Scottish tin whistle : Scott Williams DOUGLAS HADDEN 2024-10-22 | Scottish tin whistle : Scott Williams
Johnny Cunningham [ RIP ] - 4 Irish reels DOUGLAS HADDEN 2022-12-15 | In memory of Johnny Cunningham, departed from us this day in 2003.Johnny plays 4 Irish reels, [ you could say perhaps with a Scottish accent ]. They are :"The Glens Of Aherlow [ comp. Sean Ryan ] / Fr. Kelly's [ comp. Fr. P.J. Kelly ] /John Brennan's / Ril Bheara" [ comp. Finbarr Dwyer ].The photo was taken in Glenelg on the west coast of Scotland, I think in 1976, when "Silly Wizard" played a concert in the local village hall. Johnny and Andy M. Stewart [RIP], could smile for the camera. I was too busy concentrating on trying to keep up !
The Whole World Turning Paddie : Eddie Furey DOUGLAS HADDEN 2022-05-28 | A humourous song written by Pat Cooksey, and sung by Eddie Furey on one of the 1970s Irish Folk Festival Tours of Germany.The photo shows a unique meeting at the Keith traditional music festival in the mid 1980s between Belfast bodhran player Paddy Burns, and a piper whom I think was French, and may still live in the area. Paddy sadly departed from us last year. He was the essence of Belfast distilled into a single body, we had some great, hilarious times when he and his family lived in Aberdeen. We played a session in a restaurant in Aberdeen one night, and were told musicians got 1 free drink each. We all asked for pints, but when it came to Paddy's turn and he asked for " a bottle of red wine" - and he got it :)RIP, Paddy.
Harvest Moon set of reels : PJ Crotty, James and Carol Cullinan DOUGLAS HADDEN 2022-05-20 | An exceptional "own label" CD of Irish music by 3 great musicians from Co. Clare. PJ Crotty on flute, James Cullinan on fiddle, with expert piano accompaniment by Carol Cullinan.The reels are "Harvest Moon" - composed by Paddy O'Brien / "Johnny Goohan's" - composed by Ed Reavy, and "Jack Rowe's" [ traditional ].The CD title is "Happy To Meet" - if you are lucky enough to find a copy, do buy it.P.J. Crotty is second from the left in the photo which was taken at the Willie Clancy Summer School in 1980.
Fred Finn & Peter Horan : Martin Wynnes Reels DOUGLAS HADDEN 2022-05-20 | Two very popular reels composed by fiddler Martin Wynne, played by fellow Sligo musicians Fred Finn [ fiddle ] and Peter Horan [ flute ].
Turas : The Morning Dew/Jenny Nettles Fancy/The Monaghan Twig/The High Road To Linton DOUGLAS HADDEN 2022-05-20 | I was requested to post another track from this "own label" CD by a young band from Co. Clare, who were all in their teens when this was recorded.Musicians were : Padraig Rynne [ concertina ], Liam O'Connor [ fiddle ], Ronan Ryan [ flute ] and Padraic O’Reilly - piano / bouzouki / synthesiser.Staggering musicianship from players so young.
The Musical Priest set of 3 reels ; Damian OBrien & Oliver Loughlin DOUGLAS HADDEN 2022-02-19 | From their 2007 CD "The Factory Turn", 3 reels played on piano accordion and fiddle by Oliver Loughlin and Damian O'Brien. This is quite a difficult CD to find these days, but the playing and choice of tunes is superb, and if you do find a copy, you should buy it.Can anyone identify the middle tune ? Thank you.
Cathal McConnell : variations of The Kid On The Mountain [ whistle ] DOUGLAS HADDEN 2022-02-06 | Cathal once said to me, "once you have a piece of music, it's yours to do what you want with", and he has certainly lived by that piece of musical philosophy for most of his life. The photo was taken in Sandy Bell's pub at a "FluteFling" Sunday session in 2016.
