The Fiddler’s Companion

© 1996-2008 Andrew Kuntz

_______________________________

HOME        ALPHABETICAL FILES        REFERENCES

 

PLANXTY - PLYM

 

 

Notation Note: The tunes below are recorded in what is called “abc notation.” They can easily be converted to standard musical notation via highlighting with your cursor starting at “X:1” through to the end of the abc’s, then “cutting-and-pasting” the highlighted notation into one of the many abc conversion programs available, or at concertina.net’s incredibly handy “ABC Convert-A-Matic” at

http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html 

 

**Please note that the abc’s in the Fiddler’s Companion work fine in most abc conversion programs. For example, I use abc2win and abcNavigator 2 with no problems whatsoever with direct cut-and-pasting. However, due to an anomaly of the html, pasting the abc’s into the concertina.net converter results in double-spacing. For concertina.net’s conversion program to work you must remove the spaces between all the lines of abc notation after pasting, so that they are single-spaced, with no intervening blank lines. This being done, the F/C abc’s will convert to standard notation nicely. Or, get a copy of abcNavigator 2 – its well worth it.   [AK]

 

 

 

PLANXTY. A term used by Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738), the last of the great itinerant Irish harper-composers, “Planxty” is a word that Carolan prefixed to the surname of a lively melody for one of his patrons. Although its exact meaning is of some debate it appears to some to be a form of salute. The most respected Carolan authority, Donal O’Sullivan, suggested that ‘Planxty’ was based on the Latin plangere (in its supine form, planxtum) on the model of the existing Irish word planncaim, which means to strike (as ‘strike the harp’). There have been several other thoughts about the origins of Planxty. The academic and concertina player Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin (1998) writes that the word was derived from the Gaelic plearácha, or praise pieces (see below). Seán Ó Riada proposed that since many of Carolan’s songs begin with the Irish word sláinte (health), perhaps Planxty was derived from it—a corruption of sorts. Guitarist Paul de Grae believes it is simply a nonsense word employed by Carolan in a snippet of English verse in the otherwise Irish song called “Planxty George Brabazon.” However, In a review of several arguments, Donal O’Sullivan concludes that each explanation for the derivation of the word planxty has too many exceptions, and therefor there was no useful definition that could be promulgated.

***

Regardless of its origin, O’Sullivan points out that Carolan seldom actually used the word, and that it was later publishers who applied the term to his tunes—for example, his “John Drury” became known as “Planxty Drury.” "It seems probable that the early editors used the term 'Planxty' in the title only when they did not know the name, or at any rate the full name, of the subject of the tune, says O’Sullivan. The title planxty appears twice in Neals' Collection of the Most Celebrated Irish Tunes (Dublin 1724, spelled "Planksty". Paul de Grae finds that John Lee published a Carolan collection c. 1780, “possibly a revised re-issue of another collection he published in 1748 (ten years after Carolan's death) of which no copy survives; out of 68 tunes, only three are titled "planxties" - "Plangsty Bourk", "Plangsty Connor" and "Planksty by Carolan", the latter being a version of the "Madam Cole" in the same book.”

***

A contemporaneous Irish term used for a planxty-type air was "Pléaráca" (spelled "Plea Rarkeh" in one title of the Neal collections), meaning ‘merriment’. In modern times, says de Grae, Brendan Breathnach used the term "Pléaráca" as the Irish equivalent of  “Humours,” as in "The Humours of Drinagh" = " Pléaráca Dhraighní".

                                                     

PLANXTY (Untitled) [1]. Irish, Planxty (3/4 time). E Minor. Standard. ABB. Composed by blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738). "This tune consists of eight phrases, ending where I have placed the letters A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H. I believe this was Carolan's intention: and Forde was obviously of the same opinion. According to this view, each verse of a song composed to it should consist of four pairs of lines, of which the measure of each pair will be like this (but of course the rhymes might be alternate):‑‑

***

'A Planxty by Carolan sometimes much oddity shows,

So quaintly and strangely it flows'" (Joyce).

***

Source for notated version: "Patrick MacDowell, the distinguished sculptor, born in Belfast in 1799, died in 1870" (Joyce). Complete Collection of O’Carolan’s Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 172, pgs. 119‑120. Joyce (Old Irish Folk Muaic and Song), 1909; No. 536, pg. 287.

 

PLANXTY (Untitled) [2]. Irish, Planxty (3/4 time). A Minor. Standard. AB. Composed by Turlough O'Carolan. Source for notated version: "Patrick MacDowell, the distinguished sculptor, born in Belfast 1799, died in 1870" (Joyce). Complete Collection of Carolan’s Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 171, pg. 119. Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Song), 1909; No. 552, pg. 293.

                             

PLANXTY BAPTIST JOHNSTON. AKA and see "Planxty Johnson."

