Irish Fridays

[Padraig]

and, sensationally for me, it transpires that Percy French wrote one of my all time favourite songs:
Abdul AbulAbul Amir.

Not everybody knows this, Global, but that song has particular memories for me. You might remember that I mentioned that I once played in a summer time group in a holiday hotel. One of the regular guests was a schoolteacher who was a well-known amateur actor in his time. We had a spot for people to 'do a turn' and one of his party pieces was Abdu AbulBul Amir. His name was Sean Brady and his son went on to be a professional musician, whom you will know.
In addition, the singer in your Irish example, who was engaged at the local theatre for a summer season and who specialised in performing Percy French songs, came up occasionally to the hotel and delighted the guests with a couple of songs. He brought his own accompanist, though our pianist would have been well able. He too went on to become a professional musician and the composer of 'Congratulations'.

[Globaltruth]

Not everybody knows this, Global, but that song has particular memories for me. You might remember that I mentioned that I once played in a summer time group in a holiday hotel. One of the regular guests was a schoolteacher who was a well-known amateur actor in his time. We had a spot for people to 'do a turn' and one of his party pieces was Abdu AbulBul Amir. His name was Sean Brady and his son went on to be a professional musician, whom you will know.
In addition, the singer in your Irish example, who was engaged at the local theatre for a summer season and who specialised in performing Percy French songs, came up occasionally to the hotel and delighted the guests with a couple of songs. He brought his own accompanist, though our pianist would have been well able. He too went on to become a professional musician and the composer of 'Congratulations'.

Pleasing when memories make ripples that spread

I think Percy French would approve

[johncorrigan]

I heartily approve of the mustache, Global!

[Globaltruth]

I heartily approve of the mustache, Global!

Get your inspiration where you can.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9ro2C_tUSc

[Globaltruth]

Bit of an Excavated Shellac moment going on at the moment, so here is Jonathan Ward's choice for a Friday selection.

A rare track from 1926 of James Morrison playing The Lark in the Morning and the Wandering Minstrel

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/James_Morrison/

Here's what Jonathan Ward says:

Irish fiddler James Morrison (1893-1947) was truly a master player. Born near the town of Collooney in County Sligo, Ireland, Morrison immigrated to the U.S. in 1915, first settling in Boston, and then in New York City. His first recordings were as early as 1921, and in the ensuing years he recorded for Vocalion, Okeh, and Gennett.
In March of 1926, he paired with pianist Claire Reardon, and recorded his first electrical recordings for Columbia, which is where this track stems from.

He also points out that he does not believe this track has ever been curated on any collection. However his comment 'where this track stems from' above refers, of course, to an early recorded version of the combined songs.
As ever, the origins of each song are unclear, but the Lark in the Morning seems to be mentioned in more English collections (e.g. Vaughan Williams Memorial Library) than Irish or Scottish whereas the Wandering Minstrel is an old Irish jig.
I came across a mention which suggested that the lyrics of the Lark in the Morning had been toned down over the years, but that an original more fruity version may well have been a clue as to the songs historic popularity....A lark in the morning. hmm.

[johncorrigan]

Bit of an Excavated Shellac moment going on at the moment, so here is Jonathan Ward's choice for a Friday selection.

A rare track from 1926 of James Morrison playing The Lark in the Morning and the Wandering Minstrel

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/James_Morrison/

Great stuff, Global - excellent entry to a gloomy Friday. I see that there's a Sligo festival commemorating James Morrison.

https://jamesmorrisonfestival.com/

[Padraig]

Great stuff, Global - excellent entry to a gloomy Friday. I see that there's a Sligo festival commemorating James Morrison.
https://jamesmorrisonfestival.com/

Yes G. That James Morrison sound was the sound of my boyhood and youth - not James himself, but the tune with piano accompaniment. When we went to a ceilidh that was what we heard, and sometimes I played the piano . It's not as easy as you think to play that oom pah piano without making a mess of the whole tune, and often the piano was a disaster. Better off without one as a rule.

I was looking for a typical old time ceilidh band, but they have changed since then. Here is one with enthusiasm in spades, both players and listeners. Good on ye girls!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S64iLCQiFBU

PS 'Pleasing when memories make ripples that spread' - Nice.

[Globaltruth]

Yes G. That James Morrison sound was the sound of my boyhood and youth - not James himself, but the tune with piano accompaniment. When we went to a ceilidh that was what we heard, and sometimes I played the piano . It's not as easy as you think to play that oom pah piano without making a mess of the whole tune, and often the piano was a disaster. Better off without one as a rule.

I was looking for a typical old time ceilidh band, but they have changed since then. Here is one with enthusiasm in spades, both players and listeners. Good on ye girls!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S64iLCQiFBU

PS 'Pleasing when memories make ripples that spread' - Nice.

Thanks for posting Padraig - who could fail to be moved by that? Good way to end the week, although the days increasingly blur..

[johncorrigan]

I was looking for a typical old time ceilidh band, but they have changed since then. Here is one with enthusiasm in spades, both players and listeners. Good on ye girls!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S64iLCQiFBU

PS 'Pleasing when memories make ripples that spread' - Nice.

Wish I was there, Padraig - brought a tap to the heel and a smile to the mooth.

[Globaltruth]

Wish I was there, Padraig - brought a tap to the heel and a smile to the mooth.

I wish the 3 of us were there....

[johncorrigan]

I wish the 3 of us were there....

With you there, GT!

[Globaltruth]

Junior Brother - Hungover at Mass.

Maybe his busking roots show? Maybe that doesn't matter.

*Bad language warning*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InzElkQ3O5Q

[Padraig]

Junior Brother - Hungover at Mass.

Maybe his busking roots show? Maybe that doesn't matter.

*Bad language warning*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InzElkQ3O5Q

Rough, Global, rough!

Here's a different old story: a joke, a tune and a thought.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb0SGL9eTig

[johncorrigan]

Mick O'Brien & Caoimhin O Raghallaigh from ages ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNhkRQB6rwg

Have a good one!

[johncorrigan]

Got a shiver up my spine last night. I was flicking through the channels and stopped at BBC Alba. They had a programme on called 'Sruth' celebrating young Scottish and Irish folk musicians and giving them the chance to play with musical heroes. I was stopped in my tracks by young Donegal singer and fiddle player, Megan Nic Fhionnghaile singing and playing 'Bruach na Carraige Baine' with Phil Cunningham accompanying on the accordion. It's just over 35 minutes into the programme...I'm off to listen to it again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000st98/sruth-series-1-episode-2

Happy Scottish/Irish Friday to one and all.