Irish Flute Tunes

Here’s another tune I was asked to put on.

One of my problems with playing this tune is that is seems to have far more notes than I do.  Another is trying to identify what these notes are and in which order they ought to come.  I tried looking at Reavy’s book “Where The Shannon Rises” to see whether his version would shed any light on the matter but this just reinforced my view that none of his tunes are normally played the way he wrote them.

Anyway, here’s an attempt at an average of the myriad settings of this tune which tend to be lurking about the place.

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Here’s a tune which it was suggested I play.  It was written by Junior Crehan.  The tune is maybe a bit too melodic for the likes of me to play so I hope I haven’t mangled it too much.

I’ve often had rain flowing down my back but that doesn’t normally inspire anything other than cursing.

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I was told this name for this tune by someone I sometimes trust.  I’m not sure whether this is one of those occasions.

I hope it’s a nice jig whatever its name is.

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The first part of this tune should really be played an octave lower on a fiddle,  complete with nice growly bits.  I’m afraid a flute is all I had to hand so this is the best I could do.  I’m never sure how to end this tune on any instrument.  Maybe not starting it would work.

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This is a John Doherty tune which is also known as the Monaghan Switch.  There are a few versions on the go but this is the one which is stuck in my head at the moment.  It’s more or less the same as the version in the book “The Northern Fiddler”.

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I was asked to play this tune and am very grateful to have been reminded of it.  I apologise if my evening’s libatory recreations have blurred Barney’s notes too much.  There’s a flute player from my town who recorded this tune in a more sober manner.  If my version’s vagueness is too vicissitudinal then verification could be found in the vicinity his CD. He is called Marcas.

Oíche mhaith,

Michael.

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This is a version of Dr. Gilbert’s Reel.  I could do with the services of the same Mr. Quack as my hearing, breathing and tuning are all away with it.  I Think it’s just what’s known as a cold but I intend moaning about it all the same.  Sorry if this sounds worse than normal.  It’s hard to sneeze and maintain in-tune-producing breaths down a flute at the same time.  Maybe I should try dissolving the Lemsip rather than snorting it.

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Comes from big cow’s?

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Here’s a very popular reel. I don’t know a wild pile about it.

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I think I have one of these which helps me cook.

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Here’s a nice plain tune which shouldn’t do anyone too much harm.

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Here’s a hornpipe I was asked to post here. It took me about ten minutes to put the flute together as I’m tired after being away for a few days. I do the travel thing very badly. If I can put myself together in ten days I’ll be doing well. As for putting this tune together …

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A popular jig. I can’t tell you much about it now as I have to rush off now.

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Related to the emery bard.

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Here’s a song turned into a jig.

Sorry for the higgledy-pigglediness of the posts over the next few days. I’ll tidy them up next week.

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