Annotation:Tom Billy's Polka (1)

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TOM BILLY'S POLKA [1] (Polca Tom Billy). AKA and see "Ballydesmond Polka (3)," "Gneevequilla Polka." Irish, Polka (2/4 time). Ireland, County Kerry. A Dorian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AA'BB. The title honors Tom Billy Murphy of Kingwilliamstown (1879-1944), an influential fiddler in the Sliabh Luachra region of the Cork/Kerry border. Murphy was a peripatetic (though not homeless) individual who traveled throughout the region on his donkey, who, as the story goes, knew without guidance exactly which houses to go to for a welcome. Famed 20th century fiddlers Pádraig O'Keeffe and Denis Murphy played the polka in a medley along with "As I Went Out Upon the Ice," "Campdown/Camptown Races (2)," and "Jimmy Doyle's Polka (1)." The polka is also frequently heard as part of the set “Ballydesmond Polkas,” the third tune in the series.

Additional notes
Source for notated version : - Fiddler Paddy Cronin (Co. Kerry) [Breathnach]; Pádraig O'Keeffe & Denis Murphy (Co Kerry) [Beisswenger]; Connie O'Connell (County Cork) [Beisswenger].

Printed sources : - Beisswenger (Irish Fiddle Music from Counties Cork and Kerry), 2012; pp. 37 & 121. Breathnach (Coel Rince na hÉireann vol. III), 1985; No. 73, p. 36.

Recorded sources : - Outlet Records OAS 3002, Paddy Cronin - "Kerry's Own Paddy Cronin" (1977). RTE 174CD, Pádraig O'Keeffe & Denis Murphy - "The Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master" (1995. Originally recorded 1948-49). Chieftains – “Chieftains 5” (appears as last of “Three Kerry Polkas”).

See also listing at :
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [1]

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