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Jackie Donnan - 3
These come from mostly quiet soirees and sessions recorded by myself and Dianna Skillen at various times in the period 1975 - 1999. They were digitised and edited during Lockdown (2020).
Polka - Down the Wee Dark Hole
Jackie played Down the Wee Dark Hole with Willie Savage for the dance the Laughing Gauger which is a "hop skip" polka. They played it in the key of G, whereas Willie McCloy played it in the key of A calling it the Banjo. It was also called Lift up your Clothes. Recorded in 1993.
Down the wee Dark Hole (hop/skip Polka)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:44
Polka - the Wearied Soldier
Jackie learnt the Wearied Soldier from Davy and Robbie Gray, who in turn learnt it from Jimmy Ward (1865 - 1944). Ward and subsequent fiddlers played it for the dance the Laughing Gauger which is a "hop skip" polka, a popular two-hand dance around both Central and East Down. Recorded in 1992.
The Wearied Soldier (hop/skip Polka)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:36
Strathspey - Miss Lyall
Another tune Jackie Donna would have played with Toye William and his son Willie Savage. In the period after their death strathspeys would have been Jackie's favourite solo tunes (his "party pieces"). Recorded in 1976.
Miss Lyall (Strathspey)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:41
Strathspey - the Iron Man
Another tune Jackie Donna would have played with Toye William and his son Willie Savage. Recorded in 1976.
the Iron Man (Strathspey)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:40
Waltz - Billy Marshall's Waltz
Jackie learnt this waltz from Toye William. Willie had forgotten it for many years when a man asked him to play it after whistling a portion. Thereafter it was nicknamed Billy Marshall's Waltz as he had reminded Willie of it. Recorded in 1984.
Billy Marshall's (Waltz)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:03
Schottische - Sally round the Gooseberry Bush
Jackie learnt Sally round the Gooseberry Bush from Davy and Robbie Gray, who in turn learnt it from Jimmy Ward (1865 - 1944). Ward and subsequent fiddlers played it for the two-hand dance the Plain Schottische, a popular dance around both Central and East Down. Recorded in 1994.
Sally round the Gooseberry (Plain Schottische)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:21
Reel - Farewell to Cailroe
Jackie learnt Farewell to Cailroe from the well-known tin whistle player Tom McHale who occasionally called into the Saturday night session in Balloo House in the early 1970s. Farewell to Cailroe was composed by Finbarr Dwyer the accordion player from Cork.
Farewell to Cailroe (Reel)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 00:55
Jig/Quadrille tune - Burney's No 3
Burney's Quadrilles are thought to have come from a fiddle player, Paddy Burney. Jackie and Willie Savage, and subsequently Jackie and myself, played Burney's No 3 for the 3rd figure of the Quadrilles. It is an interesting tune as the first part is a standard double jig that fits the dance, however the second part is more like a single jig, with long draggy notes; these fit perfectly with another section of the dance when the couples are balancing.
Burney's No3 (JIg/Quadrille Tune)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:12
Barndance - the North-East Quickstep
Jackie learnt the North-East Quickstep from his longtime fiddle playing friend Tom Miskelly.
the North-East Quickstep (Barndance)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:40
March - the Hills of Alva
Jackie recalled the march the Hills of Alva in the early 90s. He subsequently altered this variation changing notes and by adding a further part.
the Hills of Alva (March)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 00:48
Jig/Quadrille tune - Over the Sea
Jackie and Willie Savage and subsequently Jackie and myself played Over the Sea for the 4th figure of the Quadrilles. Willie McCloy played it for the 3rd of the Caledonians. Jackie maintained that whilst it was a simple tune it sounded well with twin fiddles - he often referred to it as "twin fiddles".
Over the Sea (6/8 Quadrille Tune)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:22
Polka - Petronella
Petronella was played by many of the fiddlers from East and Central Down for the popular two-hand dance, the Laughing Gauger, which is a hop-skip polka. The bouncy rhythm of the initial bars to both parts fit the "hop-skip" steps of the dance.
Petronella (hop/skip Polka)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:22
Polka - Niel Gow's Farewell to Whisky
One of the Scottish composer’s best-known tunes, it was originally a slow air composed to lament the prohibition of making whisky in Scotland in 1799. “It is,” explained Niel or Nathaniel Gow, “expressive of a Highlander’s sorrow on being deprived of his favourite beverage”. In Ireland it is popular as a polka, where it has been played the length of the country from Kerry, by Patrick O’Keefe, Denis Murphy, and Julia Clifford in Kerry, to Antrim by Joe Holmes. There are several versions played in Down, one titled Highland Whisky around the central part of the county.
It was played by Willie Savage and Willie McCloy. Savage played it for the 5th figure of the Lancers, whereas McCloy played it for the 5th figure of the Caledonians. Jackie and myself played occasionally for the last of the Lancers.
Farewell to Whisky & Untitled (Polkas)Jackie Donnan
00:00 / 02:14
Discussion on Mazurkas and playing for dancing
Discussion on mazurkas & dancingJackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:32
After playing a mazurka Jackie described playing the fiddle for a dance with an auld fella (Willie Savage at the regular dance in Toye Orange Hall) for eight years. It was hard work. They played from 9 to 3 (9pm to 3am) and they were paid extra for every half hour after. But when you started that there, they danced to daylight. They were used dancing to a particular tune. They were used dancing to this one for years. I mind we played at the New Line and a big farmer, James McKelvey of the Bushes, came up and says "that's no the right tune". Willie Savage was cross man and his moustache stood out on end. McKelvey comes up says "that's no the right tune". Savage's moustache was standing out and he says "what is the right tune". So McKelvey lilted it over. Then Savage to me "we'll play his tune, then we'll play our own tune and sure he'll know bad all about it". So we played his tune and he got half way round the hall and changed into our own tune and he never noticed it. It was a wrong thing even - we should have played away no matter about him.
Discussion on Barndances, Pacemakers & This is your Life
Barndances, Pacemakers & This is your LifeJackie Donnan
00:00 / 01:57
Jackie Donnan holding court. He initially discusses playing only one tune for each dance, or figure of a dance. Then the benefits of dancing generally........
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