Two dozen recordings “illustrate”, according to the album’s producer Reg Hall, “traditional dance-music repertoires, styles and contexts found in Ireland, Britain and America in the first half of this century.” Some 50 tunes are played by soloists, duets, small groups and ceilidh bands, including many of the leading Irish fiddlers, accordionists and flute-players of their day. The recordings, spanning 1922-48, have been scrupulously remastered and are accompanied by Hall’s detailed historical notes.
Edited by Reg Hall
1 FRANK QUINN The Westport Chorus
2 MICHAEL J. CASHIN jigs – Ginger’s Favourite / Bogs of Allen
3 TOM MORRISON & JOHN REYNOLDS Sweet Flowers of Milltown / The Boys from Knock / Schottische
4 MICHAEL COLEMAN O’Dowd’s Favourite Reel Medley
5 BART HENRY’S TRADITIONAL QUARTET ORCHESTRA jigs – Ah! Surely & The Maid On the Green
6 McKENNA & GAFFNEY Irish reels – Maids of Galway / Over the Moor to Peggy
7 K. SCANLON medley of old time fiddling reels – Bonnie Kate / Swallow’s Tail / Molly Brannigan
8 MICHAEL J. GROGAN Off to California, Hornpipe / Dunphy’s Hornpipe
9 MICHAEL J. GROGAN & JOHN NOWAND reels – Drunken Tailor / Teetotaller
10 GEORGE HALPIN & M. STANFORD reel -The Maid of Ballinatra
11 FLANAGAN BROTHERS medley of Irish Jigs – Frieze Breetches /The Cook in the Kitchen / Lannigan’s Ball
12 J. FLANAGAN Irish reels – Scotch Mary Medley
13 McCONNELL’S FOUR LEAF SHAMROCKS medley of polkas – Babes in the Wood / Moore’s Favourite
14 THE FOUR PROVINCES ORCHESTRA The Pride of Ulster – Maggie Pickens / Cameron’s Wife – folk dance
15 PAT ROCHE’S HARP & SHAMROCK ORCHESTRA hornpipe medley – Boys of Blue Hill / Stack o’Wheat
16 ERIN’S PRIDE ORCHESTRA barn dances – Stack of Oats / Shannon Waves
17 FRANK LEE’S TARA CEILIDH BAND Irish jigs – Kitty’s Rambles / The Merry Old Woman / The Humours of Ballinafad
18 SIAMSA GAEDHEAL CEILIDHE BAND Irish reel medley – The High Road to Galway / The Groves Reel / The Salamanca Reel
19 BALLINAKILL TRADITIONAL DANCE PLAYERS Carraroe and Lambert’s Jigs
20 JERRY MOLONEY & TOMMY WHYTE The Old Bush Reel
21 MOATE CEILIDHE BAND reels – The First House in Connaught / The Green Gate
22 LOUGH GILL QUARTET Jigs – Mill Pond / Mist On the Meadow
23 BELHAVEL TRIO reels – Ash Plant / The Merry Harriers / The Hut in the Bog
24 KINCORA CEILIDHE BAND reels – lasses of Carracastle / Maid of Mt Kisko / St Ruth’s Bush
