|
Newry Highwayman (traditional)
We learned this song from Colm O Lochlainn's book, and thought that it deserved wider currency. It is interesting both for its confused geography (Newry being in Northern Ireland, Stephen's Green a park in Dublin, and Covent Garden being the theatrical center of London) and for its mention of Lord Fielding, a.k.a. Henry Fielding, 18th century author of Tom Jones, etc. he was also first chief of London's official police force, the Bow Street Runners. The jig near the end is titled Joseph Andrews-another Fielding title-and was written by our fiddle player, Jean.
This arrangement owes much to the good ears and uncommon sense of our producer, Tim O'Brien.
The Red Kite (Mike Fitzmaurice)
Our bass player, Mike, likes to play with new ideas and to challenge us to provide realizations of those ideas. The arrangement has grown with input from each of the band members incorporated into the final version. We like the results.
A red kite, by the way, is a bird of prey. It is also, of course, a red kite.
Athens Hotel (Jean Bolger/Mick Bolger)
Although the inspiration for this song was a boarding house near my place of work, the central idea was that there are many types of homelessness other than not having a roof over your head. You can live outside your nation, or without your family, or indeed, outside the compassion that is the core of the human family. I have met with some of the greatest kindnesses from those who could least afford them.
Again we asked some of our brass-playing friends Devon Park and Bill Stanley to join us in a chorale written by Mike and Larry.
Sister Josephine (Jake Thackray)
There used to be, and may still be, a program on BBC 1 Television in England called "Nationwide." Critics regard it as having been one of the most stultifyingly boring television programs ever. I watched it religiously. At a certain point in the national show, there would be a slot for local news and features. One evening, while sitting in my flat in Bedford, Anglia Television presented Jake Thackray singing Sister Josephine. That was 1971 and I've wanted to sing this song ever since.
Gap of the Winds/Leitrim Fancy/Little Bag of Potatoes (traditional)
A fine set of reels and a nod to our traditional roots.
Nancy Spain (traditional)
A song made famous by Christy Moore and one popular for a long time with our audiences. The singer/journalist, Eoghan Corry, in Mulligan's Pub, suggested the substitution of "down by Port na Blath where the wild flowers grow" for "down by Bluebell Grove..." Other words have evolved as part of the usual folk processes, i.e., partial deafness, mental debility, semi-literacy, and precipitate inebriety.
Stella Maris (Doug Berch)
When Doug presented us with this tune, we were struck by its Breton feel. The people of Brittany are Celts and renowned fishermen. For a title to the tune, we chose, what is probably the most popular name found on European fishing boats, Stella Maris--star of the sea.
The Gentlemen Soldier (traditional)
This is an old song with what is probably the most familiar motif of all British Isles songs-the soldier and the maiden. We were inspired by the Martin Carthy/Dave Swarbrick version on Byker Hill.
The Streets of Our Town (Jean Bolger/Mick Bolger)
Jean suggested the title of this song and it moved back and forth between she and I for almost a year. Parts of the melody were changed, lines and structures were changed, and when we tried it out with Doug on the mountain dulcimer, all of a sudden, it worked.
Ben's Two Step/Jumping Ship (Jean Bolger)
Ron Miles: Trumpet
Bill Stanley: Trombone
These tunes were also written by Jean. The first was named for Ben Garnett, son of Rod, our flute player. Ben attended the first rehearsal of this tune and remained staunchly unimpressed with our efforts. We thought that naming the tune for him might help, but to date, the verdict is still out.
Jumping Ship got its name by a curious concatenation of musical and word associates, the nature of which we will spare you for now. We asked our friends Ron Miles and Bill Stanley to join us on this track.
Crooked Jack (Dominic Behan, arr. Mike Fitzmaurice)
This song, based on the melody of The Star of the Country Down with lyrics by the late, great Dominic Behan, has been a band staple for years-as an a cappella number. Again, Mike indulged his penchant for rethinking material and arranged the song in its present form.
Cad e Sin Don Te Sin? (trad., translation Mick Bolger)/Plearaca Dhoire an Chreassain (The Humours of Derrycrassin)
You'll find this in Ceolta Gael 2 by Manus O Baoill-a collection of songs in the Irish language. I loved the melody and am in total agreement with the sentiments expressed. The line "Cad e Sin don Te Sin, nach mBaineann Sin do?" translates literally as "What's that to anyone it doesn't concern," or, as Fats Waller so succinctly put it, "Ain't nobody's business if I do."
Again, Tim lent his insight and his mandolin to this version.
Glenveagh/Kitty Magee/The Rose in the Heather (Mike Fitzmaurice)
Glenveagh (pronounced Glen-VAY) Castle has been described as a "Celtic Elysium." It is a castle of great and gentle elegance with lush, beautiful gardens by the side of a lake in one of the wildest regions of County Donegal.
The tune Glenveagh, written by Mike, evokes that same courtly elegance. The arrangement goes on to include Kitty Magee and The Rose In the Heather, the latter of which titles could stand as a metaphor for Glenveagh itself.
Glenveagh is now the largest National Park in Europe, having been willed to the Irish people by Mr. Henry McIlhenny.
|
