Two hornpipes: Pat Galvin's and Cuckoo's Nest

Traditional British Isles tunes on guitar and mandolin, played here on the slow side. "Pat Galvin's" is aka (or very similar to) "The Home Ruler" or "McCollum's Hornpipe". Some versions of "Cuckoo's Nest", though not this one, have words, e.g.

There’s a corner in the meadow where the lads and lasses meet
Oh they do here what they couldn’t do in the open street
They play all kinds of games there, but the one I like the best
Is where every laddie rumples up the cuckoo’s nest.



I've usually posted this kind of thing in Song and Tune Projects, but I guess they should actually go in this section.

D.H.

Very nice, Dave! Pat Galvin's is difficult to play, but you did a great job.

Thanks for listening. These tunes seemed easier to play on guitar than mandolin, which is not usually the case.

D.H.

Great playing and very nice tone on both instruments!

What equipment did you use to record the tunes?

Nice playing!

I like that pace for hornpipes. Dancers love fast reels but if you play a hornpipe too fast you might get a shoe thrown at ya.

Great stuff, Dave - I really enjoyed both tunes. I'm not familiar with either, but the sound and playing were great, and I liked the tempo just fine.

The first one sounds like The Home Ruler to me.

Dave H

Thanks to all for listening, and for bringing this old thread back from the depths. We just got back from Merlefest or I would have responded sooner. (There were lots of great mando pickers on stage, Sam Bush probably being the best known.)

In answer to some queries:

I played these at 150 bpm (quarter notes), I believe (it's been a while since I recorded these) - some recordings come in at 200+, but I can just barely keep up with that, let alone get any swing in.

Equipment was (I think): Gibson A0 and Baby Taylor (played in C rather than D and capo'd up 2 frets) for melody, and Taylor 414 for backup guitar; recorded with Blue Spark and AKG P120 into Zoom R8, and processed in Cubase.

From the information I found online I couldn't tell if Pat Galvin's is considered truly identical to Home Ruler, or just very similar.

D.H.

Irish Tune info lists "Pat Galvin's" as an alternate name for "The Homeruler", which was written by Frank McCollum (always like to give credit to the composer when we know who it is), from Antrim, Northern Ireland - technically you could refer to this tune as "from the British Isles" due to the status of the six counties up there, but some of us would prefer to refer to it as "Irish".

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jill McAuley

Irish Tune info lists "Pat Galvin's" as an alternate name for "The Homeruler", which was written by Frank McCollum (always like to give credit to the composer when we know who it is), from Antrim, Northern Ireland - technically you could refer to this tune as "from the British Isles" due to the status of the six counties up there, but some of us would prefer to refer to it as "Irish".

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Jill-

Thanks for the Frank McCollum attribution - I found "Galvin's" in Padraig Carroll's book with no description. I would have used the term "Irish" but, as I understand it, Cuckoo's Nest is quite widespread (the Fiddler's Fakebook describes it as British Isles, Old-time, Bluegrass), so "British Isles" seemed appropriate for the combination.

D.H.

very nice music. I love the tunes when very close to this speed. I know many like them much faster, but I like ( I don't know how to discribe it) the "bounce" or the "pulse" or whatever you call it. When I learn a tune and try to approach faster 175+ (qt note speeds) i can'at really feel the pulse, or whatever. But in trying to make sure I doing that am I trying to create a "hornpip[e" out of the music. It seems the more I know sometimes the less I understand. Thanks for the music.