FIRST OF MAY, THE [1] (An Cead La Bealteine). Irish, English, Scottish; Hornpipe. A Dorian/Mixolydian (O'Neill/1915, Phillips, Raven, Taylor): A Mixolydian (Emmerson, Roche, Stanford/Petrie): A Major (Kerr, O'Neill/1850). Standard. AB (Stanford/Petrie): AABB (Allans, Emmerson, O'Neill, Raven, Roche, Taylor): AA'BB' (Kerr, Phillips). The first of May was traditionally a day for romance and was important in ancient times as the date of the festival of La Bealtaine (the day of the mouth of the fire), one of the most important Celtic celebrations. During Bealtaine ceremonial fires would be lit on either side of a path and cattle driven up the middle to purify them for the coming year and to help protect them against disease and insure their health. O'Neill (1913, pg. 132), Bayard (1981) and Emmerson (1971) all say this double hornpipe is either a derivative, a variant, or development from a common ancestor of the jig tune known as "Fagamaoid sud mar ata se" (Let Us Leave That As It Is), or "The Galbally Farmer," "Get Up Early," "The Rakes of Kildare," "The (Old) Barndoor Jig." See note for "Arthur's Seat" [2] for another association to the first of May. Allan's Irish Fiddler, No. 98, pg. 25. Cole (1001 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 48 (listed as a reel). Emmerson (Rantin' Pipe and Tremblin' String), 1971; No. 96, pg. 168. Kerr (Merry Melodies), Vol. 4; No. 269, pg. 29. O'Neill (1915 ed.), 1987; No. 346, pg. 170. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 199. O'Neill (1850), 1903/1979; No. 1708, pg. 318. O'Neill (1001 Fiddle Tunes), 1907/1986; No. 899, pg. 154. O'Neill (1913), pg. 132. Phillips (Tradtional American Fiddle Tunes), Vol. 2, 1995; pg. 50. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 159. Roche Collection, 1982, Vol. 2; No. 200, pg. 7. Ryan's Mammoth Collection. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 404, pg. 102. Taylor (Where's the Crack?), 1989; pg. 26. Rounder 0215, James Bryan - "The First of May" (198?).
T:First of May [1]
L:1/8
M:C|
R:Hornpipe
S:O'Neill - 1001 Gems (899)
K:A Dorian
AG|EAAB cBcA|dcde f2 ef|gedc dfed|cAGF G2G2|
EAAB cBcA|dcde f2 ef|gedc dfec|A2 AA A2:|
|:fg|a2 af g2 ge|fgfd e2 ed|cdef gfed|cAGF G2G2|
EAAB cBcA|dcde f2 ef|gedc dfec|A2 AA A2:|
PLAINS OF BOYLE, THE ("Magh Luirg" or "Ma Luirc"). Irish, Hornpipe. D Major (Allans, Mitchell, Moylan, Mulvihill): D Major/Mixolydian (Breathnach, DeMarco & Krassen). Standard. AAB (Mitchell): AABB (Allans, Breathnach, DeMarco & Krassen, Miller & Perron, Mulvihill, O'Neill): AA'BB' (Moylan). Sources for notated versions: Sligo-style fiddler James Morrison (Co. Sligo/New York) [DeMarco & Krassen]; piper Jim Brophy, 1972 (Dublin, Ireland) [Breathnach]; accordion player Johnny O'Leary (Sliabh Luachra region of the Cork-Kerry border) recorded in recital at Na Píobairí Uilleann, February, 1981 [Moylan]; piper Andy Conroy (New York, originally from Lough Glynn and Dublin) [Breathnach]; piper Willie Clancy (1918-1973, Miltown Malbay, West Clare) [Mitchell]. Allan's Irish Fiddler, No. 78, pg. 20. Breathnach (Ceol II, 1), 1965; No. 6. Breathnach (The Man and His Music), 1997; No. 6, pg. 9. Breathnach (CRE II), 1976; No. 315, pg. 160. DeMarco and Krassen (Trip to Sligo), 1978; pgs. 31, 45, 59. Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 1977; Vol. 2, No. 55. Mitchell (Dance Music of Willie Clancy), 1993; No. 1, pg. 29. Moylan (Johnny O'Leary), 1994; No. 53, pgs. 31-32. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 17, pg. 93. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 217. Celtic Cx 34, "Winston Scotty Fitzgerald" (Cape Breton). Gael-Linn CE 18 (78 RPM), Liam (Willie) Clancy. Gael-Linn CEF 075, Liam (Willie) Clancy - "Na Ceirnini 78, 1957-1960."
