Polka name?

Uilleann Pipes
1

There is a simple little polka in H.J. Clarke’s “The New Approach to Uilleann Piping”.
The whole of it is has a range from low d to middle d.
Its in Lesson 9, Exercise 17, page 25 in my late edition version.
Whats the name of this tune?

One more question on the subject of polkas, what is the right BPM speed?

Thanks!

2

I don’t have the book, but Sullivan’s has that range.

If that isn’t it, post the beginning in ABC?

3

I think it’s Egan’s polka, but this is from memory, and mine ain’t so good, you know…cheers.

4

Yes, Egan’s Polka. Good memory. :slight_smile:

http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/39

5

Ultimately it depends on what your dancers want, or lacking them, what you want to convey. Was just checking out mudcat.org to see what they had to say on Irish polkas (for instance such truths as, “How long is a piece of string?” :wink: ), and you see mention of a tempo spectrum that is considered danceable ranging from 120 bpm (there so-called “Chicago Style”), to 144 bpm (there so-called “Eastern Style”, which speed I tend to associate with Sliabh Luachra).

6

This seems about like the tempo we’ve played for dancers doing the Kerry set:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VGwMnppEOQ

Of course, that’s the Eastern (Kentucky) style. :slight_smile: If you can find a copy of “The Star Above the Garter” recording you’ll hear some lovely polkas by Julia Clifford & Co. That’s about as Sliabh Luachra as Sliabh Luachra gets.

7

Thanks!

8

Ha! I was just watching the same vid on my searches. In my locale we’ll often play at that speed too, but again it depends on what the dancers want, or on who starts the tune. :slight_smile:

So that’s what the name refers to, eh?

9

Thanks for the link.
You got to love tunes you can play easily in several keys.
The Britches Full of Stiches comes to mind.

Thanks for this too. Sliabh Luachra is new to me. Very interesting indeed!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sliabh_Luachra

10

Sliabh Louisville?

11

:laughing:

:open_mouth: :open_mouth: :open_mouth: We must rectify this immediately. As for a bit of a piping swipe at it, get thee a copy of “Deadly Buzz” posthaste!

12

Ah, thanks for the recommedation, but I’ve got a long, long list of Irish Music
to get and too few dollars to get them.
I will move The Deadly Buzz nearer to the top of that list though.
Thanks.