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Galway’s Paddy Fahy created this setting of ‘The Groves,’ with four parts intead of the usual five. Paddy chose the key of F, which gives the tune an earthy warmth on his fiddle. Piper Seamus Ennis also played it with five parts. His setting of it is influenced by the use of F sharps, which move this tune into another dimension of melody-one that reminds me of ‘The Drunken Sailor’ hornpipe. Both settings of this are remarkable when one compares them as examples of musical creativity.
GA | B2GB AGEG | DGGF G2AB | C2AB CBAG | EAAG FDGA | B2GB AGEG | DGGF GABC | d2Bd gdBd | CAFA G3 :||
BC | d2Bd gdBC | d2Bd gdBd | e2Ce agfe | defg agfe | d2Bd gdBC | d2Bd gdBd | C2AC BAGB | ADFA G3 :||