Whall Dance Wi Wattie ? set : The Tannahill Weavers DOUGLAS HADDEN 2022-02-03 | A set of 3 tunes - the Shetland reel "Wha'll Dance Wi' Wattie" followed by 2 hornpipes composed by P.M. Donald MacLeod, "Jack Adrift" and "Pipe Major George Allan". The band didn't have a name for the middle tune, and it took me 20 years to track it down. The ticket scanned was for a performance the band did in Aberdeen's Cowdray Hall.Players are :Hudson Swan - bouzouki, fiddle / Mike Ward - fiddle / Roy Gullane - vocals, guitar, tenor-banjo / Phil Smillie - flute, whistles / Alan MacLeod - Highland bagpipes
1982 Willie Clancy Week session : The Liffey Banks / The Shaskeen DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-12-23 | Session at the 1982 Willie Clancy Summer School - a "warts-and-all" recording made using a cassette recorder. 2 classic reels played by Matt Molloy and P.J. Crotty on flutes and Tony Linnane and 1 other un-named fiddle player.I took the photo in Ennis in 2015, as the names immediately reminded me of 2 of the players at this session some 33 years after it happened.
Eleanor Kanes - reel played on tin whistle by Eddie Corcoran DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-12-22 | Refer to caption. Accompaniment is by Seamus Tansey on "tambourine".
Oisin MacDiarmada [ fiddle ] : Un-named Hornpipe and Reel DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-11-29 | Refer to caption.Oisin MacDiarmada has made 2 outstanding solo recordings both of which I would recommend.
1982 Willie Clancy Week session Master Crowleys The Roscommon Reel DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-10-06 | Refer to caption.
Matt Molloy : The Japanese Hornpipe / The City Of Savannah DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-10-06 | Refer to caption. Cut short a bit because of interference on tape, unfortunately.
Ceoltoiri Altan Edinburgh 1978 : The Morning Dew / The Pinch Of Snuff DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-09-09 | Final set of the evening, playing out with 2 reels. The 9-part version of the "Pinch Of Snuff" was popular at that time but it's a long time since I've heard anything other than what I believe was the original Donegal version played anywhere.
Ceoltoiri Altan_Edinburgh 1978 : The Burnt Old Man / Bridie Morleys DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-09-09 | I was in 2 minds about uploading this here because of the poor sound quality, but I'll post it in memory of Francie Mooney, who gives us a wee bit of a song.The reel was made famous by Liam O'Flynn playing it on whistle on Planxty's first LP, where it was titled "Junior Crehan's Favourite". It is also known as "The Knotted Cord", but I think "Bridie Morley's" is the oldest name for it.
Dermot Rafferty : Betty Black DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-08-20 | Just about my favourite flute tune ever. This 6-part tune is for a dance which was once popular in South Armagh. I came across the CD "The Green Bunch Of Joy" by flute player Dermot Rafferty a few years back at the Willie Clancy Summer School. It's a superb collection of music, rarely heard outside the counties of Armagh and Down. If you can find this "own-label" recording, I thoroughly recommend it. The track is a duet with another fine musician, fiddler Seamus Sands, from Co. Down.Dermot does appear on a few other Youtube clips if you search on his name.The accompanying scan is of the CD insert front.
Willie Clancy Summer School 2005 : Peter Horan - 2 reels on flute DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-07-14 | First on stage at the 2005 Flute & Whistle recital at the Willie Clancy Summer School was the great Peter Horan from Sligo, still blasting away on flute at the age of 79 !The reels are "The Flowers Of The Red Mill / The New Steamboat". Peter recorded these 2 same tunes on a CD with fiddler Gerry Harrington.
Willie Clancy Summer School 2005 : Mick & Louise Mulcahy DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-07-13 | I went to the accordion recital in 2005, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Mick Mulcahy is one of the greats of Irish button accordion, and you won't hear a better flute player and uilleann piper than his daughter Louise. What's maybe not known - as she has never recorded on the instrument as far as I know - is that she plays button accordion too. Father and daughter played 2 reels at the recital - "The Drunken Landlady / The Thrush In The Storm".The photo comes from about a decade later, with Louise in more familiar flute-playing mode, at an open air evening session in a doorway in the middle of Miltown Malbay.
Willie Clancy Summer School 1986 - session in Mullagh : Swedish musicians DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-07-13 | Refer to caption.
Willie Clancy Summer School 2015 - Happy Days / The Old Butter Road on banjo and fiddles DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-07-13 | Refer to caption. If you know these tunes, I'd love to hear more about them.PS - thanks to James Duggan for identifying the tunes, and also their composer, fiddler Connie O'Connell.
