Johnny Harling
If ever there was a case of a modern tune being mistaken for an ancient tune it is Johnny Harling's jig composition The Dusty Windowsills.
Although it has been recorded dozens of times and is played commonly in sessions, Harling rarely gets acknowledged as the composer, most people assuming it's an ancient tune.
The only other tune of his to be widely played is the reel With Ourselves
Writing on thesession.org, Harling's daughter Jessica had this to say;
"i have information regarding the tune Dusty Windowsills, please if you would, consider putting this on the site...
The Dusty Windowsills was written by a man in Chicago, Illinois by the name of John Harling, it is NOT a traditional tune because the man is very much alive, he is in his 40s.
HOW THE TUNE GOT IT'S NAME:: one day John was looking for something in his friend's appartment basement, and this tune popped into his head. He looked everywhere for something to write with and on. He came across a window with a layer of dust on it, and started to write it down, so that later he would come back and write it down on a peice of paper. Isn't that interesting...? Once again the man's name is JOHN HARLING...I know all of this because I am his 15 year old daughter... Please let me know that you have gotten this information. Thank you"
'"Hello, I was reading past discussions tonight and thought I could answer some unsolved questions if it made any difference- in case any one was still wondering.This is Jessica, Johnny Harling's daughter again. One question was regarding the name. He named it Dusty Windowsills...all of the other names it is known by people have made up. And quite frankly he finds some of them humorous. Second this is in regards to the parts to the tune. When he wrote it- he did it in 3 parts as known as today. Nothing was changed nor added. Also in regards to what played/s. Growing up, my dad was forced to play the tin whistle by my Papa. He refused and played the clarinet for the school. When he got into his teenage years, he started to appreciate irish music and picked up the tin whistle and taught himself how to play. The house was filled non stop with the sounds of irish music. So by the time he wrote the tune he was a master at the tin whistle. He also can play the flute. Another thing, although he is not retired, he also was never a full-time musician, he still active in the chicago music scene. He judges at feis' year round, plays-does gigs, gets together with his old band when the lead singer comes in town, and writes music. Although "With Ourselves," and "Dusty Windowsills" are the only well known tunes of his- he has abundant amount of very popular and incredible tunes that he plays within the family. He is an unbelievable musician, great guy, a legend in my eyes, and a spectacular father on top of that. And I would say HE is the "tip of the ice berg." I hope this gives a little bit more insight of this great guy."
Although it has been recorded dozens of times and is played commonly in sessions, Harling rarely gets acknowledged as the composer, most people assuming it's an ancient tune.
The only other tune of his to be widely played is the reel With Ourselves
Writing on thesession.org, Harling's daughter Jessica had this to say;
"i have information regarding the tune Dusty Windowsills, please if you would, consider putting this on the site...
The Dusty Windowsills was written by a man in Chicago, Illinois by the name of John Harling, it is NOT a traditional tune because the man is very much alive, he is in his 40s.
HOW THE TUNE GOT IT'S NAME:: one day John was looking for something in his friend's appartment basement, and this tune popped into his head. He looked everywhere for something to write with and on. He came across a window with a layer of dust on it, and started to write it down, so that later he would come back and write it down on a peice of paper. Isn't that interesting...? Once again the man's name is JOHN HARLING...I know all of this because I am his 15 year old daughter... Please let me know that you have gotten this information. Thank you"
'"Hello, I was reading past discussions tonight and thought I could answer some unsolved questions if it made any difference- in case any one was still wondering.This is Jessica, Johnny Harling's daughter again. One question was regarding the name. He named it Dusty Windowsills...all of the other names it is known by people have made up. And quite frankly he finds some of them humorous. Second this is in regards to the parts to the tune. When he wrote it- he did it in 3 parts as known as today. Nothing was changed nor added. Also in regards to what played/s. Growing up, my dad was forced to play the tin whistle by my Papa. He refused and played the clarinet for the school. When he got into his teenage years, he started to appreciate irish music and picked up the tin whistle and taught himself how to play. The house was filled non stop with the sounds of irish music. So by the time he wrote the tune he was a master at the tin whistle. He also can play the flute. Another thing, although he is not retired, he also was never a full-time musician, he still active in the chicago music scene. He judges at feis' year round, plays-does gigs, gets together with his old band when the lead singer comes in town, and writes music. Although "With Ourselves," and "Dusty Windowsills" are the only well known tunes of his- he has abundant amount of very popular and incredible tunes that he plays within the family. He is an unbelievable musician, great guy, a legend in my eyes, and a spectacular father on top of that. And I would say HE is the "tip of the ice berg." I hope this gives a little bit more insight of this great guy."
