We find that Paddy Concannon’s Reel makes a beautiful slow tune. Michael plays it in A dorian and, of course, at the normal dance tempo. You can hear him play the tune on his own record: Michael J. Kennedy, 65 Years of Irish Music. (June Appal JA 019). We play the tune in E dorian.

The Wise Maid is a well known reel that goes by several titles including “Tinker Doherty,” “Matt Molloy’s Reel,” and “A Walk in the Country.” This version of the tune has been around Cincinnati for some time and seems to be a composite of several versions. On this tune, and on others on this record, our good friend Michael Murphy a “tripper.” Michael is a neighbor of ours and is undoubtedly one of the country’s best bodhrán players.