                             

PLANXTY BROWNE (Pleraca Brunac). AKA and see "Maggie Brown's Favorite," "Peggy Brown," "Miss Margaret Browne's Fancy." Irish, Air or Planxty (6/8 time, "lively"); New England, Jig. G Major. Standard. AB (O'Neill, Tolman): AAB (Spandaro). See note for “Maggie Brown’s Favorite.” O’Neill printed this tune and attributed it to O’Carolan, although on what authority is not known. O'Carolan researcher Donal O’Sullivan thought it sounded like O’Carolan’s style, but had no confidence in attributing it to the harper.  The earliest published appearance seems to be by Nathaniel Gow at the beginning of the 19th century. Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 180, pg. 123 (appears as untitled tune). O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 243. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Selections), 1903/1979; No. 692, pg. 127. Spandaro (10 Cents a Dance), 1980; pg. 43 (includes a harmony part). Tolman (Nelson Music Collection), 1969; pg. 20. Topic 313, "The Battlefield Band." Green Linet 1015, Eugene O'Donnell ‑ "Slow Airs and Set Dances."

X:1

T:Planxty Browne

T:Maggie Brown’s Favorite

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Lively”

S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 692

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

g|dBG GAB|E2E E2c|AFD DEF|G2G G2g|dBG Bcd|E2E E2c|AFD DEF|G3 G2||g/a/|

bgb afd|efg gfe|dBg dBG|AFD D2 g/a/|bgb afd|efg gfe|faf ge^c|d2 d de=f|ece dBd|

cac BgB|Ace dBG|FAF DEF|GAB EFG|ABc def|gdB cAF|G3 G2||

                             

PLANXTY BURKE ("Pleraca Buaircac" or "Plangstae Bhuaircidh"). Irish, Air or Planxty (6/8 time, "animated"). G Dorian. Standard. ABC (O'Neill): AABBCC (Complete Collection): AA'BB'CC (O'Sullivan/Bunting). The melody, for which there are no words, was composed by the blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan, probably in honor of Thomas Burke of Castlebar, County Mayo, whom O'Sullivan (1983) finds once represented the Borough of Castlebar in King James's Irish Parliament of 1689. O'Carolan also wrote another tune for the personage. The Burke family of Glinsk was of Norman extraction who had 'modern' aspirations, according to Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin (1998). "Planxty Burke" was popular enough to have been included in several collections through the 18th century, including Neale's Celebrated Irish Tunes (c. 1726, pg. 21, Neale's Collection of Carolan Tunes (post 1743, pg. 10), Lee's Favourite Collection (c. 1780, pg. 27), Thompson's Hibernian Muse (c. 1786, pg. 63), and Mulholland's Ancient Irish Airs (1810, pg. 79, where it appears under the title "Planxty McDermot"). O'Neill's version is copied from Buntings, maintains O'Sullivan.

***

The air was played by harper Rose Mooney at the first Granard Harp Competition in 1781, a performance which earned her the third prize of five guineas. Rose was an unfortunate soul, blind, led by a girl named whom harper Arthur O’Neill (1734-1818) excoriated in his memoirs. Remembering the third Granard harp competition (in which she came in third) O’Neill said:

***

But I forgot to mention that before the Ball opened Rose Mooney

pledged (pawned) her harp, her petticoat and her cloak. When I

make this remark of poor Rose, the faults or ludicrous remarks I

make use of respecting her own conduct should be entirely attributed

to her maid Mary, whose uncommon desire for drinking was unlimited,

and taking advantage of her mistress’s blindness she always when

money was wanting pawned any article on which she could raise half

a pint. Therefore, poor Rose, I acquit you of any meanness on your

own account, as your guides and mine have led us into hobbles which

we poor blind harpers have to get out of and afterwards laugh at.  But

we in general think that it’s better for people in every situation in life

to have about them the rogue then know than the rogue they don’t know.

***

Mooney died during the Rising of 1798, not due to hostilities but due to the fact that she and Mary happened to be in the village where the French troops landed in support of the Irish rebels.  Caught up in the grand exuberance amongst the native population, she celebrated a bit too much and died a few days later. Source for notated version: appearing in his 1840 collection, it was noted by the Irish collector Edward Bunting from Charles Byrne the harper in 1802. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 236. Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 14, pg. 32. O'Neill (1850), 1903/1979; No. 665, pg. 120. O'Sullivan/Bunting, 1983; No. 41, pgs. 62-63.

