GABG FADF|EDCE D2:||
SILVER SPIRE, THE (An Spiora Airgid). AKA and see “Bennett's Favorite,” "Great Eastern Reel," "Grondeuse (1) (La)," "John Brennan's Reel." Irish, Reel (whole or cut time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB (most versions): AA'BB' (Taylor/Crack). Donegal fiddler Tommy Peoples’ and Sligo fiddler Paddy Kiloran (1904-1965, who recorded it in a duet with Paddy Sweeney in the early 1930's) versions are much regarded, as is that of the Ballinakill Ceili Band (recorded on a 78 RPM) in which it is played as a hornpipe. Since no earlier record of the name “Silver Spire” occurs earlier than 1931 Killoran recording, it may be speculated that it was a tune that had become detached from its name, and the Killoran, Sweeney or the record company decided to call it after the then-current New York City engineering marvel, The Empire State Building, completed that same year or its rival skyscraper the Chrysler Building, completed in 1930 (the Chrysler even has a silver spire adorning its top). Other suggestions are that the title is a corruption of the similar title of another Irish reel, “The Silver Spear,” which migrated to the “Great Eastern” tune.
Paddy Killoran.
Additional notes
Source for notated version: - fiddler Jean Carignan (Montreal, Canada) [Brody]; accordion player Sonny Brogan (County Sligo/Dublin, Ireland) [Breathnach]; fiddler Brendan Mulvihill (Baltimore, Md.) [Mulvihill].
Printed sources : - Alewine (Maid that Cut Off the Chicken’s Lips), 1987; p. 31. Breathnach (CRÉ I), 1963; No. 164, p. 65. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; p. 256. Mallinson (100 Essential), 1995; No. 17, p. 16. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 140, p. 38. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pp. 35 & 73. Taylor (Where’s the Crack), 1989; p. 16. Taylor (Traditional Irish Music: Karen Tweed’s Irish Choice), 1994; p. 29.
Recorded sources: -DMP Records, Karen Tweed – “The Silver Spire” (1994). Front Hall 020, Alister Anderson - "Dookin' for Apples" (appears as "Great Eastern Reel"). F&W Records 5, Canterbury Country Orchestra - "Mistwold." Fretless 122, Donna Hinds - "Old Time Fiddling 1976" (appears as "La Grondeuse"). Green Linnet 1022, Tara Ceili Band - "Irish Music: The Living Tradition, Vol. 2" (appears as "John Brennan's Reel"). Green Linnet GLCD 1149, Joe Derrane – “Give Us Another” (1995). Mulligan 017, "Molloy, Peoples, and Brady" (appears as "John Brennan's Reel"). Nimbus NI 5320, Tommy Peoples - “Fiddles Sticks: Irish Traditional Music from Donegal” (1991). Philo 1153, “Sharon Shannon” (appears in the medley “Glentown”). Philo 2001, "Jean Carignan" (appears as 2nd tune of "Pat Sweeney's Medley," learned from a recording of fiddlers Patrick Sweeney and Paddy Killoran). Rounder 1123, Paddy Killoran & Patrick Sweeney - “Milestone in the Garden” (a reissue of the 78 RPM recording. “Silver Spire” is contained in the medley beginning with “Farrell O’Gara”). Shanachie 79017, John & Phil Cunningham - “Against the Storm” (1980). Shanachie 79064, Matt Molloy – “Heathery Breeze” (1999). Smithsonian Folkways SFW 4081, Brian Conway – “First Through the Gate” (2002. Learned from New York fiddler Andy McGann). Paddy Killoran - “Paddy Killoran’s Back in Town.” Tartan Tapes CDTT1004, Connaillaigh – “Heat the Hoose” (1998). Yazoo Records, Paddy Killoran & Paddy Sweeney – “The Wheels of the World, vol. 2.”
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