O'Neill's March/The Haughs Of Cromdale

  1. Martin Jonas
    Martin Jonas
    This rousing Irish march is best known as the riff from "Dearg Doom" by Horslips, and was also recorded by The Chieftains. It's commonly played together with the famous Scottish tune "The Haughs Of Cromdale" (known in Ireland as "Tralee Gaol" or "The Green Cockade").

    I've played both tune through twice on my 10-string waldzither (set up as a mandola), taking it up a fifth for the second time. To add some drive, I've overdubbed a rhythm track on tenor guitar and mandocello. Setting from:

    http://www.patrick-steinbach.de/wp-c...ills-march.pdf

    1920s 10-string waldzither (tuned CGDAE)
    Vintage Viaten tenor guitar
    Suzuki MC-815 mandocello


    https://youtu.be/QUjSPQQfd5Y

    Martin
  2. Frithjof
    Frithjof
    Sounds great with the chosen instruments. Taking it up a fifth for the second time works indeed great.
  3. Gelsenbury
    Gelsenbury
    The 24th was my birthday. This is a great present! I didn't know this tune, but it's a very nice weaving melody and a driving rhythm. Your arrangement works really well.
  4. Martin Jonas
    Martin Jonas
    Thanks, Frithjof and Dennis. Since recording, I've read that it was Seán Ó Riada who first combined these two tunes, calling the resulting set "O'Neill's Cavalcade". The Chieftains developed out of Ó Riada's band and took this tune with them, reverting to "O'Neill's March" for the entire set which strictly speaking is only the name for the first tune. Here is a 1976 live recording:

    https://youtu.be/lLciCDGrQgg

    One of the nice things about playing a 10-string is that it's so easy to go up or down a fifth, just shift the fingering pattern up a string -- I couldn't miss the opportunity while I had the instrument in my hand!

    Martin
  5. Gelsenbury
    Gelsenbury
    I'll respond to this thread because it's the more recent one and the one that inspired me to learn this tune. But there's an older thread for O'Neill's March here: https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/g...scussionid=895

    Happy St. Patrick's Day!

  6. Richard Carver
    Richard Carver
    That is really mesmeric, Dennis. I love the way it builds up and builds up (and the clear, precise playing). Clever stuff with the video too.
  7. Simon DS
    Simon DS
    No mistaking here, this is a march! Nice rocking rhythm. Good to see you posting Dennis.
  8. Bertram Henze
    Bertram Henze
    Is there a faint hint of pipes in the back, Dennis You might have shown to us all of the instruments involved, also the drums.
  9. Christian DP
    Christian DP
    Entrancing music, Dennis, I coul have listened for another 4 minutes.
  10. Gelsenbury
    Gelsenbury
    Thank you! Unfortunately my camera ran out of power after the mandolin and mandola recordings, and I was under too much time pressure to record video of the minor instruments as well. In order of appearance, there was a medieval drum, a cornamuse, a recorder, and a tin whistle. This was fun!
  11. Simon DS
    Simon DS
    Nice build up to the fun too.
    I’ve tried smiling while I record myself playing but then I miss the beat.
    I leave my camera plugged into the power station because I know there’s going to be a lot of takes.
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