Concertinas in Donegal

[Lawrence Reeves]

While reading the book "Between the Jigs and the Reels" by Caoimhín MacAoidh I found on page 46 references to early concertina players in Donegal, and Derry. It is information from a book on Donegal dances by Grace Orpen published in 1931.

"the violin and concertina are the instruments most commonly employed....( for playing of dances). "It is primarily a woman's instrument". Is it possible to assume that the older melodeons played in Ireland being in the key of G, made it easy to switch back and forth to a two row german concertina easily? Specially if playing only in the rows as many older players have done.

As I read on there was mention of only one player by name. Rosie Sweeney, who was Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh's grandmother.

Below is quote from the homepage of the band Altan.

 

 

"Mairéad's musical inspiration initially came from her family and neighbours, her father being a great fiddle teacher with a wealth of unusual local tunes, many learnt from his mother, Róise."

[Dan Worrall]

While reading the book "Between the Jigs and the Reels" by Caoimhín MacAoidh I found on page 46 references to early concertina players in Donegal, and Derry. It is information from a book on Donegal dances by Grace Orpen published in 1931.

"the violin and concertina are the instruments most commonly employed....( for playing of dances). "It is primarily a woman's instrument".

Good eyes, Lawrence; thanks!

Could you give the full reference on Orpen's book? I'd like to look that one up...there might be more in it of interest to concertina-spotters.

Interesting to hear it called a woman's instrument. That is usually a modern quote; I don't recall seeing that said in pre-revival texts.

Cheers,

Dan

 

Edited to Add:

I just checked on it.....Dances of Donegal. It is available in the libraries of UNC Greensboro; UNJ Ewing; and Adelaide library, Australia....just in case anyone in one of those cities wishes to check for us!

Edited January 28, 2009 by Dan Worrall

[Lawrence Reeves]

"Dances of Donegal" by Grace Orpen, D.Wilkie, London 1931 is the full reference. I have a dear friend named Eddie Keeney from Glendoan near Ardara, living in the U.S. since the late 1940s. He is a fiddler( played with Paddy Kiloran's band), piano accordion player, and former melodeon player. His family had melodeon, and concertina players in it if my memory is correct. His first fiddle was a tin fiddle made be the McConnell's( probably Alec). I played a few tunes with him around Christmas and he commented on my concertina, and it brought back a few memories of his late brother Charlie playing a certain tune on it. Eddie was born in 1922, and his older brother Charlie around 1902.

[Lawrence Reeves]

Grace Orpen

Dances of Donegal, D M Wilkie, London, 1931

Barn Dance, Berlin Polky, Corn Rigs, Fairy Reel, Highland, Irish National, Irish Reel, Military Two-step, Pin Dance, Shoe the Donkey, Six Handed Duke, Six Handed Reel, Strasperry Reel, Trip to the Cottage, Waves of Tory

 

 

She lists many rare dances unique to Donegal. Many of her references also name the tunes associated with each dance. It also specifies it as a couples dance, or odd variant such as two women( Clap Dance), and various Highlands, and Germans as danced by either one couple or 2 men 4 women, etc. Ed Reavey Jr. is one of the few people I have seen demonstrating Clap dances and other unique Donegal dances in the U.S. We have had the pleasure to pick up a few of the older dances from Ed Keeney over the years, such as "The Corn Riggs".

[Lawrence Reeves]

Born in Stillorgan, County Dublin, William Newenham Montague Orpen was a fine draughtsman and a popular painter of the well-to-do in the period leading up to World War I. He was also involved in the Celtic revival in his native Ireland and he took part in the attempt there to find a visual counterpart to the birth of new national literary language (McConkey 2005). Although his studio was in London, he spent time in Ireland painting, he was a friend of Hugh Lane and influenced the Irish realist painters, like Sean Keating, who were beginning their careers at that time.

Orpen's wife was Grace Newstub, whom he married in 1901 and with whom he had three daughters. The marriage was not happy, and the painter eventually ran off with one of his sitters, Madame Saint-George, a wealthy young married woman whom he painted around 1912.

Sir William Orpen died, aged 53, in London, England, and was buried at Putney Vale Cemetery. A stone tablet in the Island of Ireland Peace Park Memorial, Messines, Belgium, remembers him.

[michael sam wild]

While reading the book "Between the Jigs and the Reels" by Caoimhín MacAoidh

 

 

Is he the author of The Scribe about O'Neill? Where did you get the book from?

Cheers

Mike

[Ptarmigan]

Is he the author of The Scribe about O'Neill?

Cheers

Mike

Caoimhín MacAoidh

Programme 48: 29th August

 

A programme to mark the 100th anniversary of the publication in 1907 of a famous collection of traditional music "O'Neill's 1001" with Nicholas Carolan, Caoimhín MacAoidh, Zoe Conway, Mick O'Brien and Emer Mayock.the 25th anniversary of the death in 1982 of the famous uilleann piper, singer, music collector and broadcaster. (First broadcast 18th April)

 

The Rolling Wave: Archive 2006 - 2007

 

Fiddle-player and author Caoimhín Mac Aoidh

 

The Ulster Way ~ Caoimhín Mac Aoidh

 

I hope those help Michael?

 

Cheers

Dick

Edited January 30, 2009 by Ptarmigan

[michael sam wild]

Thanks Dick!

Mike