Episodes
Sunday Jun 04, 2023
Introduction
Sunday Jun 04, 2023
Sunday Jun 04, 2023
Hello. This site contains recordings I have made as a source of tunes for people who play the flute, or other instruments for that matter. They are often just versions of tunes as I remember them. My memory isn’t the best so in some cases I cheat and find the dots online. In some cases the online versions and the dots inside my head aren't quite the same so there may be a sort of 'average' appearing. I usually play the tunes once through slowly to make them easier to learn, then I have a bit of a run at them to give another view of them. I hope this approach is OK. If anyone has any comments, or tune suggestions, please get in touch (iflute@googlemail.com).
Thanks, Michael Clarkson (Belfast, Luxembourg and on the Dublin-Belfast Aircoach).
Slowing Down Tunes
Just in case the tunes on this site aren’t dull enough, you can slow them down using recent versions of Windows Media Player (I’m sure there are plenty of other ways of doing this too).
In Windows Media player click Now Playing at the top of the screen then pick Enhancements and then Play Speed Settings. There is a nice range of speeds displayed but I can only get the half speed one to work. That’s probably enough to be getting on with in any case.
Sunday Jun 04, 2023
The Wren Hornpipe
Sunday Jun 04, 2023
Sunday Jun 04, 2023
Here's another tune from O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland. I hadn't noticed it before, despite its being there since 1907. I don't remember ever seeing a wren either. Maybe because they're so small.
Tuesday Apr 07, 2020
Clarkson’s reel
Tuesday Apr 07, 2020
Tuesday Apr 07, 2020
Tune number 748 from O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland - 1001 gems
There are 1000 tunes in this book with better names but only some of them are better tunes.
Wednesday Mar 25, 2020
The Cat in the Corner (jig)
Wednesday Mar 25, 2020
Wednesday Mar 25, 2020
O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland tune number 129
I probably would have been better getting the cat to play it.
Tuesday Mar 24, 2020
The Day We Paid the Rent (reel)
Tuesday Mar 24, 2020
Tuesday Mar 24, 2020
I play this tune by direct debit.
Sunday Mar 22, 2020
The Tongs by the Fire (jig)
Sunday Mar 22, 2020
Sunday Mar 22, 2020
Here's another tune from Francis O'Neill's 'Dance Music of Ireland - 1001 Gems'.
My understanding of 'gem' in today's context is a tune without syncopation and notes keeping close company with other notes they don't get on with.
Saturday Mar 21, 2020
Molly What Ails You? (reel)
Saturday Mar 21, 2020
Saturday Mar 21, 2020
Here's tune number 652 in O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland.
It's the best tune between tunes 651 and 653.
Monday Jun 10, 2019
Jackson’s censored Reel
Monday Jun 10, 2019
Monday Jun 10, 2019
As requested, here's an attempt at a flute version of a steadfastly fiddle tune.
X: 1
T:Jackson's Reel (sort of flute-friendly'ish)
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|:F|D2FD EDFE| DEFD EAcE|GE ~E2 GABd| ceAc dBAF|
D2FD EDFE| DEFD EFGE| ABce dBAG| F/2G/2F EG FDD:|
|:g|fd d2 ~d3f| edef edcB|A2cA BAcB| ABcA Bcde|
fd d2 ~d3f| edef edcB|ABde faea|1fd d2 ~d3:|2fddc d/2d/2c dB||
A3A B2AG| FAAF G/2F/2E F/2E/2D| ~E3F GFEG| Agec dBAF|
D2FD EDFE| DEFD EG ~G2| ABce dBAG| FAEG FDAF||
Here's the uncut version: https://thesession.org/tunes/1665
Saturday Jun 08, 2019
Money in Every Pocket but My Own
Saturday Jun 08, 2019
Saturday Jun 08, 2019
Here's a tune high in vitamin C. Also called the 'Belfast March', named after a town low in every vitamin.
Friday Jun 07, 2019
The Church Street polka
Friday Jun 07, 2019
Friday Jun 07, 2019
Here's a tune I was asked to post here. It's a great tune but I can't play polkas, so I never play them, so I can't play them, so I never play them, so ...
