Danny Boy on the whistle at the session… Not bad for about a 2 minute performance. A shitty one at that! But the lady who requested it walked by and personally thanked me with a smile on her face so that made it all worth it. Could’ve cared less about the 20$.
Okay, so normally I wouldn’t kick off Danny Boy as a session tune for obvious reasons, but a lady in the pub nicely requested it, and all the musicians either acted like they didn’t know it or never heard of it (haha) but I started to play, then stopped, then started, then she threw down a bill about 3 musicians to my right (which I didn’t know was a 20 at the moment she did) so I started to play! Afterwards I got the razzing of the session leader saying to me “ah, another musician with no priniciples” hahaha. He goes to make another crack later on during the session but oh well! I don’t see any harm in bringing joy to others (which is what I thought music was for) by playing something they requested, whether it’s Danny Boy or The Bucks of Oranmore. Easiest 20$ I ever made
No principles
-You made this lady happy, and she thanked you by paying you 20 bucks.
Wanna hear about “no principles”? -The insurance-companies are people without principles. They charge you way more than 20 bucks and leave you with nothing after ten years in court.
Keep on playing those tunes noboy wants to play for folks who wants to hear them.
Your post has inspired me to learn O Danny Boy–which for some reason I’d never even thought of before…
And I say good for you for making someone happy with your music. I can understand musicans’ points of view when they say, “man, I’m sick of that song”, but I also think it’s important to keep in mind that music is not only for bringing happiness to we who make it, but also those who hear it.
I prefer to think of it as playing the Londonderry Aire (or Derry Aire).
Seriously, it’s a lovely tune. Sure, its been played to death, but if playing a tune to make someone happy isn’t a huge part of what music means to you, you’re a little short on soul.
That is so nice to hear. It must be a good feeling to be so appreciated by a listener. Personally I love the tune. I play it when I am tired or when my family are tired of hearing whistle. They never tire of the slow airs.
Well done Key of D.
I’m a “bicycle snob”, admittedly… I guess there are “session snobs” as well!!! There ain’t NUTTIN’ wrong with Danny Boy! Especially if it has a lot of meaning to someone…
Key of D; good for you! Besides the money, (my first gig I was paid with a bean sprout sandwitch) you put a smile on the lady’s face. I hope the session leader smiled when he made the statement about principles.
Aye, the session leader did smile, and said it in a positive manner, but I fear that behind some jokes, lies some truth… (I do hope I’m wrong and it’s only a fear)
That high B worked just fine.
I think for my next performance I’ll play the Kesh Jig and The Irish Washerwoman…
Ah, thanks everyone. Personally for what it’s worth, I enjoy playing Danny Boy it’s a fine melody and honestly I rarely play it, even in my spare time. Normally I’m working on reels, jigs the likes.
A few years ago, I was playing in a bar for St. Paddy’s Day. I had just finished tuning up the fiddle, mandolin, and tenor banjo, when 3 sloshed gentlemen approched me, proclaiming “That was the most amazing song we’ve ever heard”. They went on to tell me I would be famous someday ( ) and then gave me a 50 (USD).
I used to hate “Danny Boy” because of the high B. On my Susato, that sounded like… well, not nice…
But then I bought a Burke and that high B suddenly sounded sooooo sweet.
And as far as “overplayed” goes, if music moves people, it can’t be bad. Any music, any tune, as long as it conveys an emotion, any emotion, it’s what’s music is about… (my 2 eurocents).
As much as the Derry Aire (Danny Boy) is maligned…it is still the most requested melody on the uilleann pipes and whistle.
It would not have withstood the test of time if it wasn’t such a beautiful melody.
I actually heard Paddy Keenan perform it live. Afterwards I asked him why he played it. He said that it is a wonderful melody and he really enjoyed playing it.
The only tunes that I play that tend to make people emotional and even cry are The Derry Aire, The Foggy Dew, and Amazing Grace. Tear jerkers almost every time.
It is a wonderful feeling as a musician to see that kind of emotion come out when you are playing a tune.
I’ll be playing Danny Boy for a crowd at a corned beef/cabbage dinner at a local grade school on the Sat after St Patrick’s Day. Done it every year for the past 3 or 4. It’s always requested and expected. (My mom is there and she asks for it.) She sits with a handful of Irish emmigrants and they love it.
The musicians I recruit for the gig give me looks like I’ve got to be kidding, but that makes me enjoy it all the more. Kind of like mooning the other players while entertaining the audience.
Usually I’ve had 1 to 3 others playing with me. This year about 7 people have volunteered to play. They don’t know it yet…
I’m even planning on setting out song sheets at the tables so everyone can sing along. It WILL be great.
Tony
I don’t see any harm in bringing joy to others (which is what I thought music was for) by playing something they requested, whether it’s Danny Boy or The Bucks of Oranmore. Easiest 20$ I ever made 
) and then gave me a 50 (USD).