X:1
T:Plains of Boyle, The
L:1/8
M:C
R:Hornpipe
K:G
G|FDDF ADDF|(3ABA GB ADDe|(3gfe df edce|dcAB cAGB|
AD D2 FDDF|(3ABA GB ADDe|(3gfe dc ABA GB|A>BD>A D3:|
|:f/g/|afdf g2 (3gfe|de (3fed BAFA|(3ABA FA (3ABA FA|
(3ABA FA BAfg|afdf g2 (3gfe|de (3gfe BAFG|A3 B G2 AF|
(3GFE D>A D2:|
X:2
T:Plains of Boyle
L:1/8
M:4/4
R:Hornpipe
K:D
FG|AFDE FEDB|A/B/A GB AF D2|fedf edce|dcAB =c/B/A GB|
AFDE FE DB|A/B/A GB AF D2|fdAF GBAG|F2D2D2:|
|:fg|afdf g2 fe|dfed BAFG|A/B/A FA BAFG|A/B/AFA BAFA|
afdf g2 fe|dfed BAFG|A2 AF GBAG|F2D2D2:|
SALAMANCA {REEL} [1] (Seisd/Cor Salamanca). AKA and see "Boyles Reel," "The Coronation Reel," "The Maigue's Tide," "Salamander," "The Tartan Plaid," "The Wild Salamanca." Irish, Scottish, English; Reel or Hornpipe. Ireland, County Donegal. D Major. Standard. AB (Breathnach CRE 2, O'Neill {all versions}): AABB (Allans, Kennedy, Kerr, Mallinson, Phillips, Raven, Roche): AABBCCDD (Breathnach, CRE 1). Bayard (1981) says it is "probably no older" than the early 19th century, and, though apparently once-popular (inferred from the number of printings), it is or unknown origin. Breathnach (1976) gives that the tune is named after Wellington's victory in Spain in 1812 and not for the Irish college. Salamanca lies 107 miles northwest of Madrid, and Wellington won a spectacular victory over the French forces, commanded by one of Napoleon's Marshalls, Auguste Marmont, who was wounded in the battle. Wellington promptly marched for Madrid, forcing the French puppet King Joseph Bonaparte (the older brother of Napoleon) to flee with his government. The tune was collected, with parts reversed, in southwestern Pa. as "Boyle's Reel." It is a popular reel in County Donegal, although Goodman claims it is a Connacht reel. Breathnach (1963) says that he heard that it is played as a hornpipe, though he never heard it being played so sluggishly. The title appears in a list of tunes in his repertoire brought by Philip Goodman, the last professional and traditional piper in Farney, Louth, to the Feis Ceoil in Belfast in 1898 (Breathnach, 1997). Sources for notated versions: Tommy Peoples (Ireland) [Phillips]; piper Seamas Ennis, 1959 (Dublin, Ireland) [Breathnach Vol. 2]; piper Tommy Reck/Tomas Riabhach (Ireland) [Breathnach]. Alewine (Maid that Cut Off the Chicken's Lips), 1987; pg. 30. Allan's Irish Fiddler, No. 39, pg. 10. Breathnach (CRE I), 1963; No. 146, pg. 58. Breathnach (CRE II), 1976; No. 209, pgs. 108-109. Kennedy (Fiddler's Tune Book), Vol. 2, 1954; pg. 8. Kerr (Merry Melodies), Vol. 1; No. 26, pg. 45 and Vol. 4, pg. 8. Mallinson (Essential), 1995; No. 8, pg. 3. O'Neill (1915 ed.), 1987; No. 239, pg. 126 (appears as "The Salamanca Reel"). O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 123. O'Neill (1850), 1903/1979; No. 1348, pg. 252. O'Neill (1001 Gems), 1907/1986; No. 603, pg. 110. Phillips (Fiddlecase Tunebook), 1989; pg. 42. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 165. Robbins, 1933; No. 142. Roche Collection, 1982, Vol. 1; No. 134, pg. 54. Comhaltas Ceoltoiri CL13, Tommy Peoples. Green Linnet SIF-1110, Seamus Connolly & Brendan Mulvihill - "My Love is in America: The Boston College Irish Fiddle Festival" (1991). Kicking Mule KM216, Arm and Hammer String Band - "New England Contra Dance Music" (1977).
T:Salamanca Reel, The
L:1/8
M:C|
R:Reel
S:O'Neill - 1001 Gems (603)
K:D
dB|A>D (3FED A>D (3FED|Adcd fdcd|B<E (3GFE B>E (3GFE|Beed cdeg|
fddg fdcA|Bdce dfag|fdec dBAG|FGEF D2||fg|afdg bgeg|fdec dcBA|Bdce dfeg|
fagb a2 fg|abaf gfeg|fdec dfag|fdec dBAG|FGEF D2||