The associated polka dots are here: https://thesession.org/tunes/1560
Sunday May 19, 2019
The London Clog
Sunday May 19, 2019
Sunday May 19, 2019
Here's a tune which Tom Morrison recorded i 1928. London clogs are probably mainly fatbergs in the sewers these days.
Here it is played properly:
https://archive.org/details/TomMorrisonTheLondonClog
Here it is written out badly:
Saturday May 11, 2019
The Milky Way (reel)
Saturday May 11, 2019
Saturday May 11, 2019
This reel was made in space for the flute; sorry this effort isn't as out of this world as the title would suggest.
Friday May 10, 2019
Peg McGrath’s reel
Friday May 10, 2019
Friday May 10, 2019
Here's a tune written by Josie McDermott in honour of Peg McGrath who made one of the nicest flute noises I've ever heard.
Thursday May 09, 2019
The Whistling Postman - jig
Thursday May 09, 2019
Thursday May 09, 2019
A short tune to fill a spare minute. I don't know how much postmen/postwomen (or even postmodernists) whistle now under the burden of Amazon boxes.
Saturday May 04, 2019
Jack Rowe - reel
Saturday May 04, 2019
Saturday May 04, 2019
Here's a tune I first heard from a recording of John McGuire - Seán's father. The guy in the photo was Jack Rowe - looks like he could blow a flute with the back of his neck. Some feat. Some neck.
Friday May 03, 2019
The Mount Collins Reel (The Girls of Farranfore)
Friday May 03, 2019
Friday May 03, 2019
Here's a reel which you can hear Denis Murphy playing at: Mount Collins Reel / Doon Reel. There are special wobbles in the second tune which, according to the info at archive.org, are due to a hole being 'punched slightly off-center'. I'd imagine that could cause a wobble or two right enough.
Here are some notes: https://thesession.org/tunes/4026
Saturday Dec 10, 2016
Black Pat’s Reel
Saturday Dec 10, 2016
Saturday Dec 10, 2016
I've been living in a teeny weeny flat in Luxembourg for the last three weeks and have been afraid to play in case the people in the teeny weeny flats above and beside me objected. I finally got playing last night in a pub at a session with 4 flutes - just like home only the drink was a lot dearer. This tune was mentioned (not by me) but nobody knew it well enough to play it. I've given myself a crash course in playing the tune today in my teeny weeny apartment in this nice little country. I think the first half of the term 'crash course' might be the most relevant here. I'll blame that on my fear of annoying the residents near my little Luxembourgish lodging.
I think Tommy Peoples made this tune up. Best to find a recording of him playing it, or any other tune for that matter.
Saturday Feb 13, 2016
Sweet Biddy Daly (jig)
Saturday Feb 13, 2016
Saturday Feb 13, 2016
Monday Jan 25, 2016
The Gates of Mullagh (reel)
Monday Jan 25, 2016
Monday Jan 25, 2016
Monday Oct 05, 2015
The One Horned Cow (reel)
Monday Oct 05, 2015
Monday Oct 05, 2015
Here's a reel which was included in O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland in 1907 as 'An Bhó Mhaol / The Hornless Cow' but was recorded by Liam Walsh in 1933 as 'The One Horned Cow'
Monday Sep 21, 2015
The Lonesome Jig
Monday Sep 21, 2015
Monday Sep 21, 2015
Here's a Lonesome Jig. It only has 681 companions on this site so far - no wonder it feels a bit isolated.
Saturday May 16, 2015
The Blarney Pilgrim (jig)
Saturday May 16, 2015
Saturday May 16, 2015
Tuesday Jul 15, 2014
Mama’s Pet (3)
Tuesday Jul 15, 2014
Tuesday Jul 15, 2014
Thursday May 08, 2014
The Shamrock Barndance
Thursday May 08, 2014
Thursday May 08, 2014
Here's a tune popular among some fiddle players in Donegal. I'm not sure whether it is unpopular among everyone else in that county but I'll maybe avoid playing it there just to be on the safe side.
