Planxty
Planxty is an Irish folk music band formed in January 1972, consisting initially of Christy Moore (vocals, acoustic guitar, bodhrán), Andy Irvine (vocals, mandolin, mandola, bouzouki, hurdy-gurdy, harmonica), Dónal Lunny (bouzouki, guitars), and Liam O'Flynn (uilleann pipes, tin whistle). They quickly revolutionized and popularized Irish folk music, touring and recording to great acclaim.
Subsequently, Johnny Moynihan, Paul Brady, Matt Molloy (flute), Bill Whelan (keyboards), Nollaig Casey (fiddle) and, briefly, Noel Hill (concertina) and Tony Linnane (fiddle) were also temporary members.
Planxty broke up twice, first in December 1975 and again in April 1983. The original quartet reunited in October 2003 and their final performance (to date) was on 31 January 2005.
History
Formation and first run (1972–1975)
Christy Moore and Dónal Lunny had been friends since school days in Newbridge, County Kildare, Lunny having taught Moore how to play both guitar and bodhrán. Before the formation of Planxty, Lunny had been playing in a duet with Andy Irvine after the latter's return from Eastern Europe and they had also launched their own folk club, downstairs at Slaterry's, called The Mugs Gig.Liam O'Flynn was playing in public and on the radio, and was well respected in traditional folk circles. All members were familiar with one another’s work to varying degrees, but were first brought together during the summer of 1971 to record Moore's second solo album, Prosperous, at his sister's house, in the village of the same name.
Planxty (album)
Planxty is the first album by the Irish folk group Planxty, recorded in London during early September 1972 and released in early 1973.
Overview
Because of its dark cover, Planxty is sometimes referred to as "the black album." Author Leagues O'Toole has written that the album "crystallises the 1972 set" performed live by the band during their first year of touring.
The album features a variety of traditional and modern Irish folk songs and tunes. It was influential in popularising this genre. The last track revealed the impact of Balkan folk music on mandolinist Andy Irvine. The traditional song "The Blacksmith" concludes with Irvine playing "Blacksmithereens", a tune reflecting the influences he gathered during his travels in Eastern Europe.
Although Planxty is nominally the first album by the band, all four members performed together on Christy Moore's previous album Prosperous, which opened with the same track, "Raggle Taggle Gypsy/Tabhair dom do Lámh". An earlier recording of "Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór" had been included as a b-side to Planxty's first single, "Three Drunken Maidens".
Podcasts:
Planxty
ALBUMS
- Live 2004 released: 2004
- The Planxty Collection released: 2001
- After the Break released: 1994
- The Well Below the Valley released: 1990
- Planxty released: 1989
- Cold Blow and the Rainy Night released: 1974
- Live in Dublin released:
- The Woman I Loved So Well released:
- Words & Music released:
The Planxty Collection
Released 2001- The Jolly Beggar - Reel
- Merrily Kissed the Quaker
- The Lakes of Pontchartrain
- The Blacksmith
- The Hare in the Corn / The Frost Is All Over / The Gander in the Pratie Hole
- Cliffs of Dooneen
- Cúnla
- Pat Reilly
- Bean Phaidín
- Raggle Taggle Gypsy / Tabhair Dom Do Lámh
- Dennis Murphy's Polka / The £42 Cheque / John Ryan's Polka
- As I Roved Out
After the Break
Released 1994- The Good Ship Kangaroo
- East at Glendart / Brian O'Lynn / Pay the Reckoning (Double Jigs)
- You Rambling Boys of Pleasure
- The Blackberry Blossom / Lucky in Love / The Dairy Maid (Reels)
- The Rambling Siúler
- The Lady on the Island / The Gatehouse Maid / The Virginia / Callaghan's (Reels)
- The Pursuit of Farmer Michael Hayes
- Lord McDonald / The Chattering Magpie
- The Bonny Light Horseman
- Smeceno Horo (Bulgarian Dance Tune in 9/16 Time)
Cold Blow and the Rainy Night
Released 1974- Johnny Cope (5:18)
- Dennis Murphy's Polka / The £42 Cheque / John Ryan's Polka (3:10)
- Cold Blow and the Rainy Night (2:43)
- "P" Stands for Paddy, I Suppose (4:39)
- The Old Torn Petticoat / The Dublin Reel / The Wind That Shakes the Barley (3:49)
- Báneasá's Green Glade / Mominsko Horo (6:00)
- The Little Drummer (3:19)
- The Lakes of Pontchartrain (5:50)
- The Hare in the Corn / The Frost Is All Over / The Gander in the Pratie Hole (4:25)
- The Green Fields of Canada (6:55)
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
-
by Planxty
Little Musgrave
by: PlanxtyIt fell (D) upon a holy (Em) day,
As many (D) in the year,
Musgrave (D) to the church (Em) did go,
To see (D) fine ladies (A) there (D)
And some (D) were dressed in velvet (Em) red
And some (D) in velvet pale
Then (D) came Lord Barnard's (EM) wife
The fairest (D) 'mongst (A) them all (D)
She cast (D) an eye on the Little Musgrave
As bright (D) as summer's sun
Said (D) Musgrave unto himself
This lady's (D) heart (G) I've won (D)
"I have loved you, fair lady, full long and many's the
day."
