The first time I heard Road to Lisdoonvarna was my mom playing it on the Hammered Dulcimer. It’s a neat old Irish Jig, not too tricky, but it has a catchy melody. But maybe, it’s a slide and not a jig. Wouldn’t that be scandalous?!?!?
I hope you enjoy it.
It looks like it’s both!
Road to Lisdoonvarna according to Fiddler’s Companion
ROAD TO LISDOONVARNA [1]. Irish, Slide or Single Jig. E Dorian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Silberberg): AABB (most versions). The melody appears in both single jig and single reel versions (see “Road to Lisdoonvarna” [2]). It was popularized in the United States by Grey Larsen & Malcolm Dalglish, who paired the tune with the similar “O’Keeffe’s Slide [1].” Sources for notated versions: Chieftains (Ireland) [Brody]; Laurie Andres [Silberberg]. Lisdoonvarna, County Clare, was formerly a spa town where Victorian society partook of the mineral waters that were thought to have healing properties. It is located north and inland of the famous coastline Cliffs of Moher, in the rocky region called the Burren. The town is more famous now-a-days, particularly for tourists, as the location of an annual match-making festival. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 231. Bulmer & Sharpley (Music from Ireland), vol. 4, 85 (appears as untitled single jig). S. Johnson (The Kitchen Musician No. 4: Collection of Fine Tunes), 1983 (revised 1991, 2001); p. 6. Mallinson (Enduring), 1995; No. 69, p. 29. Miller & Perron (Traditional Irish Fiddle Music), 1977; vol. 2, No. 56 (appears as “Jig, No. 56”). Miller & Perron (Irish Traditional Fiddle Music), 2nd Edition, 2006; p. 46. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; p. 131. Spandaro (10 Cents a Dance), 1980; p. 25. Vallely (Learn to Play the Tin Whistle with the Armagh Pipers Club), vol. 1, 22. Adelphi 2002, Hickory Wind‑ “At the Wednesday Night Waltz.” June Appal 016, Grey Larson & Malcolm Dalglish – “Banish Misfortune.”
Leave a Reply