Famously composed by Simon Jeffes after he found a harmonium left in the streets of Kyoto, the music has since taken on a life of it's own. Firstly the traditional Irish group Patrick Street played it as a set finale which allowed them to go off in various show stopping directions, before returning to the original tune again and again. So successful was this, and so liked by Irish & Scottish fiddle players that it has become a "standard". Sometimes called "A Tune for a Found Harmonium" and often credited not to Jeffes, but as a "traditional" tune.
A quick look on the internet finds that it has been covered by not only Patrick Street but;
Sharon Shannon, Four Men & a Dog, Moose Hill, Fiddlers Feast, Colin Reid, California Guitar Trio, Todd Hallawell, FBA, New Celeste, Les Violinik, Ochtopus, The Beggarmen, Matto Congrio, Hot Rats, The Fabulous Potato Heads R&B Ceili Band, Mundi, Mithril, Leidertach, Celtica, Steve Pettit, Alabastro Euforico, Anam Keltoi, Meletti Valerio, Rock Salt & Nails, Coila, Rapalje and Phil Coulter to name but a few!
Simon Jeffes was I think, a genius. Not a term I use lightly. His superb mix of classical, world musics, fun & exact arrangements created some of the finest music ever produced. As I say, a genius.
And his son Arthur isn't bad either - carrying on Penguin Cafe and his duo Sundog.
I agree. I was lucky enough to interview Jeffes Senior in 1984 in his little Holland Park studio. His death was tragically premature; he had so much more to contribute.
ReplyDelete