Farewell To Whalley Range

"Farewell To Whalley Range" is a tune composed by Mike McGoldrick, likely inspired by his time living in the Whalley Range area of Manchester, England. It appears on McGoldrick's album “At First Light” and also on Capercaillie’s album "Nádurra."

Musical Details:

• The tune is generally considered to be in F# minor pentatonic, although some players have explored chord progressions in A. Early listings may have incorrectly categorized it as A major.
• Variations exist. Capercaillie's version has a distinctive arrangement, and a player named Pere noted a "Jazzy" variation with a natural second 'c' note.
• It is often played as part of a set including "Tar Road to Sligo," "Give Us A Drink of Water,” and Roddy MacDonalds Fancy.

Recordings and Performances:

• Numerous musicians have performed and recorded the tune, including a tinwhistler whose rendition can be found on YouTube.
• Versions are also available on "Upside Down" and “The Full Set” on RTE.
• It has been played on instruments such as the concertina, flute, fiddle, ocarina, tenor banjo and bodhrán.

Title and Language:

• The title "Farewell To Whalley Range" is a mistranslation. The original Irish title, "Fáilte Go Whalley Range," actually means "Welcome to Whalley Range."

Availability:

• Sheet music and chord arrangements are available in various publications, including "Session Tunes for Scottish Fiddlers Vol. III," as well as online resources.

Note: Some details remain speculative, based on the varying interpretations and comments from musicians. For example, the exact chords used in certain sections may differ depending on the performer's style.