Today is 7/24/2008

Leading the
Fight to
Jail Vagrants

Volume 14, pg.2              Printed and Published Weekly by jimgee.com, Washington Crossing, Bucks County, Pennsylvania                  NUMBER 39.

PHOTOGRAPHY

WHERE AND WHEN


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“THE MUSIC OF NA’BODACH”

We have been getting quite the few questions regarding our choices of songs and medleys we record and perform. Over the next year or so, we will attempt to provide a database of information that may help us all understand why we do what we do. It is a form of therapy…really…

 Hornpipe, Retreat & Polka – from “Knickers Down, Bottoms Up”

 Why not start at the beginning…the first instrumental medley from our first album!

First in the medley is a wonderful hornpipe, “My Love Is but a Lassie Yet”, by the famed Scottish poet, Robert Burns. Penned around 1803 and set to an older air, the tune delivers a festive feeling…until…we get to “Kilworth Hills”. As what is termed a Retreat and written as a bagpipe tune by PM G.S. MacLennan, “Kilworth Hills” provides a slinky groove for four parts…then…back to the party!

“John Ryan’s Polka” completes the set as a traditional Irish polka, (yes, the Irish have ‘em, too!). All in all, a fun medley that changes rhythmic gears while showcasing leads on fiddle and smallpipes!

 "My love, she's but a lassie yet (x2), We'll let her stand a year or twa, She'll no be half sae saucy yet!" R. Burns

“THE MUSIC OF NA’BODACH”
(second in a series)

“The Cuckoo’s Nest”, (An Intelagent Design)

Na’Bodach has developed a reputation for performing soldier songs and melodies so it would be perfectly natural to assume we would do “The Cuckoo’s Nest”. And, why not?  For one, the tune is found in all parts of the British Isles with 1651 being its earliest appearance. The 18th century Munster poet Eoghan Rua O Suilleabhain used the tune for his poem "An Spealadoir." It is used for Morris dancing and is considered a Jacobite song as well. In the U.S., Henry Beck's flute manuscript of 1785 introduced the tune for “field music” and by the Civil War, “The Cuckoo’s Nest” was included in the U.S. Army music books as a recommended military air.

Now, what we did to the song! In 6/8 and E minor, Casey sings a particularly rude version. Nice job, Mr. Jones! All “in between” parts have Glenn ripping in A Major (a Na’Bodach addition). Bud and George provide traditional melodic support while Andy “drums” his acoustic guitar. Both Glenn and Andy harmonize to Casey’s dulcet tones.

As it is in Gaelic, (“Nead na Cuaiche"), “The Cuckoo’s Nest” is an extremely popular Celtic/English melody known throughout the entire Celtic world.

Enough said.