Saturday Apr 05, 2014
The Walls of Limerick (Reel)
Saturday Apr 05, 2014
Saturday Apr 05, 2014
Just grabbing a rare moment in the house when not being entertained / attacked (it's a fine line) by children. The first 2 minutes of that moment have been used up by playing this reel. www.tunepal.org told me it is called the Walls of Limerick. I have it on a recording of John McKenna on the flute with Michael Gaffney (I think) on the banjo. The notes at http://tunepal.org/tunepal/show_tune.php?tunepalid=266-hnr2.abc-2-Walls~of~Limerick%2C~The look very like it. I'm sure all will be revealed and explained when 'Imminent' becomes 'Recent' in a while ... http://www.johnmckenna.ie/irish-time/.
Thursday Feb 06, 2014
Down The Meadow - Reel
Thursday Feb 06, 2014
Thursday Feb 06, 2014
Tuesday Jan 14, 2014
Last Night’s Joy (reel)
Tuesday Jan 14, 2014
Tuesday Jan 14, 2014
Here's a reel I just heard on a recording of the Donegal fiddle maestro John Doherty.
Friday Jun 07, 2013
Roger’s Jig
Friday Jun 07, 2013
Friday Jun 07, 2013
Here's an old, neglected Sligo jig. There's a recording of Paddy Sweeney from Moylough in Sligo playing it on a fiddle in 1937: http://archive.org/details/PaddySweenyRogersJigVillageJig. I like listening to recordings like that of tunes played at a quick pace and then hearing people who extol the virtues of Coleman, Sweeney, Killoran et al, giving off at people for playing too fast when they are playing much slower that their heroes every played. I'm sorry if that was a very clumsily cobbled sentence - I'm not used to the heat - a bit of which has been visited upon us of late. You'll be able to find the tune in squashed tadpole form at http://thesession.org/tunes/11483 and play it at whatever speed you like.
Wednesday May 01, 2013
The Southwest Wind (An Ghaoth Aniar Aneas) - jig
Wednesday May 01, 2013
Wednesday May 01, 2013
Here's a jig from the South West - mar atá Co. Clare. I associate it with Willie Clancy. I'm not sure whether its title refers to the direction the air flowed through his pipes while he played it. I think my flute was more Mecca-wards when I was playing it on this occasion - that would just be a west wind - with slight precipitation towards the end of the tune. For disciples of the dot there's always http://tunepal.org/tunepal/show_tune.php?tunepalid=8445-75.abc-1-Southwest~Wind%2C~The.
Wednesday Apr 10, 2013
Michael Ryan’s reel
Wednesday Apr 10, 2013
Wednesday Apr 10, 2013
Here's a Gan Ainm - one of a host of Gans Ainm in Breandán Breathnach's Ceol Rince na hÉireann 2. At least the person BB got the tune from had an ainm - namely Michael Ryan, a flute player from Co. Sligo, so (that's 'so' the conjunction rather than the Sligo 'SO' that you may see on a numberplate in Ballymote) I'll call the tune after Mr. R. Mr. B. gave the reel the rather appealing number 142 in his book.
Thursday Mar 21, 2013
Lad O’Beirne’s Reel (2)
Thursday Mar 21, 2013
Thursday Mar 21, 2013
Here's another Lad O'Beirne's reel. I don't know much about it. The notes in dotty form can be found here: http://tunepal.org/tunepal/show_tune.php?tunepalid=1209-misc-tunes2_A-M.abc-30-Lad~O~Beirne~s~Reel~%28a%29~%28key~D%29~%25~misc%3CBB
Thursday Mar 07, 2013
The Morning Lark (jig)
Thursday Mar 07, 2013
Thursday Mar 07, 2013
Here's a close relative of the 'Lark in the Morning'. This one has fewer parts - from my playing it sounds as though it may be missing a wing and part of its voice. http://tunepal.org/tunepal/show_tune.php?tunepalid=87-cces-tunes2.abc-20-Morning%7ELark
Friday Jan 18, 2013
Paddy Fahey’s reel
Friday Jan 18, 2013
Friday Jan 18, 2013
Here's a reel I was reminded of today by listening to a recording of Brendan McGlinchey, the great fiddle player from Armagh. He plays it in C on the recording but I'm all at sea without a paddle in that key for this tune so I'll wear my hat with a 'D' on it for now.
