Irish Polkas

Subject: RE: Irish Polkas
From: wigan
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 11:30 AM

most trad songs and tunes were passed down by word of mouth or ear,and names developed over a period. thus a tune may have many titles,so it is sometimes easier to class them as,say, kerry polkas.
mally publications do a 100 best polkas,and like his other books he lists alternative titles which can be a good way of learning the names. but it is annoying to haer a tune you like and fancy playing,only to be told "oh,it's a kerry polka"

Subject: RE: Irish Polkas
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 11:08 AM

Ahhh, polkas! The easiest thing for a beginner to play on the fiddle, as everyone who has suffered while sitting near me at a Mudcat gathering will testify. I like the Newmarket polka, and the one Letty taught me in Hull9 (the Maids of Somethingorother... Ardagh, I believe.) Polkatastic. Mind you, I can manage slow reels now (it's a new form of dance music, like a slow air, but 4/4).

Subject: RE: Irish Polkas
From: Leadfingers
Date: 11 Sep 04 - 06:57 PM

We do Shaunessy's(in A) then Pat Ryan's and Dennis Murphy's (both in D) as an opening tune set for a lot of our Gigs .I usually do em on Mandolin but have been known to do em on whistle for a change .

Subject: RE: Polkas
From: Fliss
Date: 11 Sep 04 - 05:55 PM

The Kerry Polka I play is called Peg Ryans, or Egans depending on where you are playing.

I like the Ballydesmond Polkas too. We play 2 then 1 for some reason. There is also a no3 which I should learn.

Polkas swing nicely on an English Concertina.

The link shows me on a beach in Kerry and yes I was playing Egans Polka!

http://www.sabrinaflu.co.uk/features.htm

fliss

Subject: RE: Polkas
From: Leadfingers
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 08:11 PM

I think the fact is there are SO many Kerry Polkas that people tend to learn 'sets' of tunes and just call them Kerry Polkas , and never bother with the actual titles .

Subject: Irish Polkas
From: Fiddlin' Sid
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 03:00 PM

Why do Irish polkas become anonymous ? Many folkies can hum a fairly well known jig or reel by merely hearing the title. But, polkas (and often very well known tunes) are merely known as 'Kerry Polka' or many go by the same name i.e 'Sweeneys' or whatever. Not an earth shattering question , but one that puzzles.....