FTX-373 - THE SWEETS OF MAY

TWO IRISH CEILIDHE BANDS

Two trios, both with a strong accordion lead, play a lively selection of dances from the North of Ireland. THE JACKIE HEARST Trio in Belfast, backed by Vincent Lowe with piano and drums, were recorded in Belfast in 1952, and THE GILCURDON TRIO, with banjo and bass were recorded in Newry, Co. Down in 1962. Both these bands have a rhythmical punch that makes for both good listening and extremely compelling dance-music. The selection includes reels, jigs, hornpipes, set- dances, quadrilles and some marches

THE GILCURDON TRIO - rec Belfast 1963:-

1. Quadrille or Set Dance: THE SWEETS OF MAY - 2'24"

2. Set Dance: THE KING OF THE FAIRIES/ PIPER THROUGH THE MEADOWS STRAYING - 3'05"

3. Reels: THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME/ THE RAKES OF MALO/ THE MASON'S APRON - 2'03"

4. Quadrille/ Reels: LA RUSSE/ THE MERRY BLACKSMITH - 2'26"

5. Jigs: RAKES OF KILDARE/ SADDLE THE PONY/ THE MUCKIN' O' GEORDIE'S BYRE - 2'31"

6. Jigs: RORY O MORE/ FROST IS ALL OVER/ BLACKTHORN STICK/ THE HUMOURS OF BANDON - 2'31"

7. Hornpipes: THE DERRY/ THE HARVEST HOME/ JOHNSTONS - 3'01"

8. Hornpipes: OFF TO CALIFORNIA/ THE SHOWMAN'S FANCY/ THE GREENCASTLE - 2'55"

9. Marches: KELLY, THE BOY FROM KILLANE/ THE MINSTREL BOY/ THE WEARING OF THE GREEN - 2'30"

THE JACKIE HEARST TRIO - rec Newry, Co Down 1952:-

10. Quadrille or Set Dance: THE HUMOURS OF BANDON - 2'49"

11. Reels: THE SCHOLAR/ THE RAKES OF MALO - 2'05"

12. Reels: THE MAID BEHIND THE BAR/ THE MERRY BLACKSMITH/ BONNY KATE - 3'08"

13. Jigs: ROARING JELLY/ BIDDY THE BOWL WIFE/ LANNIGAN'S BALL - 3'02"

14. Jigs: LARRY O GAFF/ THE FROST IS ALL OVER/ THE RAKES OF KILDARE - 3'06"

15. Hornpipes: THE SHOWMAN'S FANCY/ THE FRIENDLY VISIT - 2'55"

16. Hornpipes: THE LONDONDERRY/ OFF TO CALIFORNIA - 2'52"

17. Quadrille or Set Dance: THE SWEETS OF MAY - 2'22"

Recorded & edited by Peter Kennedy and first published on Folktracks cassettes 1978.

See also FTX-371 The Jimmy Hogan Trio rec. London, 1958:-

THE BEE'S WING/ THE HIGH LEVEL HORNPIPE/ JOHNSON'S/ THE GOLDEN EAGLE/ THE TRUMPETER/ THE LOCOMOTIVE/ BUNKER HILL/ WHELAN'S/ THE BOYS OF THE LOUGH/ THE LARK/ SALLY GARDENS/ MASON'S APRON/ COPPERPLATE REEL/ THE BOYS OF THE SPUDS/ O'BRIEN'S/ THE TRIP TO ATHLONE/ O'MALLEY'S FROLIC/ THE LUCKY PENNY/ etc.

FTX-372 The McCusker Brothers Band (Armagh) 20 local dance tunes from 9 brothers recorded at their home in Kilcreevy by Peter Kennedy in July, 1952. John, Vincent and Brendan on fiddle, Benignus:button-key accordion, Kevin on piccolo, Francis: mandolin-banjo, Thomas: piano-accordion, Bernard, piano, and last,but not least: Malachy on drums PRINCESS ROYAL/ THE ORANGE ROGUE/ THE FIRST OF MAY/ TATTER JACK WELSH/ THREE "POLKIES"/ THE CLAP DANCE/ TWO BARN DANCE TUNES/ THE SPANISH SCHOTTISCHE/ DOWN THE GLEN/ THE CUCKOO HORNPIPE/ JOCKEY TO THE FAIR/ I LOST MY LOVE AND I CARE NOT/ KING OF THE CANNIBAL ISLANDS/ THE KING OF THE FAIRIES/ MAGGIE PICKENS/ MCKENNA'S/ THE TINKER'S APRON/ THE ANTRIM REEL/ BIDDY THE BOWL WIFE/ etc.