Thursday Jan 10, 2013
Ownie Davey’s Reel
Thursday Jan 10, 2013
Thursday Jan 10, 2013
Here's another effort on my Rudall and Lazarus flute. The version of the tune here is decidedly dodgy. I half learned it lots of moons ago before I ever heard a recording of it. A more reliable version can be got here: http://tinyurl.com/auc5x3n . I was reminded of the tune today about 10 minutes after the postman kindly delivered a copy of this lovely recording: http://claddaghrecords.com/WWW/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=3521 (the packaging was quite hard to open otherwise I'd have heard it a bit sooner).
Wednesday Jan 09, 2013
John Dwyer’s Reel
Wednesday Jan 09, 2013
Wednesday Jan 09, 2013
Here's my latest attempt to play my old Rudall flute. I've been using a combination of insulating tape, knives, scissors, super glue, our child's skin moisturiser and kettle steam as tools of resuscitation; maybe I should be trying them on the flute. http://tunepal.org/tunepal/show_tune.php?tunepalid=2708-25.abc-1-John~Dwyer~s
Tuesday Jan 08, 2013
Up Sligo
Tuesday Jan 08, 2013
Tuesday Jan 08, 2013
Here's a jig which comes from up Sligo. Dots can be found up here: http://tunepal.org/tunepal/show_tune.php?tunepalid=2272-21.abc-1-Up~Sligo
Tuesday Dec 11, 2012
My Former Wife (jig)
Tuesday Dec 11, 2012
Tuesday Dec 11, 2012
Here's an old jig played on an old flute. This poor flute is falling apart, maybe due to modern nasties like central heating which weren't about when it was young. It seems not to like being 'My Warmer Fife'.
Wednesday Aug 29, 2012
The Stolen Purse (jig)
Wednesday Aug 29, 2012
Wednesday Aug 29, 2012
Here's a tune I've played for years. I never knew a name for it so I played it into the magic tunepal.org machine and that is where this title came out of. My first part for the tune is a bit different from the versions on the computer but I suppose there's no harm in that. It's worth taking note of the advice on the photo even if the tune is of no interest.
Friday May 25, 2012
Lavin’s Favourite (reel)
Friday May 25, 2012
Friday May 25, 2012
This also goes under the name of 'Lavan's Favorite' in 'Ryan's Mammoth Collection'. I've tried to play it fairly close to the dotty version here: http://www.oldmusicproject.com/AA3Sheet/1201-1800/Sheet-1501-1600/1551-LarryChoice.gif (Larry Lavin's Choice). A combination of warm weather and a bit of recent, regular playing has allowed me to get through this tune on my boxwood flute without it falling apart (that's the flute I'm talking about - not so sure about poor Larry's reel).
Sunday May 20, 2012
Dillon Brown (aka Laington’s reel)
Sunday May 20, 2012
Sunday May 20, 2012
Here's a fairly straightforward version of a popular reel in A. I avoided any G sharps in the slow version lest I may sustain a cut finger. There may be one or two (sharps and / or damaged digits) lurking around the quicker version.
Wednesday May 16, 2012
The Girls of Banbridge (jig)
Wednesday May 16, 2012
Wednesday May 16, 2012
Here's an approximation of O'Neill's version of a popular jig. The dots can be found at: http://www.oldmusicproject.com/AA3Sheet/0701-1200/Sheet-0801-0900/0812-GirlsBanbridge.gif If you want to hear it played properly you could do worse than click on this link: http://archive.org/details/MichaelColemanGirlsofBainbridgeCherishtheLadies . The name in Coleman's version is 'Bainbridge' - maybe a reference to characters in Beryl's very early work (she'd have been 8 at the time).
Thursday Apr 26, 2012
Carolan’s Concerto
Thursday Apr 26, 2012
Thursday Apr 26, 2012
Here's a different sort of tune by way of a change. I've just played each part singly the first time round. If I appear to be rushing a bit during the quicker version that's probably because I was being distracted by the smell of the 'Young's Chip Shop Fish Fillet in Crisp Bubbly Batter' which is in the process of being turned into my dinner in my oven. I bet Carolan never had that problem. If he did occasionally salivate over the notion of some 17th / 18th century convenience food it was probably not too much of an encumbrance on his harp playing anyway.
