The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #143515   Message #3834948
Posted By: GUEST,Jim Bainbridge
26-Jan-17 - 06:07 AM
Thread Name: Sammy Bar.. Irish version.
Subject: RE: Sammy Bar.. Irish version.
Jack Campin- your last sentence was totally ridiculous!
             The 'English' way of playing the Bluebell Polka on the G/D melodeon is mainly based on Walter Bulwer's fiddle playing on the iconic 'English Country Music' LP put out by Reg Hall & friends in the mid 60s. Nothing to do with G/D melodeon players- I have one of the 99 copies issued, although I believe it is on CD nowadays.

Jimmy Shand's version was wonderful, but was not the original, so why should that version be frozen in time?

Likewise McLeod's Reel is of ancient origin & various versions known throughout the English-speaking world, so claiming the allegedly Scottish version as definitive is as reprehensible as the Irish plagiarism/bigotry you suggested earlier. As for getting the name right, it's a great tune and if it was called 'Donald Trump's Return to Stornoway' it would still be great'.

This music is in permanent flux- the way tunes are played by others may not be to your taste- I think much of modern 'traditional' music is appalling but you CANNOT start talking about CORRECT versions and names- it's changing all the time- we are individuals not robots.

Acknowledging where YOU got it is one thing, but your previous accusations of anti- English attitudes in Ireland is contradicted by such ill-informed statements.