Jig, A Dorian, Traditional Irish
Also know as: The Miller Of Glanmire
In Irish lore, a banshee is a female fairy whose wailing cry announces a person’s impending death. Rather than shrieking or keening, the banshee in this tune’s title is lilting – either singing a tune or speaking musically. This traditional Irish jig was among those collected in Chicago by Francis O’Neill and James O’Neill, and published in their O’Neill’s Music of Ireland in 1903.
If you are a bit hazy on Dorian mode, see the article “Dorian, Mixolydian, Oh My: Modes in a Nutshell” for a brief and friendly explanation. Be sure to look at the “Nifty Mnemonics” lyrics below for a handy way to remember the melody.
Recordings
- Audio – Comhaltas: Lilting Banshee – from the album Foinn Seisiún Volume 1
- Video – Jean Luc Lenoir: The Lilting Banshee – from the album Old Celtic & Nordic Ballads
Sheet Music
As always for traditional tunes, the musical notation and chords do not indicate the “right” way to play the tune, but are a useful reference.
Play-Along Tracks
Sets
Examples of sets that include this tune.
- Lilting Jig Set: The Humours of Ennistymon (G) / Lilting Banshee (A Dorian) / Cliffs of Moher (A Dorian)
- Lilting Banshee Jig Set: Lilting Banshee (A Dorian) / Cliffs of Moher (A Dorian)
- The Trip to Athlone / The Lilting Banshee / Jimmy Ward’s Jig
- Out on the Ocean / Lilting Banshee / Kesh Jig
Nifty Mnemonics –
Lyrics for Remembering the Tune
Here are some lyrics to help you remember how the tune starts. They are not traditional, and they are pretty silly.
Lilting Banshee -- memory aid lyrics by Jonathan Lay
A Part (2x):
Low to high, low to high, lilting banshee
Nobody can sing like a lilting banshee, and it's
Low to high, low to high, lilting banjo, I'll
Tune up now and I'll tune it up slow
B Part (2x):
I'll tune it up now and I'll tune it up slow
If you didn't know that, it just goes to show, that a
Man with a banjo has time on his hands
He'll tune it up now and He'll tune it again
(Copyright Jonathan Lay 2023)
References and Resources
For those who want to dig deeper, here are some other resources.
- More Recordings
- Audio – John Weed and Stuart Mason: The Lilting Banshee – played slowly on fiddle with rhythm guitar. From the album Slow & Easy Volume 2
- Audio – Stephen Ducke: The Lilting Banshee – played on tin whistle. From the book Irish Music – 400 Traditional Tunes
- Books
- Book & Audio – Tom Morley: Learn to Play Irish Trad Fiddle
- Book – Foinn Seisiún, Volume 1 — Published by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
- Book – John Weed and Stuart Mason: Slow & Easy Volumes 1 and 2
- Book & audio – Shannon Heaton: Oil for the Chain, Traditional and Original Irish Music – with audio tracks of the tunes played on flute; no chords.
- Book & Audio – Stephen Ducke: Irish Music – 400 Traditional Tunes
- Book – Gary Coover: 75 Irish Session Tunes for Anglo Concertina (Rollston Press). One of a series of Anglo concertina tune books by this author.
- Lessons
- Lesson – Tom Morley: Learn An Irish Trad Fiddle Tune – The Lilting Banshee – fiddle lesson video, with insights on playing technique and the tune broken down phrase-by-phrase
- Lesson – Baron Collins-Hill (Mandolessons): The Lilting Banshee – mandolin lesson with video, sheet music, and play-along tracks
- Lesson – James Finnegan (The Banjo Buddy) – Learn The Lilting Banshee – tenor banjo lesson video with sheet music & tab in video. Tune book available for purchase.
- Lesson – Shannon Heaton: Lilting Banshee [Jig] – Tune of the Month with Shannon Heaton – flute lesson video, with the tune taught phrase-by-phrase
- Additional Resources