"Gander in the Pratie Hole" - and website by California band w/ detailed, accurate historical information on Irish traditional music

First, the song. "Gander in the Pratie Hole." A D mixolydian tune.

By Blackthorn (an English band) - in a set with "Humours of Ballymore" at Sidmouth (U.K.) Folkweek festival in 2009. Information on the band: http://www.hobgoblin.com/blackthorn/ ... YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/TheBlackthornBand#




Fiddler's Companion:

GANDER IN THE PRATIE HOLE, THE (An Gandal i bPoll na bhFataí). AKA and see “The Brother’s Jig,” “The Friar’s Jig,” “The Gander at the Pit of Spuds,” “The Monk,” “The Monk’s Jig,” “Port an Bráthair,” “Port Padraig na Carra.” Irish, Double Jig. D Major ('A' part) & D Mixolydian ('B' part) {Breathnach, Carlin, Harker/Rafferty, Mallinson}: D Mixolydian {Mitchell}. Standard. AAB (Carlin): AABB (Breathnach, Harker/Rafferty, Mallinson, Taylor/Tweed): AA’BB (Mitchell). A gander is an adult male goose, while a ‘pratie hole’ refers to potatoes, perhaps a refuse pile. Closely related tunes include the “Brother’s Jig”/”Monk’s Jig”/”Port Padraig na Carra” tune group. According to piper Néillidh Mulligan these titles refer to piper Brother Gildas (Padraig Ó Seaghdha 1882—1961), who learned the jig from piper Tom Rowsome (d. 1928, uncle of famous piper Leo Rowsome), who called it “Butler's Jig.” “Port Padraig na Carra” is also closely related tune. Sources for notated versions: piper Seán Potts (Ireland) [Breathnach]; piper Willie Clancy (1918-1973, Miltown Malbay, west Clare) [Mitchell]; New Jersey flute player Mike Rafferty, born in Ballinakill, Co. Galway, in 1926 [Harker]. Breathnach (CRÉ I), 1963; No. 30, pg. 13. Breathnach (Folk Music and Dance of Ireland), 1971; 7. Carlin (Master Collection), 1984; No. 263, pg. 150. Harker (300 Tunes from Mike Rafferty), 2005; No. 232, pg. 71. Mallinson (Enduring), 1995; No. 41, pg. 17. Mitchell (Dance Music of Willie Clancy), 1993; No. 117, pg. 97. Taylor (Traditional Irish Music: Karen Tweed’s Irish Choice), 1994; pg. 5.

The website is put up by The Standing Stones, a duo from San Jose, Calif. They explain:

The Standing Stones are Michael Robinson and Vicki Parrish. We perform traditional music and song from Scotland and Ireland, and Canada and Australia where Scottish and Irish music took root during the Gaelic diaspora of the 19th century. We also do a certain amount of early music, and music from the other Celtic lands. Our instruments include wire-strung harp, nylon-strung harp, fiddle, flute, guitar, mandola, banjo and accordion. We are based in the San Francisco Bay area in California.

While others may try to take traditional music into the future, our goal is to take it into the past. We try to join our research on historical performance styles to the living tradition, so that our music can be both exciting and true to its roots. But the most important thing is to enjoy ourselves and to share this beautiful musical heritage with others.

The stuff I know checks out. The stuff I don't is fascinating.

Site map directory at http://www.standingstones.com/sitemap.html