Saturday Mar 10, 2012
The Thrush in the Storm
Saturday Mar 10, 2012
Saturday Mar 10, 2012
I hope the title of this reel refers to matters ornithological and meteorological and not medical. I was reminded of this tune today when I heard a recording of Sheila O'Dowd playing it (http://www.colemanirishmusic.com/shop/product.php?id=13 track 16). It is in Breathnach's Ceol Rince na hÉireann vol. 1 and someone has kindly made the notes available at http://tunepal.org/tunepal/showdots.php?id=11667. That's about all I have to say on the matter just now.
Tuesday Jan 24, 2012
The Ballina Lasses
Tuesday Jan 24, 2012
Tuesday Jan 24, 2012
I've been trying to learn to play a C#D accordion and was reminded of this tune while playing through a few books as a way of telling my fingers that there's more than one melody in the world. The box playing may be a sort of insurance against tooth loss which would make the flute sound a bit gummy; cleaning and flossing might be an easier approach. This tune is in the book 'Trip to Sligo' under the title 'Come up in the room I want you'. I played it (on the flute) into the tunepal.org machine and was given the title I've used here. The person in the 'up in the room' name may even have been addressing the Ballina Lasses at the time of utterance. I don't know what Tunepal will think it's called if I try playing it on the squeezebox.
Sunday Jan 08, 2012
Terry Hi Ho the Grinder (slip jig)
Sunday Jan 08, 2012
Sunday Jan 08, 2012
Here's a tune with a funny name. I learned it from a flute player with a less peculiar appellation, i.e. Harry Bradley. I recorded this on a mobile phone mp3 recording app (and a flute) and the end result seems to include some 78rpm type crackles. That may have been an option which I inadvertantly chose on the recording device.
Friday Nov 04, 2011
Peter Wyper’s Hornpipe
Friday Nov 04, 2011
Friday Nov 04, 2011
Here's a tune called Peter Wyper's hornpipe. It is named after one of the Brothers Wyper who is pictured above. I had intended posting a smaller brace of Wypers but couldn't find the shrink button to resize the photo. You could look at the photo on a smartphone screen to make it small but I think the text would go all exiguous at the same time.
Saturday Aug 13, 2011
The Collier’s Reel
Saturday Aug 13, 2011
Saturday Aug 13, 2011
Here's a tune which as was correctly pointed out to me, I had forgotten to post up to now. I've played it on a poor, old and sick Rudall flute. I had even taken a picture of the flute but it's been so long since I've posted a tune here that I've forgotten how to include a photo (or else this site has forgotten how to have photos posted on it). The flute can't remember how to play bottom Ds yet. I'll be leaving it into a flute hospital in Galway shortly - maybe a bit of hypnosis from beyond the Pale will remind it of this particular alphabetic bark.
Tuesday Apr 26, 2011
Knocknagow (jig)
Tuesday Apr 26, 2011
Tuesday Apr 26, 2011
Here's a tune I was asked a while ago to play. I've always been a bit allergic to this tune - I'm not sure why - I think something bad like the house falling down happened the last time I played it and that left a bit of an impression which didn't please me too much. It's a good tune all the same. I think it's really 2 jigs joined together. I'm away to stand outside for a while in case this house isn't up to the Knocknagow test.
Sunday Feb 06, 2011
Do you want any more? (jig)
Sunday Feb 06, 2011
Sunday Feb 06, 2011
I think this is also called The Collier's Jig. There's a collier's reel too which has the same general selection if notes in it. I'll post it on the site if it's not already here. I've been reminded a couple of times lately that some people are finding some use for some of the tunes on this site so I thought I'd try to add one or two more. It remains to be seen whether they'll fall into the useful category or otherwise. I have a couple of requested tunes still to post as well. I'm just being delayed by not knowing them and almost never having a flute closer that about 20 feet away. If I attended to the latter matter then my chance of sorting the former should increase accordingly.
Saturday Nov 20, 2010
Tonn Teine (reel)
Saturday Nov 20, 2010
Saturday Nov 20, 2010
Here's the one that goes with the other two (Paddy O'Brien tunes I posted a while ago). I've just been reminded that I missed this one. I hope late is better than never.
