Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming

Two tunes for today!

Here's one of my favorite Christmas carols. I meant to post it last week, but technology wasn't on my side.

Paddy Fahy's

Did I mention I'm a full-time grad student?  Today was a heavy day with lots of meetings and papers and yadda yadda.  That's why it's almost 9:30 pm and I'm finally posting this.

Jig For Jimmy

I learned a tune today penned by Galway fiddler Liz Kane, who I met a few years ago when she and her sister Yvonne were teaching a workshop in Takoma Park, Maryland.  They taught me a jig in C major written by Galway legend Paddy Fahy.  When I heard this tune, it reminded me so much of that jig.  It has similar arpeggios and phrases, not to mention it's in the same key and time signature.  Liz Kane wrote this tune for her grandfather.  I plan on putting it in a set with the Paddy Fahy jig in C.

Billy in the Lowground

Here's a reel that I've mostly only heard in bluegrass jam situations but there's a recording of Frankie Gavin playing it all Irish-like.  So here's that version.  I'm sure this American tune is derivative of a really old Scottish tune but I don't know the history.  I could make it up... after all, this is the internet!