Last week I told you I would get this jig memorized, since it was going to be a harder one to get under my fingers. It was listed as a Gan Ainm (without a name) tune, and as far as I'm aware, I hadn't ever heard a recording of it.
But I was playing it through as part of my project to revisit Breandán Breathnach's Ceol Rince na hÉireann collection, and it caught my ear -- so I gave it the extra star mark to let future me know I really like this tune (more on my star system in this email).
Turns out, there is a lot more to be learned about this tune!!
Side note: it always tickles me to post another tune type as a "reel" on social media -- guess all trad players are hipsters when it comes to making reels!
If you want an excellent resource for tracking down unknown Irish tune names, I highly recommend bookmarking Folk Tune Finder. I use it so much that it's the first thing to pop up when I type "f" into my search bar!
In Folk Tune Finder, you can type a few notes onto the piano and it will then pull up a list of tunes that match those notes. I like to type in one or two measures if possible.
Thanks to Folk Tune Finder, I now know that the jig is called Meenacross! If you have BB's Vol II, this is the 15. Gan Ainm jig on page 11. I've been pencilling in all kinds of context to the book, especially if it's a tune without a name.
But the story goes on, Reader!
After posting a video to Instagram and Facebook earlier this week, one of my friends from the southeastern US commented that he knew of Meenacross (he's a fan of Donegal) -- described as a small little crossroads in Co. Donegal, MÃn na Croise.
He didn't recognize the jig, but said he'd ask Aisling Byrne who is from Meenacross herself.
Turns out... I know of Aisling through my partner, Bear, who met her during his studies at University of Limerick. He and I have been eagerly awaiting the new album drop from Aisling, Brendan McCarthy and Conal O'Kane, which was set to release yesterday, Nov 1st.
Aisling confirmed that the Meenacross jig is indeed a tune from her area, making this a completely full circle moment!
This has happened before with tunes, but I marvel every time at how a tune that started off as "a nice Gan Ainm jig in D" turned into one that has more and more connections.
These small world moments are really what makes Irish traditional music so special. A tune that came from "a small little crossroads" is showing up all around the world.
If you need the reminder or the encouragement -- get curious about something you don't know this week! You never know how the answer might come back to you!
Happy playing!
~Hannah
Hannah Harris
I help aspiring Irish fiddlers find their lilt and get the real feel for the music.
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