X:1

T:Planxty Burke

C:Turlough Carolan

B:Carolan: The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper

B:by Donal O'Sullivan

N:marked "Allegretto"

Z:Transcribed by Paul de Grae

M:6/8

L:1/8

K:Gdor

GAB/c/ d2 c|Bcd cAF|FAF fAF|FAF cAF|

G/A/BG dBG|GBG gBG|f2 f fga|1f3 d3:|2 f3 d2 f/g/||

agf gfe|fed cde|fed gfe|fed cAF|

G/A/BG dBG|GBG dBG|f2 f fga|1f3 d2 f/g/:|2 f3 d3||

d/e/ff fg/f/e|fg/f/e/d/ cAF|g2 g ga/g/f|gde f2 g|

agf edc|d/e/fd cAF|{d}f2 c d/e/fd|B3 G3:|

                             


PLANXTY CHARLES COOTE ("Pleraca Catal Cuitac" or "Plancstae Sealuis Cuta"). AKA and see "Sir Charles Coote". Irish, Air or Planxty (4/4 time). C Major. Standard. AAB. The air was composed by the blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738), who also probably wrote words to it, thinks O'Sullivan (1983), though they have not been found. O'Sullivan relates the scion of the Irish Coote family in Ireland was Sir Charles Coote, 1st Baronet of Ireland, a captain of soldiers and a marauder who served in the wars against O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, during the early and mid-17th century. Subsequently, the Cootes of the family seat of Coote Hall on the river Shannon, near Boyle, County Roscommon, had the reputation of being brutal landlords. The subject of O'Carlolan's air was, however, either the 4th (c. 1635-1709) or 5th (c. 1680-1715) Baronet, both of whom were also named Charles. The 5th Baronet, later the 4th Earl, like his father was styled Viscount Castlecoote until he inherited the Earldom in 1709. Two years later he was appointed to the Privy Council for Ireland, and in 1714 became a Privy Councillor to King George I. In the English Parliament he was MP for Knaresborough.

By end of his lifetime—he died, unmarried, at Bordeaux in 1715 and was buried at St. James’s—the fortunes of the family were in decline.

***

Charles Coote (1680-1715), 5th Baronet, 4th Earl.

***

A Catholic (who became a nominal Protestant), one Maurice O'Connor (who married Lady Mary Plunkett), having made his fortune in English real estate, bought the Coote estate after 1720 for the then princely sum of £7,500. O'Carolan composed three tunes in honor of Maurice O'Connor and one for his wife. Source for notated version: the manuscripts of the Irish collector Edward Bunting, who noted the tune from Rose Mooney in 1800. Mooney was the only woman harper to attend the Belfast Harpers Assembly in 1792 [O’Sullivan/Bunting].  Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 18, pg. 34. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 238. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Selections), 1903/1979; No. 671, pg. 122. O'Sullivan/Bunting, 1983; No. 33, pgs. 52-53.

X:1

T:Planxty Charles Coote

M:C

L:1/8

K:G

DC|B,2 D2 A,2 D2|CB,A,G, B,2 D2|EF G2 A2 AG|GFEF D2 BA|

G2d2 dedc|BABc d2 cB|cBAG GFEF|G4 G2||

|:zA|B2 d2 dedc|Bc (3dcB g2 G2|Bc (3dcB g2 e2|edcB A2 AB|

cBcA ABBd|cBAG GFEF|G2 GB AF (3DEF|G4 G2:|

                             

PLANXTY CONNACHT. Irish, Air (6/4 time). G Major. Standard. ABCDE. O'Neill (O’Neill’s Irish Music), 1915/1987; No. 66, pg. 41.

X:1

T:Planxty Connacht

M:6/4
L:1/8

R:Air

S:O’Neill’s Irish Music (1915), No. 66

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

G2 | G3A G2 F4D2 | E4F2G4A2 | B4G2c4A2| B4G2c4A2 | B 2c2d2 E4E2 | A2B2c2 D4D2 |

E2F2G2A2F2D2 | (G6 G6) || d3ed2 e4f2 | (g6 g6) | B3cB2 c4d2 | (e6e6) | d2c2B2c2d2e2 |

d2^c2d2 D4D2 | E2F2G2A2F2D2 | (G6 G6) || B2A2B2 D2G2B2 | A2G2A2 D2F2A2 |

G2F2G2 E2A2G2 | F6 D6 | d2B2d2 d2B2d2 | e2c2e2 e2f2g2 | d2c2B2 c2A2F2 | (G6G6) ||

g3ag2 f4d2 | e4f2g4a2 | g2g2e2 a2a2f2 | b2b2g2 c’2c’2a2 | b2c’2d’2 e4e2 | a2b2c’2 d4d2 |

e2f2g2a2f2d2 | (g6g6) || {D/4E/4F/4G/4A/4B/4c/4d/4}d2B2d2 d4d2 | g2b2a2 g4g2 |

B2G2B2 c4d2 | (e6e6) | d2 B/c/d/B/ e2 c/d/e/c/ | d2 B/c/d/B/ D4D2 | E2G2E2 c2A2F2 | (G6G6) ||

                             

PLANXTY CONNOR. See “The Bel(l)fast Allmanack (Almanac),” “John O’Connor,” “Planks of Connaught” “Planxty Mrs. O’Conor.”

                             

PLANXTY CORCORAN (Pleraca Ua Corcrain). AKA and see "Edward Corcoran."

