Annotation:Pathway to the Well

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PATHWAY TO THE WELL. AKA and see “Killavil Jig (2)," “Limerick Roses,” “Master Crowley's Favorite.” Irish, Jig. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. Luke O’Malley (1976) says that this tune was the great musician and dance teacher John McKenna’s favorite tune to use when teaching the steps to the jig. A very young O’Malley played the accordion for McKenna for his dances. The title “Master Crowley's Favorite” comes from the first recording of the tune, by fiddler Hugh Gillespie (1906-1986) on a 78 RPM disc (the jig appears as the 1st in the set "Master Crowley's Favorites"). Philippe Varlet also finds a version by Sligo fiddler Michael Coleman [1] (1891-1945), recorded on a hard-to-find World Broadcast record made in 1944, the second tune in a medley entitled “James O’Beirne’s” (a reference to his contemporary New York fiddler James “Lad” O’Beirne). A few years later Paddy Killoran [2] (1904-1965) recorded the melody under the title “Limerick Roses.” Leitrim fiddler Seamus Horan played the tune with Packie Duignan on their Topic LP, but not having a name simply called it “Your Jig.” Given all the above, Varlet concludes the connection of the tune with Sligo region fiddlers is strong. The tune bears a strong resemblance to “Cherish the Ladies,” and shares some melodic material while retaining an independent character.

Source for notated version: John McKenna [O’Malley].

Printed sources: O’Malley (Luke O’Malley’s Collection of Irish Music, vol. 1), 1976; No. 89, p. 45.

Recorded sources:

See also listing at:
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [3]

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