Solas do a set of reels called “the Beauty Spot,” which starts off with a lovely slow reel called O’Dowd’s, listed as written by Joseph O’Dowd. I’ve searched most of the usual suspects, and haven’t found it. It’s not the same tune as the O’Dowd’s listed in JC’s ABC tunefinder.
Does anybody have the sheet music for this?
TIA, Charlie
I’m not quite sure, but could it be this one?
http://www.xs4all.nl/~moos135/O’_Dowd’s.gif
I think Solas play O’Dowds very slowly, with lots of variation. don’t suppose you’ll find sheet music exactly like that. Have you tried picking it up by ear?
Cheers,
Jeroen
Jeroen,
This is the tune that I keep finding, but it sounds absolutely nothing like the one that Solas play. It could be as you say, that they just embellish/vary the heck out of it.
I’ve tried picking it up by ear, slowing it down, etc, but it’s just a very counter-intuitive tune for me. As my wife said, “It sounds like someome’s making it up as he goes along.” I suppose I’ll just have to slow it down more and write it down.
Thanks, Charlie
I haven’t heard the Solas record, but Azalin learned the tune from the record and played it for me once and I seem to recall twigging that it was based on the tune that people generally refer to as “Dowd’s no. 9”, which is in D. As Jeroen says, they’ve polished it up a bit.
I could be mistaken - have to ask Azalin again. But you should have no trouble finding Dowd’s no. 9. I think it’s on the Chieftains’ Water from the Well. Also on the Matt Molloy/Sean Keane duet album.
I remember StevieJ playing the faster, and kinda different, version. It sounded alike, but I think this one can easily be learned by ear, and would have a complete different result from a sheet. Actually, the most amazing version is on the “Solas in Concert” tape, Egan plays it on his Copeland Low D, and has lots more variations than the tune from the CD. I saw Egan play it at a concert in Barre, Vermont, and then he used a flute. Was quite good too…
O’dowd’s #9 is it – thanks StevieJ. As you said, heavily embellished; the sheet music and record might be effectively two different pieces.
An aside – Dowd’s Favorite was the first reel I ever (knowingly) heard – on Steeleye Span’s Ten Man Top. It took awhile to connect the dots between the sheet music and recording.
Charlie
On 2002-01-29 22:21, chas wrote:
An aside – Dowd’s Favorite was the first reel I ever (knowingly) heard – on Steeleye Span’s Ten Man Top.
Same here! And it’s a fine performance of the tune by Peter Knight that still holds up very well 30 years later.
This is a fun tune to work up on whistle in A dorian. (You can then use a C whistle to keep it in the usual key.)
It took a while to connect the dots between the sheet music and recording.
The version that Jeroen posted above is not a great transacription or setting, IMO. And from what you say here, added to your comments on the Solas version of #9, you should be getting the message about the value of learning to learn tunes by ear… 
bejaysus, wasn’t that Ten Man Mop (or Mr Reservoir Butler rides again)?
On 2002-01-29 22:21, chas wrote:
It took awhile to connect the dots between the sheet music and recording.
And isn’t that where the music is? The dots never tell it like it is!
StevieJ wrote:
The version that Jeroen posted above is not a great transacription or setting, IMO. And from what you say here, added to your comments on the Solas version of #9, you should be getting the message about the value of learning to learn tunes by ear…
You’re preachin’ to the choir. I’ve played dulcimer exclusively by ear for 25 years. I play whistle almost exclusively by ear, but do practice reading music, and occasionally fill in tunes with sheet music (as in this case).
From Peter:
bejaysus, wasn’t that Ten Man Mop (or Mr Reservoir Butler rides again)?
Yep, it’s kind of unwieldy to write out the whole thing, though. 
Thanks for all your help, folks. I’m slowly transcribing the tune now.
Charlie
