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The Crossroads Dance Book - The Shaskeen

Shaskeen Series
It all started in 1970 when Tom Cussen and Benny O'Connor got together with friends in London and played in the Oxford Tavern in Kentish Town every Friday for almost a year. Moving back to Ireland around the end of 1971 both Tom and Benny wasted no time in getting the band flying. Over twenty years on and Shaskeen have produced no fewer than ten albums of fire-brand Irish traditional music. They have also produced singles and EPs along the way. The current revival of set dancing is very welcome and the band is as strong as ever.
All the tunes (along with the chords as played) from five of their cassettes (which are now available in CD format) have been transcribed into two wonderful books. Copious cross-references have been appended, which go a long way to filling in the background to the tunes, encouraging the musician to look further. The tunes in the two books are those being currently played in Irish sessions which was the inspiration for producing them.
The recordings are excellent examples of the sound of a working, authentic and respected céilí band and therefore the books aren't dusted-off reprints, but instead contain up-to-date, popular versions of tunes being played today.

 

Contents

 

Reels 


Ambrose Moloney's 
Ash Maley House 
Billy Brocker 
Boys of Portaferry 
Brendan McMorrin's 
Connemara Stockings 
Darby's Farewell to London 
Drunken Landlady 
Early Breakfast 
Floating Crowbar 
Fred Finn's 
Golden Keyboard 
Humours of Toomagh 
Jack Maguire's 
Jackson's 
Killaghbeg House 
Lady on the Island Last Night's Fun 
Leitrim Bucks 
Mary O'Neill's 
Mary Staunton's 
Miss Monaghan's 
Monsignor's Blessing

Mouse Behind the Dresser 
Moving Bogs 
My Love is in America 
My Mary Anne 
Paddy Killoran's 
Penny Candle 
P. J. Conlon's 
P. Joe Hayes' 
St. Anne's 
Tap Room 
Toss the Feather 
Wise Maid


Jigs 


Banks of Newfoundland 
Butchers' March 
Daniel O'Connell 
Father Kelly's 
Harry's Loch 
Henchey's Delight 
Maid at Spinning Wheel 
Monaghan 
Mysteries of Knock 
Paddy Cronin's

Paddy in London 
Páidín O'Rafferty 
Queen of the Fair 
Rose in the Heather 
T'Athair Jack Walsh 
Tom Busby's

 

Hornpipes 


Breen's 
Cronin's 
Home Ruler 
The Swan 


Miscellany 


All-Star Barn Dance 
Bill Sullivan's 
Britches Full of Stitches 
Cock and the Hen 
Humours of Whiskey 
Little Diamond 
Magic Slipper 
Mrs Kenny's Waltz 
Untitled Waltz

The Crossroads Dance Book - The Shaskeen

SKU: AP102
£9.95Price
  • It's now over 30 years since Shaskeen first formed and are still going strong. Over the years they have made many albums; more session tunes from 2 of them can be found in this book. With chords, photographs, copious notes etc..

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