At least it’s odd the way I play it! 
http://www.flutesite.com/samples/pooka.mp3
“Port na bPucai”
This is on my Hamilton flute.
–James
http://www.flutesite.com
Thanks, James. This is the first chance I’ve had to hear the “Tune of the Pookas”. It IS odd, but then, pookas are supposed to be odd (and scarey).
N, Mmmmmm…pookas…
On 2003-02-12 23:53, peeplj wrote:
At least it’s odd the way I play it! >http://www.flutesite.com/samples/pooka.mp3
“Port na bPucai”
This is on my Hamilton flute.
–James
http://www.flutesite.com
James-
When you get a chance, do you have a gif of the sheet music you could send me? That’s a cool tune… 
Aodhan
Here ya go. This is from JC’s Tunefinder.
The version I play is notated in the “100 Best Slow Airs” book, but this version is very close.
It’s a wild fun tune.
-James
http://www.flutesite.com
X:1
T:Port na bP’ucai
R:slow air
Z:Henrik Norbeck <henrik.norbeck@MAILBOX.SWIPNET.SE>
M:3/2
L:1/4
Q:1/2=60
K:D
| d>c A3 B | A{BA}G/E/ F2 G2
| A>B =c3{dc}B | A3/2{BA}G/ {AB}A4 |
| d>c {AB}A3 B | A{BA}G/E/ {A}F2 {A}G2
| A{BA}G/F/ G4- | G{AG}F G4
|: A>B c2 d2 | e f/g/ {fg}f2 g2
| {b}a{ba}g/f/ g2 e>f | {ef}e{fe}d/B/ c4 |
| [1 {AB}A>B c2 d2 | {ef}e f/g/ {fg}f2 g2
| {b}a{ba}g/f/ g2 e>f | e{fe}d/c/ d4
| [2 d>c {AB}A3 B | {c}A{BA}G/E/ F2 G2
| A{BA}G/F/ G4- | G{AG}F G4 ||
[ This Message was edited by: peeplj on 2003-02-13 16:32 ]
[ This Message was edited by: peeplj on 2003-02-13 16:35 ]
“Port na bPucai”
James - It is indeed a beautiful air. It works nicely into Lord Mayo in a set. Steve
On 2003-02-13 16:31, peeplj wrote:
Here ya go. This is from JC’s Tunefinder.The version I play is notated in the “100 Best Slow Airs” book, but this version is very close.
It’s a wild fun tune.
-James
http://www.flutesite.comX:1
T:Port na bP’ucai
R:slow air
Z:Henrik Norbeck <> henrik.norbeck@MAILBOX.SWIPNET.SE> >
M:3/2
L:1/4
Q:1/2=60
K:D
| d>c A3 B | A{BA}G/E/ F2 G2
| A>B =c3{dc}B | A3/2{BA}G/ {AB}A4 |
| d>c {AB}A3 B | A{BA}G/E/ {A}F2 {A}G2
| A{BA}G/F/ G4- | G{AG}F G4
|: A>B c2 d2 | e f/g/ {fg}f2 g2
| {b}a{ba}g/f/ g2 e>f | {ef}e{fe}d/B/ c4 |
| [1 {AB}A>B c2 d2 | {ef}e f/g/ {fg}f2 g2
| {b}a{ba}g/f/ g2 e>f | e{fe}d/c/ d4
| [2 d>c {AB}A3 B | {c}A{BA}G/E/ F2 G2
| A{BA}G/F/ G4- | G{AG}F G4 ||[ This Message was edited by: peeplj on 2003-02-13 16:32 ]
[ This Message was edited by: peeplj on 2003-02-13 16:35 ]
Hrm…guess one of these days I should actually get an ABC program of some sort…
Aodhan
Neat. What’s a pooka?
I may be wrong, but I believe a pooka or phooka is a kind of creature from Irish legend, a horse or pony that lives in a lake and tries to get small children to ride its back. If they are enticed into getting on, it takes them underwater where they are drowned and eaten.
–shivver–
Ain’t fairytales grand?!?
Here’s what the slow air book says:
“The Pooka (Puck), a sort of hobgoblin associated with the Fairies, was the herald of winter.”
Best,
–James
http://www.flutesite.com
The Puca can be shaped, it is said, as an eagle, bat, donkey, a shadow, and esp. as a firebreathing horselike creature (with claws, if I remember).
Supposedly Brian Boru tamed it so that now it’s a prankster that takes drunks for rides instead of being the terrifying killer it used to be.
Some say it is associated with winter, or with water.
N, that’s all I got
Test
They play a lot of Pookas in Kerry,you know, for the dancing… Slodes as well, a whole lot of Slodes.
H.
On 2003-02-13 23:36, Harry wrote:
They play a lot of Pookas in Kerry,you know, for the dancing… Slodes as well, a whole lot of Slodes.
And here I am woodshedding my rails and jeegs. . .
Gotta reform, I guess.
The tune was reportedly made from the sound of whales. Their song was heard by people out fishing off the Blaskets or Arran Islands (can’t remeber which).
The opening phrase is chillingly reminiscent of whale songs. Obviously it’s a short step to associate this sound with the fairies - hence the name.
Ken
Hasn’t anyone seen the great classic James Stewart movie “Harvey”, a film adaptation of the play? In this hilarious comedy, the pooka is an enormous rabbit, which is an atypical form for a pooka. Some sources trace the pooka to a fertility god, so the prolific rabbit may not be a totally inappropriate image, and as such it is certainly relevant to this time of year - the fertility festival of Valentine/Lupercalia.
I saw Harvey, the film.
It was from a play.
Yes, Jimmy Stewart
was swell–nobody could
see the rabbit but him,
so they didn’t need
to show one. Didn’t know
it was a Pooka, though!
On 2003-02-14 07:10, kenr wrote:
The opening phrase is chillingly reminiscent of whale songs. Obviously it’s a short step to associate this sound with the fairies - hence the name.
And what makes you think that the whales didn’t learn the sound from the fairies, rather than the other way around?
Yes, I’ve heard piper Ronan Browne talking about how the impression of that air was taken from whale song resonating off the hard but thin shell of the Currachs (traditional boat)at sea. It’s the sort of thing I would love to believe, which is why I’m immediately suspicious of that explination!..
In truth it was, of course, learnt from the fairies, more specifically, the King of the fairies- he taught it to the Prince of whales.
Regards, Harry.
On 2003-02-14 18:17, Harry wrote:
In truth it was, of course, learnt from the fairies, more specifically, the King of the fairies- he taught it to the Prince of whales.
I can’t decide whether to laugh or throw tomatoes. 
Susan
Hi James,
What a fascinating approach to this air you had. I admire your spirit of adventure when you learn new pieces. I was really drawn in, especially by the A part.
Thanks, Jim,
Cara
It’s a lovely air. I find that transcriptions of airs are generally useless. My own personal belief is that the only way to capture the true essence of an air is to hear someone singing/playing it. Perhaps its more an issue of personalizing it oneself? Do you have any recorded sources for this air? if so, I would love to know about them.
Arbo