Jay The Fiddler
For the Love of Fiddle.

Banjo Edmonton

Ireland 2024 – Entry 7 – Newsflash: The Weather is Shite!

Just saying. This is day 17 in the country and the warmest temperature so far was 17C.

Oh yeah, and it’s raining. But to be fair yesterday on the summer solstice, midsummers, it had been dreadfully rainy. A solstice with no sun! But by 4:00 the clouds cleared and we had sunshine for the longest day of the year. An interesting coincidence is the Sun set at 22:07 in both Galway and Edmonton.

Ireland 2024 – Entry 4 – Musical Observations

These are tunes that are currently popular in Ireland (I’ve played at least one time) * denotes tunes played at Jay’s Irish Session

 

  • • ————REELS———
  • Bunker Hill
  • Foxhunter’s Reel (A)
  • Trip to Durrow•
  • Newly Mown Meadow*
  • John Stenson’s #2
  • The Bush
  • Devaney’s Goat
  • The Bucks of Oranmore* (5 sessions ended with it) – Also in the key of A -try it!
  • Sporting Nell
  • The Abbey Reel
  • The Otter’s Holt
  • Rakish Paddy•
  • Miss McLeod’s•
  • Sally Gardens•
  • Farewell to Érin
  • The shoemaker’s Daughter
  • The Ashplant
  • Lord Gordon’s Reel
  • The Moving Bog
  • ————Jigs———
  • Mug of Brown Ale•
  • Rose in the Heather*
  • Banish Misfortune•
  • Langstrom’s Pony
  • Lark in the Morning• Also in the key of A -try it!
  • Father O’Flynn (The Top of Cork Road)
  • Wailing Banshee•
  • Connaughtman’s Rambles•
  • The Cliffs of Moher
  • The Donnybrook Fair
  • East at Glendart•
  • Pipe on the Hob Am
  • gallagher’s frolics

…and MANY MANY more! I will add to this list incrementally

 

 

Ireland 2024 – Entry 2

The first week has flown by! Galway City, SW Donegal for 3 nights, now back in Galway.

Met up with old friend, fiddler and fisherman Adrian Murray. Adrian had bought 2 of my CD’s and was a big fan of Georgia’s Canada Day Waltz. He had me play it at every session and it went over very well.

here’s the link (at long last- it was nowhere to be found).

 

Georgia’s Canada Day Waltz -1994 

For the record: there are more than 3 musicians in Galway City. But if you’re going to play at the Big 3 (Taaffe’s Tigh Coili’s and the Crane) you’ll often be playing with Johnny O’Halloran, Anders Trajberg and Declan Corey.

2024 Jay’s Trip to Ireland Post 1

I touched down in Dublin Wednesday at 830AM. Caught the bus to Galway and called on the Fullers in Renmore. I went that first night to Tigh Coili’s and had an amazing session led by Declan Corry (mandolin) and Geraldine (Ger) Clancy (fiddle). Talked too late to a Peruvian couple. Thursday I went into Galway (about 2KM) up College Road. I got a sim card for my phone (20 euro for 4 weeks – unlimited text, talk and 5G). Played the early session at Taaffe’s led by old friend Anders Trajberg on bos. Then I caught the end of the slightly less early session at Coili’s, again led by Ger Clancy. Waited around for the late session led by the great Johnny O’Halloran (melodeon) from Inishbofin. Getting kind of tired by now. The session scene has rebounded well after the pandemic with the same sessions at the same time with the same players. The Fullers have a holiday home in S Donegal in the town of Ardara (Arrrr-dra). Yes there are sessions. Played Friday with Peter Campbell (fiddle) whom I played with several times between 2000-2005. As well as his father (JImmy) and uncle (Vincent) who have both passed away since my last visit. Saturday night was in the wee Glen Tavern -https://www.facebook.com/theglentavern/- up the mountain 7 kms from Glenties. I have been there before and knew many of the players. They were playing distinctly Donegal tunes: mazurkas, Germans, highlands, waltzes. Week D anyone? Tonight I will find The Rusty mackerel in Teelin with one of Ireland’s best bos players, Dermott Byrne.
Here is the Newly Mown Meadow a tempo
Slánte Jay

Irish Session Every Sunday

This Sunday 19-05-24 Week A

 

A typical Sunday (10-03-24) VIDEO” Many’s a Wild Night”

Join us every Sunday at 1:00-4:00

Tan Violin Shop

 

We will be at Tan Violin Shop
8749-53 avenue Edmonton, AB, Canada
Most Sundays (excluding Easter, Thanksgiving & Christmas) Just show up. (email to be on the invite list and to confirm we are on)
1-4 pm
The First Hour will be slower and accommodating.
Our 3 rules are
1) Keep it Irish
2) Instrumental only (no singing)
3) $5.00 entrance fee.
Come have fun!
Slán
Jay

Irish Session Every Sunday

This Week – 24-03-2024 Week B

Join us every Sunday at 1:00-4:00

Tan Violin Shop

 

We will be at Tan Violin Shop
8749-53 avenue Edmonton, AB, Canada
Most Sundays (excluding Easter, Thanksgiving & Christmas) Just show up. (email to be on the invite list and to confirm we are on)
1-4 pm
The First Hour will be slower and accommodating.
Our 3 rules are
1) Keep it Irish
2) Instrumental only (no singing)
3) $5.00 entrance fee.
Come have fun!
Slán
Jay

Music Lessons for the fall!

Jay starts fall lessons on September 4th 2023. Receive proficient training on, fiddle, guitar, 4 string banjo, 5-string banjo 3 finger style, 5-string banjo clawhammer style, electric bass, ukulele, uke, guitar, electric guitar, harmonica, saxophone, mandolin, piano accordion, button accordion G/C, Button accordion B/C. Oportunities for students to participate in 2 yearly Recitals as well as a weekly Irish Session.

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