                             

PLANXTY CRILLY. Irish, Planxty (6/8 time). D Major. Standard. AABB. Composed by Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738). Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1985; No. 21, pg. 36.

                             

PLANXTY DAVIS ("Pleraca Daibis" or "Plearaca Daiti"). AKA and see "Killiekrankie" [2] "Battle of Killiecrankie." Irish, Hornpipe or Long Dance (2/4 time). D Major. Standard. AB (O'Neill/Krassen): AABB (O'Neill/1001). One of the supposed seven or eight hundred compositions of the ancient harper Thomas O’Connellan (d. 1698), almost all of which are lost. It is known in Scotland as “The Battle of Killiecrankie.” See also note for “The Breach of Aughrim” for more on O’Connellan. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 165. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 1561, pg. 289. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 973, pg. 167.

X:1

T:Planxty Davis

C:Thomas O'Connelan

B:O'Neill's "Dance Music of Ireland", no. 973

Z:Paul de Grae

M:4/4

L:1/8

Q:145

K:D

FG|A2 AB A2 FG|AFAB A3 B|AGFE DEFG|A2 AB A2 dc|

B2 Bd B2 Ac|BABc B2 dB|AGFE DEFA|B2 Bd B2 b2|

bafb afeg|fedf e2 de|fedB BAdF|A2 AB A2 dc|

B2 AB d2 Bd|e2 de f2 ed|BABc d2 F2|E4 D2:|:fg|

a2 ab a2 fg|agab a2 fg|agfe defg|a2 ab a2 fa|b3 b b2 fa|

bafa b2 bg|agfe defa|b2 ba b2 fa|bafb afeg|fedf e2 de|

fedB BAdF|A2 AB A2 dc|B2 AB d2 cd|e2 de f2 ed|

BABc d2 F2|E4 D2:|

                             


PLANXTY DENIS O'CONOR (Pleraca Dondad Ua Concobair). AKA and see "Denis O'Conor [2]," "Wear with Me Thy Rosy Wreath."

                             

PLANXTY DILLON. Irish, Air (6/8 time). G Major. Standard. AB. Levey (Dance Music of Ireland, 2nd Collection), 1873; No. 83, pg. 37.

X:1

T:Planxty Dillon

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Air

S:Levey – Dance Music of Ireland, 2nd Collection (1873)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

(d/c/) | BGg g2 (f/g/) | (a/g/f/e/)d (e/d/c/B/)A | (B/c/d)d (e/d/c/B/c/d/) | eAA A2 (d/c/) |

.B.Gg (g2f/g/) | (a/g/f/e/)d (e/d/c/B/)A | (B/c/dd) (b2a) | gG,G,G, || (b/c’/) |

.d’.b.g .d’.b.g | (a/g/f/e/).d (a/g/f/e/).d | (e/f/g/e/).b (c’b/a/g/).a | (b/a/g/f/g/e/) .d.B.d |

(e/d/e/f/).g (e/d/e/f/).g | d’(c’/b/c’/d’/) e2f | {a}gdB {a}gdB | {d}cBA {d}cBA |

(B/c/).d.d b2a | gG,G, G,2 ||

                             

PLANXTY DOBBINS (Pleraca Dobain). AKA and see “Planxty Reilly.” Irish, Air or Planxty (3/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning. ABC. Composed by blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738). The tune appears as “Planxty Reilly” in Bunting’s first and second collections (1796 and 1809, respectively). Source for notated version: John McFadden, who had his version from David Quinn, a famous piper from Mayo [O’Neill]. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 235. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 661, pg. 119.

X:1

T:Planxty Dobbins

M:3/4

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Moderate”

S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 661

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

(3def|g2 agfe|a2d2d2|g2B2B2|e2A2A2|d2G2G2|g2 fgaf|(g6|g4)||ga|b2 gabg|

c’2 gabg|b2g2e2|e4 fg|a2 fgaf|b2 gabg|a2f2d2|d4 (3def|g2 agfe|a2d2d2|

g2B2B2|e2A2A2|d2G2G2|g2 fgaf|g6|g2z2||z2|GG G2G2|GG G2G2|cA A2A2|

cA A2A2|Bc d2d2|d2e2c2|Bc d2d2|d2e2d2|b2 gabg|c’2 gabg|b2 gabg|

a2f2d2|e4 ag|f2d2f2|g6|g4 (3efe|d2B2A2|e4 A2|A2B2A2|d4 G2|G2A2G2|

e4 ag|f2d2f2|g4||

                             

PLANXTY DREW (Pleraca Dreu).  Irish, Air or Planxty (6/8 time, "spirited"). G Dorian. Standard tuning. AB. Composed by blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738). Source for notated version: “From P. Carew’s MSS” [Stanford/Petrie]. Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1985; No. 41, pg 46. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 242. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 690, pg. 126. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 874, pg. 218. Green Linnet SIF 1047, Johnny Cunningham - "Fair Warning" (1985).

