Father Kelly - guitar and fiddle

This is Kari (fiddle) and Larry (guitar) of the Black & Tan String Band doing a beautiful tune called Father Kelly.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• father
• kelly
• reel
• fiddle
• kari
• larry
• guitar
• frog
• hollow

[photofiddler]

Yes, it is a constant favourite at our Irish sessions, and played faster. However, I do like it very much the way you play it :)

[locustvalleystring]

Thanks. Well, I guess one can create a controversy over about anything. :) Father Kelly will be "turning" about now (see comment below)....I presume, in his grave. So many tunes have lost their meaning or have been contorted over the years. I understand why it is important to retain the original intent and message, so I am sympathetic to that idea. Thank you for your comment. I will be seeing Kari soon and I will get us to play it as a reel.

[crexcrex71]

Oh dear, Oh dear. I'm afraid that 'Father Kelly's' is not a traditional song but a good old Irish reel called Father Kelly's No 1. There is also a Father Kelly's No 2 and a Father Kelly's Jig, just some of many Irish dance tunes written by this particular priest. No doubt he put names on them as well but they seem to have got lost along the way. As such the tune is usually played at twice or maybe even three times the speed that you are playing it at.

[locustvalleystring]

I had never heard the tune before playing it in that video. I can be seen reading the chords in a book just out of view. But, isn't a good old Irish reel considered "traditional" in some sense? .... at least if is is truly old. Thanks.

[HadFid]

Is that a book that can be obtained somewhere? I'd love to be able to read the music.

[locustvalleystring]

HadFid....It was my friend's book. I will check with her. Larry

[kabur]

this sounds similar to O'Carolan tunes.

[MrLuridan]

Play it as fast or slow as you want...

[planinanm]

I really love this tune played initially very slowly, then gradually sped up (similar to the way it is played on the Portland Collection CD). It is especially fun when a full band comes in when it starts speeding up.

[fingersnap14]

The musical notation for it can be found in The Portland Collection: Contra Dance Music in the Pacific Northwest (Volume 1) by Susan Songer and Clyde Curley.

I first heard this tune on this site almost 2 years ago, but only just the other night at an Irish session, did I hear it played faster. It took me a while to identify it. I want to learn to play it both speeds, but it's the slow one that really moves me the most.

Beautifully played!

[ansliabhdraiochta]

lovely

never mind if it is a reel ...

[labradornl]

What a beautiful sound!

[mohawk424]

that is a very deep and beautiful song,where are you folks from?would love to hear more and more of ya's,,thanks for posting your outstanding music,

[virginmary58]

beautiful

[purplemailbox]

Yes, this tune is played as a cracking fast reel. I like your playing. I was just waiting for you to play it through once slowly and then kick it into a reel. Thought it was a tease.

By the way, it is a tune, not a song.