This jig comes from the playing of John Williams, a great concertina and accordion player from Chicago, whose father came from Doolin. John spent a lot of time in Doolin over the years, but I learned this particular tune from a YouTube video, see below (it’s the second tune).
X:1
T:John Williams’ Jig
R:jig
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Dmaj
|:AFF dFF|AFA A2e|f2f fed|efe edB|
A2F dFF|AFA A2e|f2f efe|1 d3 dcB:|2 d3 d2A||
|:Bcd Bcd|Bcd d2e|fgf f2e|fgf fed|
Bcd Bcd|Bcd d2e|f2f efe|1 d3 d2A:|2 d3 dcB||
I learned “Lillies in the Field” from Terry Bingham’s wonderful concertina album (he calls it “PJ Conlon’s on his album). It is a great reel which I have enjoyed playing for many years now and I also associate it with the playing of Tony MacMahon.
I learned “Dever The Dancer” from Lorraine Hickey and Kevin Rowsome, who recorded this lovely slip jig on one of the Irish Folk Festival’s compilation CDs. I used to listen to these albums quite a lot when I was working in Magnetic Music Café, which my very first job in Doolin back in 2006. I actually met Kevin Rowsome at the Russell Memorial Weekend in 2020, a true gentleman a wonderful piper.
“The Chattering Magpie” is a common reel in County Clare, very much associated with concertina players. I learned it from Noel O’Donoghue and Seán Vaughan back in 2015, and I actually remember that evening quite well as it was one of the first time (if not THE first time) I was playing a gig with Noel and Seán together, at O’Connor’s Pub.
