This is the second Topic LP of the music of Tommy McMahon and Bernard O’Sullivan. Like the first record it illustrates the richness, depth and variety of Clare concertina music. The selection here is very varied and includes reels, jigs, hornpipes, set dances, polkas and waltzes. Anyone in search of good concertina music may find it in West Clare. This is really concertina country. Every village has a traditional musician and in many cases it is a concertina player. The concertina as a traditional instrument has been in Clare for well over a hundred years. With the decline of the pipes and fiddle the concertina was a practical replacement. It was ideal for playing the newly composed sets of the last century. Though it was not capable of the embellishments or expressiveness of the pipes it was nevertheless an excellent little reed instrument for playing for country dances.
1 Polkas: I Have a Bonnet Trimmed with Blue, The Rakes of Mallow Tommy McMahon & Bernard O’Sullivan
2 Reels: Farmer Moroney’s and Mulvihill’s reel Tommy McMahon & Bernard O’Sullivan
3 Reels: Maud Millar’s and Morrison’s Tommy McMahon
4 Reel: The Bucks of Oranmore Bernard O’Sullivan
5 Waltzes: My Heart’s in the Highlands and The Dewdrop Bernard O’Sullivan
6 Jigs: The Blooming Meadows, Mullagh Jig, Ballinakill Jig Tommy McMahon & Bernard O’Sullivan
7 Reels: The Merry Sisters, Quilty Reel Tommy McMahon
8 Hornpipes: The Cliff, The Derry Hornpipe Tommy McMahon & Bernard O’Sullivan
9 Jigs: The Rose in the Heather selection Tommy McMahon
10 Reels: Flowery Mountains, Kiss the Maid Behind the Barrel, The Milliner’s Daughter Tommy McMahon & Bernard O’Sullivan
11 Reel: A Trip to Durrow  Tommy McMahon
12 Polka: Stack Ryan’s Polka Bernard O’Sullivan
13 Set Dance: The Garden of Daisies Tommy McMahon & Bernard O’Sullivan
14 Jigs: Andy Keone’s, Saddle the Pony, Tulla Jig Tommy McMahon
15 Set Dance: The Three Sea Captains Tommy McMahon
16 Reels: The Boys of Ballysadare, The Five Mile Chase Tommy McMahon & Bernard O’Sullivan
Produced by Tony Engle, John Tams and Neil Wayne
First issued by Topic Records 1976.
Listen / buy on:
Spotify, Apple Music / iTunes, Amazon
