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T:Ballydesmond Polka [1]
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L:1/8
K:D
A>B AG|EF GE|A>B AG|Ad d/e/d/c/|A>B AG|EF G2|AB cE|ED D2:|
Ad d>d|ed c>d|ed cd|ea a/b/a/g/|ed c>d|ed c2|A>B cd|ef g>f|
ed ^cd|eA B/^c/d|ed ^cd|ea a/b/a/g/|e/f/g d>B|ce dB|AB cE|ED D2||
BALLYDESMOND POLKA [1]. AKA and see "Donncha Lynch's," "Johnny O'Leary's." Irish, Polka (2/4 time). Ireland, Sliabh Luachra region of the Cork-Kerry border. D Major/Mixolydian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB (Miller & Perron, Moylan): AABB (Cowdery): AABB' (Mallinson). Ballydesmond, County Kerry, lies in the heart of the Sliabh Luachra region. It was formerly known as Kingwilliamstown, and was a 'planned village' established in the 1830's at the junction of two new roads. Until then there were few roads in that region of south Ireland. The "Ballydesmond Polkas," numbers 1–3, are usually played as a group and are known collectively as "The Ballydesmond Polkas." Cowdery (1990) finds this first melody is a form of the A and A' sections of the old ballad "Boyne Water (1)."
The reel "Miss Murphy (2)," from the large mid-19th century music manuscript collection (vol. 3, p. 182) of County Cork cleric and uilleann piper James Goodman, is similar in the first strain.
Additional notes
Source for notated version : - accordion player Johnny O'Leary (Sliabh Luachra region), recorded in recital at Na Píobairí Uilleann, February, 1981 [Moylan]; Kerry fiddlers (and siblings) Julia Clifford (1914-1997) and Denis Murphy (1912-1974) [Miller & Perron].
Printed sources : - Drew Beisswenger with Connie O'Connell (Irish Fiddle Music from Counties Cork and Kerry), 2012; p. 87. Cowdery (Melodic Tradition of Ireland), 1990; Ex. 43, p. 116. Mallinson (100 Irish Polkas), 1997; No. 41, p. 16. McCullough (Complete Irish Tinwhistle Tutor), 1976; p. 33. Miller & Perron (101 Polkas), 1978; No. 6. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 2nd Edition, 2006; p. 126. Moylan (Johnny O'Leary of Sliabh Luachra), 1994; No. 57. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 2 in polka section (appears as untitled polka). Perlman (Melodic Clawhammer Banjo), 1979; p. 60. Sullivan (Sully's Irish Music Book), 3rd ed., c. 2009; No. 94. Vallely (Play the Tin Whistle with Armagh Pipers Club, vol. 2); 20(a).
Recorded sources : - Flying Fish FF-009, Red Clay Ramblers – "Stolen Love" (1975. Learned from Irish fiddler Denis Murphy). Claddagh CC5, Denis Murphy & Julia Clifford (both from Sliabh Luachra region) – "The Star Above the Garter" (1973).
Topic 12T310, John, Julia and Billy Clifford – "The Star of Munster Trio."
See also listing at :
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [1]
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