Checking my harddisk I found an old tab I made years ago but never posted here. It's the bouzouki accompaniment to the song Pota Mor Fatai, sung by Roisin Elsafty.
Today I listend once again to the Black Album by Planxty and I just had to try to play Donal's backing to Junior Crehan's Favourite. Usually the tune is listend as ADorian with chords A5, G, E5, but Donal plays it in D!
Here's the tab I made. You can download the full pdf here.
But please comment, if you download it, and maybe think of buying me a pint?
Is there a bouzouki player in the world who hasn’t been influenced by Donal Lunny and his style of playing the bouzouki? When I heard the news of his death yesterday, I was deeply saddened. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to meet him in person; I only saw him perform live once with Planxty (Bremen, 1980). The internet is now full of tributes to him and his life’s work, so there’s nothing more I can add. What remains is the memory of a wonderful person with a deep love for traditional Irish music and a curiosity to constantly discover and nurture new, up-and-coming talent.
There aren't many tabs on my blog that try to explain Donal's playing style. I find it difficult to analyze and write down his playing style. If any of you have tabs or lessons that explain his bouzouki playing, I'd really appreciate it if you'd be willing to share them here.
Here's at least a link to the tabs I've posted here on the blog.
Here's an interview with Donal from 2004
This rediscovered 2004 interview from Belfast offers a rare and intimate look into the life of Dónal Lunny, a foundational figure who fundamentally reshaped the landscape of Irish traditional music. Spanning a career that began in the 1960s, the footage captures Lunny’s transition from a young musician in Tullamore to a visionary producer and founding member of legendary ensembles like Planxty and Moving Hearts.
The interview highlights Lunny’s role as a pioneer of musical evolution. Key themes include:
Instrumental Revolution: His discovery and adaptation of the bouzouki, which introduced a distinctive harmonic depth to Irish folk.
Iconic Collaborations: Insights into his work with heavyweights such as Christy Moore and The Clancy Brothers.
Evolution of Sound: His perspective on the shift from analog to digital recording and his unique philosophies on music production.
Beyond simple melodies, the discussion delves into Lunny’s commitment to social change. Through Moving Hearts, he helped merge traditional sounds with contemporary political messages, bridging the gap between folk roots and modern world music. His approach wasn’t just about preservation; it was about moving the genre forward while maintaining its soul.
For cultural historians and fans alike, this footage serves as a "masterclass" in Irish musical history. It documents the technical and artistic shifts that allowed Irish folk to survive and thrive in a modern context. Lunny’s story is more than a biography; it is a roadmap of how tradition can be innovated without being lost.
(Text made with AI)
There's no doubt about the huge influence that Donal Lunny had on Irish Folk Music during the last decades. This is a new video about Donal on YouTube.
Here you find a list of tabs I made of Donal Lunny's accompaniments.
My friend chatgpt wrote a little text for me:
Dónal Lunny (born 10 March 1947, Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland) is a seminal figure in Irish traditional music—renowned as a bouzouki player, guitarist, composer, and producer. CFA Creative Futures Academy+3Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3
He was a founding member of several landmark bands, including Planxty, The Bothy Band, Moving Hearts, Coolfin, and Mozaik. CFA Creative Futures Academy+3Wikipedia+3Wikipedia+3 Lunny is widely credited with introducing and popularizing the flat‑backed Irish bouzouki—modifying its design (via luthiers such as Peter Abnett) to suit the demands of Irish folk accompaniment. Wikipedia+2The Irish Post+2
Beyond instrument performance, he has worked as a producer and arranger, collaborating with both Irish traditional and international artists, continuously innovating across decades. allcelticmusic.com+2Wikipedia+2
Just found this video of Donal Lunny and Mary Custy playing two Jigs. Unfortunately they don't remember the name of the first tune. The second one is Bucks of Oranmore. I like the intro Donal plays, so I tried to tab it.
So this is the tab.
You'll find the album here on bandcamp where you can listen to it and buy it as download or CD.
You'll get 10 beautiful songs, two of them unaccompanied and the other 8 beautifully arranged with bouzouki, flute, fiddle and concertina.
I was blown away by the sparse beauty of the arrangement of the well known song "The Parting Glass". I tried to get near the arrangement of Donal Lunny, I hope I got some of his ideas.
You can listen to the song here on bandcamp.
So is is the tab I made, might be rhythmically not correct, but I hope most of the chords are. If you'd like to have the tab as printable pdf please click here.
If you download please comment here!
A filmed masterclass with these two heroes of Irish Folk. A must see for all bouzouki players. You'll get a glimpse of what's behind their playing.
These two giants of irish trad music together on stage. One hour of the finest of bouzouki playing.
Daoiri and Donal together. What a great version of this classic.