X:1

T:Planxty Drew

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Spirited”

S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 690

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G Minor

G/A/|BAG Bcd|cdB AGF|GDG G2A|BGG G2 G/A/|BAG Bcd|cdB AGF|

Ggg a/g/fd|cA^F G2||B/A/|GEG Bcd|Ggg gaf|gfd c/B/AG|Fff f2 f/g/|

af/g/a/f/ g=e/f/g/e/|fd/=e/f/d/ cA/=B/c/A/|Ggg a/g/fd|cA^F G2||

                             

PLANXTY DRURY [1] (Pleraca Druri). See “John Drury [1].”

                                         

PLANXTY EDMOND DODWELL (Pleraca Eadmonn Dodball).  Irish, Air or Planxty (4/4 time, "spirited"). D Minor/Dorian. Standard tuning. AB. Composed by Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738). O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 245. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 698, pg. 129.

X:1

T:Planxty Edmond Dodwell

M:C

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Spirited”

S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 698

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D Minor

AAAD EGAB|cdAG FED^C|Dd^cd e{a}fed|c2=B2A2 ^cd|

efed cA^GA|B^cdA GEDE|D2 D/E/F C2 Ec|AG{F}E>D D2z2||

EDCA, CDEG|AAAG EGED|Ce=Bc Ad^cd|c=B^cd e2 cd|

efed cBcA|EEED C=B,CA,|DDDE FGAB|AGFE D2z2||

                                         

PLANXTY ERWIN. See "Planxty Irwin," "Colonel John Irwin".

                                         

PLANXTY FANNY POWERS (Pleraca Fanni Ni Paor). AKA and see "Fanny Power,” “Mrs. Trench." AKA – “Planxty Fanny Poer.” Irish, Air or Planxty (6/8 time, "lively," or 3/4 waltz tempo). A Major (O'Neill): G Major (Johnson, Matthiesen): F Major (Complete Collection, O’Sullivan). Standard tuning. AB (Complete Collection, O’Sullivan): AAB (O'Neill): AABB (Johnson, Matthiesen). Composed by blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1732) for Fanny (Frances) Power, the daughter and heiress of David and Elizabeth Power of Coorheen, Loughrea, County Galway, who in 1732 married Richard Trench (d. 1768) of Garbally, County Galway. Fanny’s parents were patron’s of O’Carolan (see, for example “Mrs. Power/Poer,” better known as “Carolan’s Concerto” and “David Power”). The tune is sometimes called “Mrs. Trench” after Fanny’s married name, although it appears likely the melody was composed before the nuptials, for in the second verse of his song O’Carolan expresses the hope that he will live to dance at their wedding. The melody appears in Edward Bunting’s (1773-1843) c. 1800 manuscript collection (copies in MS 29, pg. 22, and MS 33, book 3, pg. 15, held at the Library of Queen’s University, Belfast). Bunting, in different publications, names variously harpers Charles Byrne and Arthur O’Neill as his source. There is also a printing in John Mulholland’s Collection of Ancient Irish Airs (Belfast, 1810, pg. 51). Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 155, pg. 106. S. Johnson (The Kitchen Musician No. 3: Carolan), 1983 (revised 1991, 2001); pg. 10. Matthiesen (The Waltz Book), 1992; pg. 39. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 238. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 673, pg. 122. O’Sullivan (Carolan: The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper), 1958; No. 155. Avocet Records, Glasnotes ‑ "Live from Contrafornia." Fortune Records, Patrick Ball ‑ "Music of Turlough O'Carolan." Front Hall, Walt Michael ‑ "The Good Old Way."

See also listings at:

Alan Snyder’s Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index

Jane Keefer’s Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources 

Alan Ng’s Irishtune.info

X:1

T:Planxty Fanny Powers

M:3/4

L:1/8

K:G

D |: G2D | G>AB | c2B | A2G | GFE | DFD | F2G | A2c |

B>AG | Bcd | e2A | A>BG | GFE | DGF | G3 |1 G2D :|2 G2d ||

|: dB/c/d | dB/c/d | G>BG | GBd | ec/d/e | ec/d/e | A>cA | AcA |

B>cd | efg | f>ga | d2c | B>AG | DGF | G3 |1 G2d :|2 G2 ||

                             

PLANXTY GAVIN. AKA and see “Killavil Jig [1].” Irish, Jig. E Dorian. Standard tuning. AA’BB’. Source for notated version: the Gavins of Ballina [O’Malley]. O’Malley (Luke O’Malley’s Collection of Irish Music, vol. 1), 1976; No. 104, pg. 52.