"And I have loved you, Little Musgrave, and never a
word did say."
"I've a bower in Bucklesfordbury, it's my heart's
delight.
I'll take you back there with me if you'll lie in me
arms tonight."
But standing by was a little footpage, from the lady's
coach he ran,
"Although I am a lady's page, I am Lord Barnard's man."
"And milord Barnard will hear of this, oh whether I
sink or swim."
Everywhere the bridge was broke he'd enter the water
and swim.
"Oh milord Barnard, milord Barnard, you are a man of
life,
But Musgrave, he's at Bucklesfordbury, asleep with your
wedded wife."
"If this be true, me little footpage, this thing that
you tell me,
All the gold in Bucklesfordbury I gladly will give to
thee."
"But if this be a lie, me little footpage, this thing
that you tell me,
From the highest tree in Bucklesfordbury hanged you
will be."
"Go saddle me the black," he said, "go saddle me the
gray."
"And sound ye not your horns," he said, "lest our
coming be betrayed."
But there was a man in Lord Barnard's thrain, who loved
the Little Musgrave,
He blew his horn both loud and shrill, "Away, Musgrave,
away."
"I think I hear the morning cock, I think I hear the
jay,
I think I hear Lord Barnard's men, I wish I was away."
"Lie still, lie still, me Little Musgrave, hug me from
the cold,
It's nothing but a shepherd lad, a-bringing his flock
to fold."
"Is not your hawk upon it's perch, your steed eats oats
and hay,
And you a lady in your arms, and yet you'd go away."
He's turned her around and he's kissed her twice, and
then they fell asleep,
When they awoke Lord Barnard's men were standing at
their feet.
"How do ye like me bed," he said, "and how do you like
me sheets?"
"How do you like me fair lady, that lies in your arms
asleep?"
"It's well I like your bed," he said, "and great it
gives me pain,
I'd gladly give a hundred pound to be on yonder plain."
"Rise up, rise up, Little Musgrave, rise up and then
put on.
It'll not be said in this country I slayed a naked
man."
So slowly, so slowly he got up, so slowly he put on.
Slowly down the stairs, thinking to be slain.
"There are two swords down by my side, and dear they
cost me purse.
You can have the best of them, and I will take the
worst."
And the first stroke that Little Musgrave stroke, it
hurt Lord Barnard sore,
But the next stroke Lord Barnard stroke, Little
Musgrave ne'er stroke more.
And then up spoke the lady fair, from the bed whereon
she lay,
"Although you're dead, me Little Musgrave, still for
you I'll pray."
"How do you like his cheeks," he said, "How do you like
his chin?"
"How do you like his dead body, now there's no life
within?"
"It's more I like his cheeks," she cried, "and more I
want his chin,
It's more I love that dead body, than all your kith and
kin."
He's taken out his long long sword, to strike the
mortal blow,
Through and through the lady's heart, the cold steel it
did go.
"A grave, a grave," Lord Barnard cried, "to put these
lovers in,
with me lady on the upper hand. She came from better
kin."
"For I've just killed the finest knight that ever rode
a steed."
"And I've just killed the finest lady that ever did a
woman's deed."
It fell upon a holy day, as many's in the year,
Musgrave to the church did go, to see fine ladies