Origins: Reel in the Flickering Light

Subject: Origins: Reel in the Flickering Light
From: GUEST,Big Mick
Date: 18 Nov 03 - 09:58 PM

Can anyone tell me if the tune to this song is an actual reel? And if so, what is the name to it? We are doing an arrangement of it, and wondered if it was in O'Neill's or another publication.

I bet these folks in The Conklin Ceili Band that the assorted Mudcat Wizardry would have an answer for us in less than 30 minutes. Don't let the old Mick down.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Origins: Reel in the Flickering Light
From: Big Mick
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 09:16 AM

refresh. C'mon folks, I am counting on you.

Subject: RE: Origins: Reel in the Flickering Light
From: Jeri
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 09:34 AM

Jeez, Mick, could you hum a few bars?
I've never heard/heard of the song before.

Subject: RE: Origins: Reel in the Flickering Light
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 09:41 AM

lyrics and chords here

still looking

Subject: RE: Origins: Reel in the Flickering Light
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 09:59 AM

AND - since to answer the question "It is an actual reel" there needs to be a definition of what makes a reel a reel. (Since even if the tune was composed for the lyrics it could still be an actual reel)

found this:Jigs and reels both have a steady beat at a quick walking pace. For this reason, jigs and reels are the tunes normally used for contra dances, whose basic step is a walking step. Superimposed on this walking beat is a faster melody beat. In other words, there are typically multiple notes of the melody for each walking step. The difference between jigs and reels is that a jig has three melody beats per walking step, whereas a reel has four

still not very helpful to me. it may help you mick.


found this quote as well:A song written by a man living in Los Angeles who according to Christy finds the place hard going and sings songs to keep his head together (although I'm not quite sure it was together while writing this) - it's called The Reel In The Flickering Light.

sound (mp3) at http://www.michaelcollins.utvinternet.com/audio/reel.mp3

Subject: RE: Origins: Reel in the Flickering Light
From: Jeri
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 10:12 AM

An opinion based on the the chords and lyrics:
A chords in fiddle tunes in G don't happen very often.
3-line B parts don't either, but it could have been truncated.

There might be a similar fiddle tune (or 100), but this seems like it it was written for the song. I'm coming up with what I think is the tune, based on the chords. I also think I've heard this somewhere (like maybe from Mick).

Subject: RE: Origins: Reel in the Flickering Light
From: Leadfingers
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 11:13 AM

If your question is 'Is this a Dance Tune?' the answer IMHO is no.I am
sure the tune was written to go with the words.

Subject: RE: Origins: Reel in the Flickering Light
From: Nerd
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 02:01 PM

I think Leadfingers is right. I'm assuming the question means "is there a traditional tune about which the song was written" as opposed to "is the tune structurally a reel." I only remember this Christy Moore number vaguely, but I'm pretty sure the tune had no independent existence. I'm willing to be corrected, though!

Subject: RE: Origins: Reel in the Flickering Light
From: Tinker
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 02:34 PM

Jeri, good memory, Mick played it Sunday Night of the 2001 Getaway in the Dining Hall...

Tinker

Who has video to aid her failing memory

Subject: RE: Origins: Reel in the Flickering Light
From: Jeri
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 02:43 PM

Of course, all fiddle tunes exist somewhere. I'm sure I could 'find' this one. (That 'C-G-A-D' progression is pretty interesting.)

Subject: RE: Origins: Reel in the Flickering Light
From: michaelr
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 05:37 PM

The song's lyrics and, presumably, melody were written by one Colm Gallagher. Christy Moore says this in his autobiography/songbook "One Voice":

Colm Gallagher went to America a long time ago and he sings and plays in Los Angeles. I went to hear him play one night... I want to do a few more of his songs, particularly "Spanish Arches" and "Easter Lilies". He has many songs - I believe Tommy Makem has recorded a few.
He has another cracker about the St Patrick's Night Dance in San Fernando, with all the plastic paddies on the spree. I hope he's doing well and that we meet up again.

This from a review on Tommy Makem's website:

A ballad that hit home with Alaskan storytellers was the tragic "Peter Kagan and the Wind,"...after singing a host of traditional songs, both haunting and joyful, Makem took the audience by surprise with Colm Gallagher's irreverent "Bridie Murphy and the Kamikazi Pilot."
Anchorage Times

Also found a song called "Belfast Strike" on The Balladeers lyrics site... don't know if it's the same Colm Gallagher.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Origins: Reel in the Flickering Light
From: GUEST,Big Mick on an organizing drive
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 06:15 PM

Just what I count on from my beloved friends at the Mudcat. Thank you for correcting my question. Yes, I did want to know if the song was set to an existing dance (reel). I don't play it with the chords listed. Rather I play D shapes capo'ed up a step to E. I also have inserted a F#m in there. When I am home again (as if there were any evidence at all that that would ever be the case) I will post the arrangement I have been using. I am asking because we are trying to come up with a different arrangement, and Natalie (our fiddle playing phenom)was asking.

I love the yarn this one tells, but want to figure a different way to do it.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Origins: Reel in the Flickering Light
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 08:29 PM

Colm Gallagher is given as author and copyright holder at the O'Shaughnessy website.: Reel in the Flickering

G C A D   D7 G is given here: Reel

Deservedly popular, many artists have recorded it.

Subject: RE: Origins: Reel in the Flickering Light
From: Big Mick
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 09:19 PM

OK, here is how I currently play it. Remember, I capo 2 so the chords shown are shapes and it is actually in E.

D                                                    Em                                                                   D                      Em                              A
AS I WAS GOING HOME ONE EVENING, I KNOW THIS TAKES SOME BELIEVING,
D                G                   D         A       D   
I MET A GROUP OF CREATURES, WITH THE STRANGEST LOOKING FEATURES.
D                                     Em
A POOR OLD DOG AND A WORM AND A WEED, A FINE OLD PIGEON, YES INDEED,
A                         G
DADDY LONG LEGS JUMPED UP SPRIGHT,
    D             A          D
AND DANCED TO THE REEL IN THE FLICKERING LIGHT
D            Em               A               G
AROUND WE GO, HEEL TO THE TOE, DADDY LONG LEGS JUMPED UP SPRIGHT
    D             A          D            
AND DANCED TO THE REEL IN THE FLICKERING LIGHT



And so on

Subject: RE: Origins: Reel in the Flickering Light
From: Beer
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 10:58 PM

Gordon Belsher from Prince Edward Island does a great version singing this song with a truely great fiddle player by the name of Richard Wood backing him up. www.GuernsyCove.ca

Subject: RE: Origins: Reel in the Flickering Light
From: GUEST,colm gallagher author
Date: 24 Jul 16 - 05:06 PM

I WROTE WORDS AND MUSIC AND IT IS A REEL. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 AS IN THE RAKES OF MALLOW REEL YO KNOW?

Subject: RE: Origins: Reel in the Flickering Light
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 24 Jul 16 - 05:26 PM

Definitely a reel. Lovely song, lovely tune, beautifully done, eons ago now, by Christy. Thanks for it, Colm!