X: 1

T: Planxty Gavin

M: 6/8

L: 1/8

Q: 325

S: Luke O'Malley vol 1

Z: Transcribed by Bill Black

R: jig

K: Edor

BEE BAB | def edB | BAF FEF | DFA BAF |

BEE BAB | def edB | BAF dAF |1 EFE E2 G/A/ :|2 EFE E2 B ||

|: e2 f geg | f/g/af edB | BAF FEF | DFA BAF |

e2 f geg | faf edB | BAF dAF |1 EFE E2 B :|2 EFE E2 z ||

                             

PLANXTY GEORGE BRABAZON [1]. Irish, Planxty (6/8 time). G Major. Standard tuning. AB. Composed by Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738) who composed the sprightly drinking song for George Brabazon of New Park (later Brabazon Park), County Mayo. Donal O’Sullivan (1958) says Brabazon must have been a young man and a bachelor when O’Carolan composed the air, while the harper himself was near the end of his career. George Brabazon married Sarah, daughter of Dominick Bourke of Clorough, County Galway, and died in March, 1780. An ancestor, Sir William Brabazon, was Lord Treasurer and Lord Chief Justice of Ireland in the reign of Henry VIII. Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 6, pg. 28. S. Johnson (The Kitchen Musician No. 3: Carolan), 1983 (revised 1991, 2001); pg. 4. O’Sullivan (Carolan: The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper), 1958; No. 6.

X:1

T:George Brabazon [1]

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Air or Planxty

N:”Joviale”

S:O’Sullivan – Carolan: The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper, No. 6 (1958)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

G2g gdg|gdg fed|B2g gdc|Bc/d/B cAF|G2g gdg|

gdg fed|B2g gdc|Bc/d/B cAF||B3c3|d2g gab|B3c3|

Bc/d/B cAF|BAG GAG|G2g gdc|BAG GDG|Bc/d/B cAF||

 

PLANXTY GEORGE BRABAZON [2] (Pleraca Seoirse Brabason). AKA and see "Prince Charlie's Welcome to the Island of Skye," "Isle of Skye [2]."  Irish, Air. G Major. Standard tuning. One part (O Canainn): AB (Complete Collection, O'Neill/1850): AABB (O'Neill {Complete Collection..., Krassen, Skye}). Composed by Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670‑1738) for George Brabazon, a young bachelor. Donal O’Sullivan (1958) included this piece in his definitive work on Carolan, but noted there was no definitive evidence for its being composed by the harper. Some have attributed Captain Francis O’Neill’s over-zealotous assertion of tunes to O’Carolan as the source for naming him as composer, although stylistically it would seem to be a composition of his. After the Jacobite rebellion “George Brabazon” was re-titled in Scotland "Prince Charlie's Welcome to the Island of Skye" in honor of the Pretender. “Planxty George Brabazon” was the first O’Carolan work the Chieftains recorded, taken by Paddy Moloney from the O’Sullivan collection his sister had given him in 1959 for his 21st birthday (Glatt, The Chieftains, 1997). The tune is found in Scotland as the vehicle for the song “Twa Bonnie Maidens.” It also appears in the Gow’s Complete Repository, Part Second (1802) under the title “Isle of Sky” (sic), set as a Scots Measure and with some melodic differences in the second part. This is significant, for it predates the earliest Irish source (O’Neill) by a century. The Gows printed several O’Carolan airs, often with different titles. Source for notated version: Yankee Ingenuity (Mass.) [Brody]. Brody (Fiddlers’ Fakebook), 1983; pg. 220. Carlin (Gow Collection), 1986; No. 76 (appears as "Isle of Skye").  Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 7, pg. 29 (2nd Air). S. Johnson (The Kitchen Musician No. 3: Carolan), 1983 (revised 1991, 2001); pg. 4. MacDonald (The Skye Collection), 1887 (appears as "Prince Charlie's Welcome to the Island of Skye"). Ó Canainn (Traditional Slow Airs of Ireland), 1995; No. 83, pg. 73. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 234. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 657, pg. 118. O’Sullivan (Carloan: The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper), 1958; No. 7. Claddagh CC7, The Chieftains – “Chieftains II” (1969). Claddagh CC18, Derek Bell‑ "Carolan's Receipt" (1975). Fretless 200A, Yankee Ingenuity‑ "Kitchen Junket" (1977). Island ILPS 9501, "The Chieftains Live" (1977). June Appal 014, John McCutcheon‑ "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" (1977). Rounder Select 82161-0476-2, “The Wind That Shakes the Barley: Hammered Dulcimer Music” (reissues, orig. released 1977).

