[78-L] Danny Boy and Londonderry Air

[L78rpm at aol.com]

Danny Boy" is a _ballad_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballad)  written by 
_English_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England)  songwriter  _Frederic 
Weatherly_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederic_Weatherly)   and usually set 
to the Irish tune of the "_Londonderry Air_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Londonderry_Air) "._[1]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Boy#cite_note-1)   
It is most closely associated with _Irish communities_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_people) .      
 


History
Although initially written to a tune other than "_Londonderry Air_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Londonderry_Air) ", the _words_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyrics)  to "Danny Boy"  were penned by _English_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_people)  lawyer and  lyricist _Frederic Weatherly_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederic_Weatherly)  in  1910. After his 
sister-in-law in the United States sent him a copy of  "Londonderry Air", in 1913, 
Weatherly modified the lyrics of "Danny Boy" to fit  the _rhyme_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm)  and _meter_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meter_(music))  of "_Londonderry Air_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Londonderry_Air) 
"._[2]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Boy#cite_note-2)  
Weatherly gave the song to the vocalist _Elsie Griffin_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsie_Griffin) , who made it  one of the most popular songs in 
the new century; and, in 1915, _Ernestine  Schumann-Heink_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernestine_Schumann-Heink)  produced the first recording. of 
"Danny Boy" 
Jane Ross of _Limavady_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limavady)  is 
credited with  collecting the melody of "Londonderry Air" in the mid-19th century 
from a local  _fiddle_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiddle)   player. 
(above from wikiedia) 
paul charosh