Willie Clancy Summer School 1982 The Skylark / The Ships Are Sailing DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-07-12 | 1982 : a few of the tutors that year came in to play a selection of tunes for the flute class I was in.2 reels : “The Skylark / The Ships Are Sailing”
Micho Russell : Willie Clancy Summer School 1986 DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-07-12 | [ Since Coronavirus has deprived us of the “Willie Week” for a second year, I'm going to upload some audio recordings I’ve made over the years I’ve been there – enjoy the music ] :1986 Flute & Whistle Recital - Micho Russell [ whistle ]1 – “Micho’s Mason’s Apron / Lord MacDonald’s” [ reels ] 2 - Un-named slide[ The accompanying photo was at the time being sold as a postcard in Miltown Malbay. I apologise for not being able to credit the photographer ].
Quilty : There And Back - 4-part Irish jig on mandolin DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-07-01 | Refer to caption. Excellent mandolin playing.
Finagles Dream_ Iona - singer Tony Wilson DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-06-25 | "Iona" were an Irish band based in Leeds in the mid/late 1970s. This is a favourite song of mine, I think written by Bernie Parry, and sung by Tony Wilson. The song is followed by the tune "The Piper On The Meadow Straying".All of the members of "Iona" used to trek north to the traditional music festival in Kinross, between Edinburgh and Perth, just for the sessions and the craic. Tony is on the left of this photo which I took one Sunday lunchtime at a session. McEwans export obviously the drink of choice at the time [ or it being Scotland, maybe the cheapest :) ]
1976 Comhaltas USA Tour :Vincent Broderick - 2 reels on flute DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-06-24 | Co. Galway flute player Vincent Broderick playing 2 reels which he composed himself, "The Rainbow's End / The Crock Of Gold" from the LP recording by musicians from The Comhaltas Tour of the USA in 1976.Paddy Fallon accompanying on bodhran.The scan shows a photo of Vincent on the front cover of "Treoir" magazine in 2002.
Sean Moloney : The Train Journey - Irish flute DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-06-19 | “The Train Journey” [ reel – composed by Sean Moloney ]An interesting original composition by Co. Galway flute player Sean Moloney. It appears on his CD “Potsticks” which can be still purchased - [ nb download not available ] - from his website at :http://www.seanmoloney.com
Adrian Barker & Ben Stephenson : 3 reels on fiddle & flute DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-06-19 | Adrian Barker [ fiddle ] and Ben Stephenson [ flute ] - “Rolling In The Ryegrass / Julie Delaney’s / The Beauties Of Limerick”This comes from a great CD of Irish music released in 2006. Ado and Ben dug into the archives of the National Library of Australia and put their own musical stamp on historical recordings of Irish traditional music recorded in Australia, with all due credit and respect given to the source musicians. The recording includes some unusual settings of fairly well-known tunes, a perfect example here being the 2nd reel, listed as “Julie” rather than the more common “Julia” Delaney. I don’t know where you would find it these days, but well worth seeking out.
Davey Stewart : Anthony Reilly DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-06-17 | Refer to caption. The singer is Davey Stewart from Fife, not the singing traveller from the NE of Scotland. John Watt plays guitar in the live recording, but is barely audible, as the "Grampian Folk Club" was an acoustic venue.
Ceoltoiri Altan Edinburgh 1978 : set of 3 polkas DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-06-17 | Refer to caption.Sound quality is less than ideal, but the best I can do with a cassette tape over 40 years old.
Brendan McGlinchey_3 settings of The Bunch Of Keys ? DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-06-17 | Posted in memory of a great Irish fiddler. [RIP]. Some friends of mine gave me a cassette tape of tunes played in a workshop / class which Brendan McGlinchey gave in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim, in 1995.To my ear, this sounds as though Brendan is playing 3 different settings of the same reel, "The Bunch Of Keys", but if anyone knows different, do tell.A magnificent example of Irish fiddle playing at its' best [ my opinion ].Photo scanned from a 1975 edition of "Treoir" magazine. Brendan on the right, sharing a moment with another master of Irish traditional music, Sligo flute player Roger Sherlock.