X:1

T:Planxty George Brabazon

M:C

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Moderate”

S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 657

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

ge|d2G2 cBAG|d2G2 cBAG|e2A2 ABcd|e2A2 ABcd|edcB g2 fe|edcB cBAG|

BAGE DEGA|B2G2G2||ga|b2 gb a2 fa|g2 eg edcB|e2A2 ABcd|e2A2A2 ga|

B2 gb a2 fa|g2 eg edcB|cBAG DEGA|B2G2G2||

X:2

T:Isle of Sky (sic)

M:C

L:1/8

R:Scots Measure

S:Gow – Complete Repository, Part Second (1802)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

dB|A2D2 GFED|A2D2 GFED|B2E2 EFGA|B2E2 EFGA|

A2 GF d2 cB|{B}A2 GF E2 DE|FEDB, A,B,DE|F2D2D2:||

ag|f2d2 fgag|f2d2 fgaf|g2e2 efga|b2e2e2ag|f2d2 fgag|f2d2 fgag|

fgab afeg|f2d2d2 de|{g}f2 df {f}e2 Be|d2 Ad B2 FA|BEdE EFGA|

BEdE Ecde|f2 df e2 Be|d2 Ad B2 FB|A2A,2 A,B,DE|{D/E/}F2D2D2||

                             

PLANXTY HEWLETT. AKA and see “Hewlett.”

                             


PLANXTY HUGH O'DONNELL ("Pleraca Aod Ua Domnaill" or "Planxtae Aodha Mic Domhneil"). AKA and see "Hugh O'Donnell." Irish, Air or Planxty (6/8 time, "animated"). C Major (most versions): G Major (Johnson). Standard tuning. AB (Complete Collection…, O’Sullivan, O'Sullivan/Bunting): AAB (Johnson): AABB (O'Neill).  Composed by Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738) in honor of Hugh, one of the sons of Colonel Manus O'Donnell of Newport, Co. Mayo. Hugh married Maud Browne, of Mount Browne, Co. Mayo in 1728, reports O'Sullivan (1958), who also provides further family history. It seems that the Colonel was the great-grandson of Niall Garbh O'Donnell, who had the curious miss-circumstance to be offered the earldom of Tyrconnell by both Elizbeth and James. Instead of this dual offer securing his fortune, however, it sealed his fate for he was brought to England in 1608 to languish in the Tower of London for twenty years until his death. The air was first published by John and William Neale in Dublin around 1742 (the previous date of 1721 for this publication has been found to be erroneous—see Appendix to the 2001 edition of O’Sullivan’s Carolan). Source for notated version: noted by Bunting from Charles Byrne the harper in 1792 [Bunting]. Bunting (The Ancient Music of Ireland), 1840. Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 127, pg. 91. Johnson (The Kitchen Musician No. 5: Mostly Irish Airs), 1985 (revised 2000); pg. 7. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 682, pg. 124. O’Sullivan (Carolan: The Life Times and Music of an Irish Harper), 1958; No. 127, pg. 169. O'Sullivan/Bunting, 1983; No. 64, pgs. 98-99.

See also listings at:

Jane Keefer’s Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources 

Alan Ng’s Irishtune.info

X:1

T:Planxty Hugh O’Donnell

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Animated”

S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 682

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:C

G | G2c cdc | B2c d2f | e2A AcA | d2G GBG | c2G cBA | G3g3 | ece ece | f3a3 |

g>ag ece | f>gf dBd | e>fe cAc | d>ed BGB | c2G cBA | G3g3 | fed cdB | c3c2 :|

|: c | (.g2.c) (.g2c) | agf edc | Bdd ded | Bdd ded | cee efe | ABc BAG | ABc Bcd | ABc dBG |

g2g a2a | b2b c’3 | c’2g c’2f | c’2e dd’c’ | bag gag | gfe dgf | edc dcB | c3 c2 :|

                             

PLANXTY IRWIN (Pleraca Iarbain). AKA and see “Colonel Irwin,” "Colonel John Irwin," "Oh! Banquet Not."  Irish, Planxty (6/8 time, "spirited"); New England, Waltz. D Major (Brody, Matthiesen, O'Neill): C Major (Complete Collection..., O’Sullivan): G Major (Cranitch, Ó Canainn). Standard tuning. One part (Ó Canainn): AB (Complete Collection, Cranitch, O’Sullivan): AAB (Matthiesen, O'Neill/Krassen): AABB (Brody, O'Neill/1850, Tubridy). Composed by blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738) for a patron, Colonel John Irwin (1680-1752) of Tanrego House (situated on Ballysodare Bay, in the townland of Tanrego West), County Sligo. Donal O’Sullivan (1958) thought it was composed around the year 1713 after Irwin’s return from overseas wars, as O’Carolan’s song to the tune mentions Irwin’s military exploits in Flanders. The Irwin family were originally English grantees of lands in Ireland under the Cromwellian Settlement in the mid-17th century, expanded in settlement of arrears of military pay. They were neighbors of the Crofton family of Longford House, Catholic gentry, who lived a few miles south. Although the Irwins fought for the Williamite side during the Jacobite wars, the Croftons gave them refuge when they were in need (see O’Sullivan, 1958, notes to No. 59). Thaddaeus Connellan translated the Irish verses into English, keeping the Gaelic character, in his An Duanaire (1829):

***

We will take our way without delay

To see a Noble, brave and gay,

The gallant Colonel near the sea,

Him I mean to treat of;

With mirth and joy he fills his glasses,

Delights to cheer both lads and lasses,

This is John I will answer,

The brave English Irelánder.

