The actual Ballydesmond Polkas I found on JC’s, which corresponds with the tunes I have in Paddy O’Brian’s Sets.
The tunes I always thought were the Ballydesmond Polkas #1 & #2, got from a mandolin tutorial book which has proven dodgy on names before, must be something else.
Can anyone give me another name for the polka which starts like this?
#1: K=G M=2/4 L=1/8
AB|: c2 B2 | A2 G>A | Bd ed | g2 e>d | ea g>e | dB GA/2B/2 | ce dB | A2
that’s one of the ballydesmond polkas, another one starts like this
EA AB | cd eg | G2 GA | GE ED |
(or some such)
I have a friend who’s famous quote is “anyone who knows the name of a polka is an sshle”
Some people remember their tunes better if they have a name to put to it, I stopped caring too much as long as I can remember the melody. Nonetheless you can call it the “One of those Ballydesmond Polkas” if it makes you feel better.
Lawks, that makes two different Ballydesmond #1s, two #2s, one #3 and one unspecified.
I think you’re right, I’m never going to name a polka, just play it.
Most assuredly, it’s called either ‘the one that goes before’ -or- ‘the one that comes after’, as is the case with most tunes.
Martin, the one you’ve ABC’d is in my Irish Session Tune Book as Balleydesmond #3. The one Brad ABC’d is listed as #2. These are the two versions we play around here.
Susan
This is the same I’ve heard. I’ve also heard #2 called Ned Connell’s Polka.
Also, I think that numbering makes sense because #2 leads quite nicely into #3.
Caj
So what’s the melody for the first one?
In the Irish Session Tune Book, Balleydesmond Polkas #1 and #3 are credited to Denis Murphy; #2 is credited to Ned Connell. I don’t know how to write ABC, but maybe you can get the idea of the melody from this (for BDP #1): D 2/4
AB AG l EF GE l AB AG l Ad dedcnat l ABAG l EF GE l AB cnatE l ED D2 :l
ed d2 l ed cnat2 l ed cd l ea abag l ed d2 l ed cnatb l AB cnatE ED D2
Susan
Good job! I could make out the ABC & I now know which tune your talking about. Thanks 
Does anybody else have the following problem;
I know about 10 polkas off of the top of my noggin, but I can always figure them out as they come along. But if I’m asked to play a polka I learned on the spot a week later, it’s gone into the ether. Anybody have any advice on keeing those polkas inside of my teflon skull?
Nope, polkas are easy come, easy go. When someone plays a polka that I don’t know in a session, I feel inadequate if I haven’t got it down by the third time around. The only solution I can think of is to make sure to have a polka set every session and hope that over time they’ll sink in.
I feel your pain about the polka blues. I’ve kind of chaulked it up to the fact that as a general rule I simply never practice, play, or listen to them nearly as much as reels and jigs etc.. I can easily recognize them but I can’t say I actually have them like I do with other tunes.
Although the few polkas which I do have did come from practicing or concentrating on them specifically.
Between the Knockaboul, Knockabout, Knockabower multiples and the Ballydesmonds, it is pretty hopeless. Some have “subtitle names” it seems. Then, some have gotten new names in the US as old-timey repertoire.
FWIW, the “Star Above the Garter” CD has both Ballydesmond and Knockabouts on there, played by Dennis Murphy and Julia Clifford. I love the way they play em and if you want somebody to emulate that’s true to Trad, there it is.
I know two of the Ballydesmonds listed, and have the music to a third that I never learned because I didn’t like the sound much. But… I really would like to learn a good version of the Knocknaboul. I have a version of it in a tunebook of mine, but it’s no good. Would anyone be willing to send me an ABC of the Knocknaboul?
I can’t toodle the ABC here tonight with everyone sleeping, but L.E. McCulloughs book has a song that i learned as Ballydesmond 2 that he calls Maurice Manleys Polka.
Actually, just looking at them, the one that Brad wrote out is what McCullough has listed as Maurice Manleys polka, and my teacher gave me titled Ballydesmond 2
According to Ceolas: The Fiddler’s Companion, Ballydesmond #1 is AKA “Donncha Lynch’s” or “Johnny O’Leary’s”, #2 is “Maurice Manley’s Polka” or “O’Keeffe’s (Polka)”, and #3 is “Gneevequilla Polka” or “Tom Billy’s Polka.”
Does anyone know if the set was in common circulation before Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford recorded it (as “The Ballydesmond Polkas”) on The Star above the Garter?
[quote=“colomon”]According to Ceolas: The Fiddler’s Companion, Ballydesmond #1 is AKA “Donncha Lynch’s” or “Johnny O’Leary’s”, #2 is “Maurice Manley’s Polka” or “O’Keeffe’s (Polka)”, and #3 is “Gneevequilla Polka” or “Tom Billy’s Polka.”