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Jackie Donnan - 1
These 16 tunes of Jackie Donnan were recorded by Denis Calvert in 1969, then digitised around 2012 by Denis Reynolds, then edited by myself in 2023.
Strathspey - the Marquis of Huntley’s Farewell
Jackie learnt the Marquis of Huntley’s Farewell from Willie Savage. It is one of the best-known compositions of William Marshall, which he dedicated to the Marquis’s departure with the Gordon Highlanders in 1799.
The Marquis of Huntleys Farewell (Strathspey)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:05
Reel - Captain Bounce
Jackie learnt Captain Bounce from his mentor Willie McCloy (1886 - 1959) who had in turn learnt it from John Simpson (1836 - 1921). Captain Bounce, a reel, was played for the long lost Figure Dance Captain Bounce - Jackie, McCloy and Simpson all used crushed bowing whilst playing it. A similar version of Captain Bounce was played by Jimmy and Robert Edmond, who only lived a couple of miles from Willie McCloy, but they used entirely different bowing.
Captain Bounce (Reel) Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 00:35
Reels - What the Divil ails you? and the Maids of Galway
Jackie learnt What the Divil ails you? from Willie Savage and the Maids of Galway from Willie McCloy. The Maids of Galway is a setting of the well-known reel the Boyne Hunt, which known by a number of names in Ireland. It was composed in Scotland by Miss Magdalene Stirling of Ardoch c. 1788.
What the divil ails ye & The Maids of Galway (Reels)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:18
Reel - the Killyleagh Lasses
Jackie learnt the Killyleagh Lasses from Willie McCloy (1886 - 1959). The Killyleagh Lasses was a favourite tune for stepdancing to – note the bowed treble at the end of the 4th bars which was used to match the dancer’s footwork.
Killyleagh Lasses - (Reel) (first part only)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 00:08
Jig/Quadrille tune - The Whitehouse Lassie
Jackie learnt The White House Lassie from his mentors Toye Willie Savage (1880 - 1956) and Willie McCloy (1886 - 1959). McCloy had in turn learnt it from John Simpson (1836 - 1921). Being a versatile tune they played The White House Lassie for several dances - the 3rd figure of the Quadrilles, the 4th figure of the Lancers and the 1st figure of La Russe.
The White House Lassie (Jig/Quadrille Tune)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:04
Jig/Quadrille tune - the Muses
Jackie learnt The Muses from his mentors Toye Willie Savage (1880 - 1956) and Willie McCloy (1886 - 1959). McCloy had in turn learned it from John Simpson (1836 - 1921). They played The Muses for the 4th figure of the Lancers.
The Muses (Jig/Quadrille Tune)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 00:48
Polka/Quadrille tune - Ava the Airts the Wind can Blaw
Jackie learnt Ava the Airts the Wind can Blaw from Willie Savage. They played it for the 5th (last) figure of the Caledonians. The quadrille has been adapted from Miss Admiral Gordon’s Strathspey which was composed by the well-known Scottish composer William Marshall c. 1781 in honour of Margaret Gordon, daughter of Admiral William Gordon. Robert Burns subsequently set one of his best- known songs to it – "of a" the Airts the Wind can Blaw.
Ava the Airts the Wind can Blaw (2/4 Quadrille Tune)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:05
Polka/Quadrille tune - the Boys of Belfast
Jackie learnt The Boys of Belfast from his mentor Toye Willie Savage (1880 - 1956). They played for the 5th (last) figure of the Lancers. Interestingly Jackie Donnan didn’t play the G (3rd string) as sharp or natural, but half way between the two. There were several of his tunes where he played the G, and indeed on occasion the C (2nd string), in this way. A slightly different setting of the tune is played in the fifing tradition.
The Boys of Belfast (2/4 Quadrille Tune)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:03
Polka/Quadrille tune - the Last of the Lancers
Another tune from the playing of Willie Savage; Willie and Jackie played it for the 5th (last) figure of the Lancers.
The last figure of The Lancers (2/4 Quadrille Tune)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:11
Polka/Quadrille tune - the 2nd of the Patience Lancers
Another tune from the playing of Willie Savage and Willie McCloy; it comes from a set of Quadrille Tunes called the Patience Lancers and is played for the 2nd figure.
The 2nd of Patience Lancers (2/4 Quadrille Tune)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:08
Highland Schottische - Lowden's Bonnie Woods and Braes
Jackie learnt Lowden's Bonnie Woods and Braes from Willie Savage. They played it for the Highland Schottische.
Lowden's Bonnie Woods and Braes (Highland Schottische)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 00:40
Mazurka - the Spanish Mazurka
Jackie learnt The Spanish Mazurka from Willie Savage, which they played for the two-hand dance the Polka Mazurka. Jackie played it regularly in the Comber and Balloo sessions in the 70s, which he generally followed with a mazurka titled Rocking the Cradle. He regularly played it, by itself, for dancing at venues like Greyabbey Village Hall.
The Spanish Mazurka Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:08
Mazurka - Jimmy McElroy's Mazurka
Jackie learnt this mazurka from his friend James McElroy (1892 - 1982) of Drumnaquoile. Jackie played it regularly in the Comber and Balloo sessions in the 70s, and occasionally for dancing at venues like Greyabbey Village Hall.
James McElroy's Mazurka Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:09
Schottische - Maggie Picken
Maggie Picken/Pickins has a number of titles and numerous humourous verses in song. The tune was rarely played, mostly for step dancing. In the 60s/70s Jackie would have played it for James McElroy to dance.
Maggie Picken (Schottische)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 00:49
Schottische - the Danish Polka
Jackie learnt this Schottische from Willie Savage. The tune was played for a two-hand dance called The Danish Polka.
The Danish Polka (Schottische)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 00:34
Quadrille Tune- the Pretty Maid
Jackie played this tune with Willie Savage for the 4th figure of the Quadrilles. It was a well-known tune in the area having been handed down from early fiddle players such as John Simpson (see JS manuscripts).
The Pretty Maid (2/4 Quadrille Tune)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:08
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