***

The noted Irish piper, fiddler and composer Walter "Piper" Jackson composed a piece in the mid‑18th century called "Jackson's Welcome Home" that uses a strain quite similar to O'Carolan's first strain. Bayard (1981) opines that the strain was "by no means of striking originality," and that the use by Jackson may have been accidental, that the two composers may have been influenced by an earlier tune, or that Jackson may have been "unconsciously" influenced by O'Carolan's tune. The air was adapted by Thomas Moore for his song "Oh! Banquet Not." Source for notated version: collector Edward Bunting (1773-1843) noted the piece from harper Charles Byrne. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 220. Bunting (A General Collection of Ancient Music of Ireland), 1809; pg. 7. Complete Collection of Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 59, pg. 55 (appears as "Colonel John Irwin"). Cranitch (Irish Fiddle Book), 1996; pg. 43. S. Johnson (The Kitchen Musician No. 3: Carolan), 1983 (revised 1991, 2001); pg.3. Matthiesen (Waltz Book I), 1992; pg. 40. Ó Canainn (Traditional Slow Airs), 1995; pg. 22. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 239. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 677, pg. 123. O'Sullivan (Carolan: Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper), vol. 1, 1958; No. 59, pg. 195. Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, vol. 1), 1999; pg. 40. Front Hall 010, Fennigs All Stars‑ "The Hammered Dulcimer Strikes Again." Front Hall FHR 021, John McCutcheon ‑ "Barefoot Boy with Boots On" (1981). Shanachie 79009, "Planxty."

See also listings at:

Jane Keefer’s Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources 

Alan Ng’s Irishtune.info

X:1

T:Planxty Irwin

L:1/8

M:6/8

K:D

A |d2c Bcd | A2G FED | G2E FGA | C2D E2A | d2c Bcd | A2G FED |

G2E FGA | D2C D2A :: ded d2d | e2e ecA | f2f efd | cdB ABc |

d2c Bcd | A2G FED | G2E FGA | D2C D2 :|

                                                                 

PLANXTY JACK DANIELS. American, Air. A modern composition by David McKelway. Rounder 0113, Trapezoid ‑ "Three Forks of Cheat" (1979).

                             

PLANXTY JOHNSON (Pleraca Ionston). AKA and see "(Planxty) Baptist Johnson." Irish, Air or Planxty (6/8 time, "lively"). D Major (O'Neill): C Major (Complete Collection). Standard tuning. AB (O'Neill): AABB (Complete Collection). Composed by blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738). The tune was originally titled “Baptist Johnson” and refers to Baptist Johnston of Tully, County Monaghan, a High Sheriff of his county in 1728 and MP for the borough of Monaghan between 1747 and 1753. Complete Collection of O'Carolan's Irish Tunes, 1984; No. 62, pgs. 56‑57. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 234. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 656, pg. 118

X:1

T:Planxty Johnson

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Lively”

S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 656

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

d2d dcB|A2G F2G|E2A D2d|{d}c2B A2a|f23 d2e|f2g a2b|

a2f d2e|c2d e2f|ecA ecA|B2c d2 e|d2d {f}edc|d3 d2z||

afg a2f|c2d ebc’|d’2b c’2a|b2g efg|a2a aba|f2f fgf|ded c2d|ecA ABc|

dcB AGF|(G3 G)AG|e2e efe|ecA A2z|faf gbg|faf geg|fdf ecA|d3 d2z||

                                         

PLANXTY KELLY. AKA and see "Planxty O'Kelly."

                             

PLANXTY KINGSLAND. Irish. The air was recorded by the Belfast Northern Star of July 15, 1792, as having been played in competition by one of ten Irish harp masters at the last great convocation of ancient Irish harpers, the Belfast Harp Festival, held that week. The title may refer to the Drury family of Kingsland, Co. Roscommon (see note for "John Drury").

                             


PLANXTY KITTY O'BRIEN (Pleraca Caitilin Ni Briain). AKA and see "Betty O'Brien." Irish, Air or Planxty (4/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning. ABC. Composed by blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738). O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 236. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 663, pg. 120.

X:1

T:Planxty Kitty O’Brien

M:C

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Moderate”

S:O’Neill – Music of Ireland (1903), No. 663

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

B2d2d2g2|e2 dc B2A2|G2G2A2G2|F3E D2z2|BB d2d2 g2|fefg a2e2|edcB {d}cBAG|

G4G2 z2||D2DD D2GG|E2EE E2 EG|ABAG {B}AGAB|d4 d2z2|efed B2d2|

efed cBAG|g2G2 GABG|A4 G2z2||B2d2d2 ef|g4 [B4g4]|efed B2d2|e2f2g2z2|