The Spike Island Lasses
Notation:
Standard Notation
ABC Notation
Mandolin Tablature
Violin Tablature
traditional
PDF Files:
--- choose file type ---
Standard Notation
Mandolin Tablature
Violin Tablature
Tune Sheet
Standard Notation - wide
Mandolin Tablature - wide
Violin Tablature - wide
Irish
Play
MIDI
No audio
available
Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
"Spike Island Lasses", in Gaelic "Gearrchaile Oileán Píce" or "Cloichíní Beaga na Farraige",<br> "Reidy's Reel" or "The Small Stones of the Sea" is an Irish reel in cut time and<br> D Mixolydian. The parts are played ABCD (Breathnach, Vallely) or AA’BCD (Taylor).<br> Spike Island, in Cork Harbor, is the site of a former military installation<br> and is presently used as an incarceration facility for adolescent offenders.<br> Leitrim uilleann piper Brian McNamara (2004) believes the melody started out as a<br> two part reel and developed into the four-part tune that is more common today.<br> He points out that the two-part version is associated with concertina repertoire,<br> particularly with the playing of Mrs. Crotty.<br> Breathnach (1963) notes that O’Neill’s<br> “Reidy's Reel”<br> (in O’Neill’s Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody (1922)) is a version of this tune,<br> although the second half-phrase of the ‘B’ part that he prints belongs with<br> "The Bank of Ireland".<br> Sometimes this tune is played in a medley followed by<br> "The Dogs Among the Bushes".<br> It was printed in Breathnach's Ceol Rince na hÉireann I (1963),<br> Taylor's Music for the Sets: Blue Book (1995) and<br> Vallely's Play 50 Reels with Armagh Pipers Club (1982).<br> It was recorded by Paddy O’Brien (195?),<br> Mike McGoldrick on Wired (2005),<br> Paddy O'Brien on Irish Dance Music (1973),<br> The Irish Tradition on The Corner House (1978),<br> Brian McNamara on Fort of the Jewels (2004),<br> Paddy Keenan and Tommy O’Sullivan on The Long Grazing Acre (2003),<br> James Keane on Irish Traditional Instrumental Music, vol. 1: East Coast of America (1987),<br> Elizabeth Crotty on Concertina Music from West Clare (1999),<br> Planxty on Words and Music (1982),<br> Ronan Browne and Peter O’Loughlin on The South West Wind (1988),<br> Micho Russell on Ireland’s Roving Ambassador (1993) and<br> Billy McComiskey (et al) on The Big Squeeze (1988).<br>
Click
here
for a full page view.