I noticed footage of paddy Maloney playing this on the npu website and was interested to see him play it 3 different keys: d, e minor and a minor. This is the first tune I’ve come across that had this portability across key signatures. Is this unique?
Not really.
for example…Drops of Brandy is often played in several keys…indeed the good Mr Maloney recorded it thus, way back
Where on the NPU site did you see the clip?
http://source.pipers.ie/Media.aspx?mediaId=24270&categoryId=904
I was talking about tunes playable in 3 keys. I imagine some tunes are playable in the 3 major keys of d, g and a.
I’m wondering if the walls of liscarroll is different because when played in d the f natural is suggested even though it’s never played, whilst the keys of e min and a min are readily available.
Paddy and company played that tune in those 3 keys on Chieftains 1 way back when, notice. It’s rare to hear a musician cycle through keys like that. One example is a home recording where Tommy Reck played the Mason’s Apron in A, G, and D. He basically ignored the G# for the key of A. Some of those Vallelys played Alexander’s March in a few different settings and keys, too. Willie Clancy played a jig and a fling in different keys as well. As you’ve noticed it’s not always possible, the tune may have too wide a range above the octave note.