Annotation:Knocknaboul Polka (1)
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KNOCKNABOUL POLKA [1], THE (Polca Chnoc na bPoll). AKA and see "Din Tarrant's (5)," "Humors of Ballydesmond (The)," "Kitty Wants a Soldier," "Knocknabower Polka," "Little Green Cottage (The)," "Scartaglen Polka (1) (The)," "Trooper and the Maid (The)." Irish, Polka (2/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABBCC (Cranitch, Miller & Perron): AA'BB'CC (Breathnach). Along with "Knocknaboul Polka (2)", the pair are often played together and called the "Knocknaboul Polkas." The name is sometimes seen as "Knocknabower," though this is a misspelling of the west Kerry town of Knocknaboul, near Ballydesmond. There is also a Knocknaboul Cross north of Knocknagree, however, there is no 'Knocknabower'. The first two parts are similar to "If I Had Maggie in the Woods," a polka popularized by the Chieftains. Breathnach (1985) says it is related to "Bhfaca tú mo Shéamaisín? (An)" (did you see my little Jimmy?).
The second and third parts of "Knocknaboul Polka [1]" also correspond to the air for the Scottish song "Annie Laurie."
Sources for notated versions: fiddlers Julia Clifford & Denis Murphy (Sliabh Luachra, Ireland) [Breathnach]; Denis Murphy [Ceol].
Printed sources: Breathnach (Ceol Rince na hÉireann vol. III), 1985; No. 62, p. 33. Ceol, vol. 2, No. 4, p. 100 (appears as "The Little Green Cottage"). Cranitch (Irish Fiddle Book), 1996; No. 49, p. 144. Cranitch (Irish Session Tunes: Red Book), 2000; 49. Mallinson (100 Irish Polkas), 1997; No. 13, p. 6. Miller & Perron (101 Polkas), 1978; No. 15 (appears as "Knockabower Polka"). Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1996; No. 15 in polka section (appears as untitled tune). Vallely (Learn to Play the Tin Whistle with the Armagh Pipers Club), vol. 2; 21(b).
Recorded sources: Claddagh Records CC5, Denis Murphy & Julia Clifford - "The Star above the Garter" (1969). Shanachie 340002, Denis Murphy & Julia Clifford - "The Star above the Garter" (A re-release of the 1969 Claddagh album). Topic 12T309, Denis Murphy, Julia Clifford and Padraig O'Keeffe - "Kerry Fiddles" (appears as "The Humours of Ballydesmond). Topic 12T310, The Star of Munster Trio.
See also listing at:
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [1]