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English Christmas carol
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This lesser-known Christmas carol is believed to be of English
origin rom the Victorian era.
The author of the verses and composer are unknown.
Happy Playing, Julie McGonigal
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Old time dance tune
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I have adapted this tune from a tape made by Alan Becker of a long ago session hosted by Mark Schuster and Maria Zann and hope it is still recognisable!
Happy Playing, Julie McGonigal
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Scottish pastoral melody
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This sweet, peaceful air by Scottish composer James Scott Skinner appeared in his collection of pastoral melodies and heroic airs entitled The Harp and Claymore, published late 19th century. A lovely recording of this tune can be found on Australian Scottish-style fiddler Chris Duncan's CD Fyvie's Embrace. It is also known as the Highland Cradle Song.
Happy Playing, Julie McGonigal
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American Old-Timey tune
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The lead-up is one of the figures for a quadrille. This one was collected by John Meredith during the 50s from a mouth organ and piano player, Lindsay Carr, from the Mudgee area. It bears a more than passing resemblance to an English Morris jig, The Perfect Cure.
Happy Playing, Julie McGonigal
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Collected Australian tune
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The lead-up is one of the figures for a quadrille. This one was collected by John Meredith during the 50s from a mouthorgan and piano player, Lindsay Carr, from the Mudgee area. It bears a more than passing resemblance to an English Morris jig, The Perfect Cure.
Happy Playing, Julie McGonigal
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O'Carolan composition
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This tune was composed by O'Carolan in honour of Morgan Magan of Togherstown, County Westmeath, Ireland, who died in 1738.
Happy Playing, Julie McGonigal
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Slow Air
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This haunting slow air is common throughout the British Isles. There is a slightly different version in O'Neill's Music of Ireland, where it is published as Captain O'Kane in the O'Carolan compositions section. A rather nice recording can be found on Setting It Right by The Band of the Rising Sun.
Happy Playing, Julie McGonigal
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American old-timey tune
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An old favourite has finally made it to the Folk Rag pages! Thanks go to Dale Riddle, who many years ago, introduced to Brisbane session players this lively old-timey tune from America. It sounds great played on fiddle, mandolin, banjo, hammered dulcimer... need I go on!
Happy Playing, Julie McGonigal
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An 18thCentury march
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I have included something different this month - a march from the ballet "Oscar and Malvina" written by Maria de Caro around 1793. It is thought that Oscar and Malvina came from the Ossianic literature created by James MacPherson in the late eighteenth century. Oscar was one of his characters from the 'Tales of Fionn MacCumhail'. Play this one with lilt and bounce!
Happy Playing, Julie McGonigal
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Schottische
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Alan Becker introduced me to this jaunty schottische - he heard Mark Schuster play it at a session some years ago and thinks that it was one of the tunes collected from Sally Sloane (by John Meredith?). Any further info would be welcome.
Happy Playing, Julie McGonigal
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