The Wee Room Crowd : MacFarlane O The Sproats O Burniebouzie DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-05-22 | From cassette tape recording from 1989. NE of Scotland bothy ballad.Someone asked about the melody to this song on a music website, and I remembered this version.
Ceoltoiri Altan : Edinburgh 1978 - The Four Mile Stone / The Maple Leaf DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-05-20 | Refer to caption.
Comhaltas Uk Tour 1978 : Edinburgh sets_opening 2 sets DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-05-20 | Refer to caption.Recording quality was "of its' time", but there's great music there.
Caoimhin ORaghallaigh : 3 Irish reels on fiddle DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-05-17 | Outstanding performance of 3 reels by one of my favourite Irish fiddlers.Refer to caption for tune titles.
Mick Broderick & The Whistlebinkies : Donald Was A Piper DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-05-12 | Posted in memory of one of the Scottish folk scene's great characters. One of Mick's best monologues, in itself a tribute to the late NE of Scotland traveller / busker Davie Stewart. I heard Mick perform this on several occasions - much better to have seen it performed live.[ The Arbroath singer Jim Reid has an excellent musical version of this which is here elsewhere on "Youtube" - search for "Jim Reid - Daft Donal". ]
The Bowhouse Quintet : The Twelve Pins / The London Lasses DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-05-12 | From a unique recording, made live in Ennis in 1999. Should you be lucky enough to come across a copy of the CD, I would urge you to buy it.
Inchiquin : The Star Of Munster / The Bucks Of Oranmore DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-05-10 | Refer to caption.
The Castle Ceili Band : 3 reels DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-05-10 | "Throw It Across / The Shepherd's Daughter / The Humours Of Toomagh".First reel possibly more commonly known as "Drag Her Round The Road".Last reel also known as "The Cloone".
Mick Woods [ flute ] : The Black Rogue / Paddy Clancys jigs DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-05-10 | Co. Leitrim flute player Mick Woods playing 2 jigs.
John Carlos [ flute / banjo ] : 2 reels and 3 jigs DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-05-10 | 2 tracks from a fairly obscure "own-label" cassette tape, Co. Roscommon flute and banjo player John Carlos plays 2 reels - "The Noon Lasses / The Mountain Road", followed by 3 jigs "Joy Of My Life / Brendan Tonra's / The Mug Of Brown Ale". The jigs are double-tracked with flute and banjo.I believe John Carlos is back row, 2nd from the right on the scan, taken from a photo from the reverse cover of the Comhaltas North America Tour group 1983 LP record.
June McCormack : 2 reels on flute - Fred Finns / Father Newmans* DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-05-09 | Refer to caption.
Marcus Hernon [ flute ] : Tim Moloneys / Christmas Eve DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-05-09 | Marcus Hernon is a GREAT flute player. This recording is of 2 popular Irish reels, the second a composition of another Galway flute player, Tommy Coen.Worth mentioning that Marcus is making flutes these days. There are several clips of his playing posted elsewhere on "Youtube", all worth watching and listening to.
Darach de Brun [ whistle ] : Sweeneys Dream / The Curlews DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-05-08 | I think this is the 3rd and last recording I have of Darach playing whistle, recorded at a Willie Clancy Week flute & whistle tutors' recital. The second reel is a now popular composition of fiddle player Josie Keegan.I met Darach on a couple of occasions at Willie Clancy weeks. He came over to Scotland to play at a folk festival on the south west coast, and I went down to meet up with him. Someone took the photo of him on pipes and myself on flute at a late night session. That photo means a lot to me, as Darach passed away the following year, and that session will not happen again. I think of him often, and still love playing "The Maple Leaf" , "The Man Of Aran" and "Terry's Travels". If you play Irish music, seek these tunes out, and think of him when you play them.RIP.
Fred Finn & Peter Horan : The Mullingar Races / The Boy On The Hilltop DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-05-08 | 2 reels by 2 Sligo legends, Fred Finn on fiddle and Peter Horan on flute.
Vin Garbutt [ whistle ] : Dunphys Hornpipe / Rattigans Reel DOUGLAS HADDEN 2021-05-07 | Recorded at Aberdeen University Folk Club, early 1970s. Vin definitely had his own individual style of playing Irish music.