Tuesday Nov 16, 2010
The Trip to Nenagh (reel)
Tuesday Nov 16, 2010
Tuesday Nov 16, 2010
Here's a reel I've just been asked to play. It was composed by Sean Ryan. I found a couple of written versions on the web and this effort is sort of a cross between both and neither of them. Sorry if some (or most) of the notes are a bit on the fuzzy side. I found some ready salted crisps just before I found the notes for the tune.
Friday Nov 12, 2010
The Cow that ate the Blanket (reel)
Friday Nov 12, 2010
Friday Nov 12, 2010
I think there's also a jig with this name - or is that 'the milker that masticated the mattress' ?
Tuesday Oct 05, 2010
Shamrock Hill (reel)
Tuesday Oct 05, 2010
Tuesday Oct 05, 2010
Here's a tune I never knew the name of until the arrival of the magic tune finding machine http://tunepal.org/tunepal/index.php. I see that people now even have telephones with this facility on them. If someone sneezes at a session these days there's likely to be an iphonophile who will be try to identify the sneeze as some polka or other. Any extraneous noises in this recording have passed without being interpreted as anything other than normal noise - any other noises are supposed to be the tune.
Saturday Aug 21, 2010
The Glenside Cottage (reel)
Saturday Aug 21, 2010
Saturday Aug 21, 2010
Here's a tune I think I learned from a recording of Jackie Daly. It is also in Breathnach's Ceol Rince na hÉireann (vol 2) where the version is the same but for one note in the second part (answsers on a postcard to ...)
Sunday Aug 08, 2010
Iniscealtra (reel)
Sunday Aug 08, 2010
Sunday Aug 08, 2010
Here's another Paddy O'Brien reel which goes with the previous one though usually before it and another one rather than after it and before another one which isn't the same 'another one' I referred to on another part of this sentence just before now - I hope that all makes sense. All these tunes and information about them and Paddy O'Brien are to be found in an excellent compilation which is available from this site: http://www.paddyobrienbook.com/
Friday Jul 30, 2010
Ormond Sound (reel)
Friday Jul 30, 2010
Friday Jul 30, 2010
Here's a reel composed by Paddy O'Brien. It is often played after two others in a set. I don't know the other ones either.
Sunday Jul 11, 2010
Ambrose Moloney’s
Sunday Jul 11, 2010
Sunday Jul 11, 2010
Here's a great reel for the flute. I'm sure I stole it from somewhere but the scene of that particular theft is now out of reach of my memory.
Wednesday Jul 07, 2010
The Sailor’s Cravat (reel)
Wednesday Jul 07, 2010
Wednesday Jul 07, 2010
I've been at around 3 sessions in as many months and this tune was played at 2 of them (albeit by the same person). According to my statistical analysis this tune is therefore played at 66.66666% of all sessions. I'm afraid that the flute here sounds a bit like it has a cravat stuck up it somewhere; possibly with a maritime person attached.
Sunday Apr 18, 2010
Jenny Picking Cockles (2) - Reel
Sunday Apr 18, 2010
Sunday Apr 18, 2010
Sorry for the lack of tunes in the last while. I gave up playing for a while - as I sometimes do - and have only played the flute 4 times this year. The perenthesised '2' in the title here doesn't doesn't refer to the modesty of Jenny's shellflsh harvest target but just to the fact that there's already another tune with this name on the site.
Tuesday Jan 12, 2010
The Humours of Ballyconnell (hornpipe)
Tuesday Jan 12, 2010
Tuesday Jan 12, 2010
Here's a new post after a very long gap. I couldn't remember where I left the internet. I was sent an mp3 file of someone playing this tune far better that it is played here. I know that Séan Keane recorded it at some stage and hear it from time to time in sessions but I can't remember exactly how it goes. I found a transcription in the bit of the internet referred to below. I'm afraid I've lost / mis-ordered a few notes during the eye to mouth process but here's an approximation - hopefully enough to get a more accurate and diciplined person started learning the tune. http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2748
Friday Dec 18, 2009
Na Ceannabháin Bhána (slip jig)
Friday Dec 18, 2009
Friday Dec 18, 2009
Here's a slip jig which is really the tune of a song. I think I have a CD somewhere including a recording of Séamus Ennis singing the song but it has been hidden somewhere more obscure than the side of the sofa by a young child. I've had to rely on memory therefore for the way the tune goes. The title means something like "The fair haired Canavans".
Friday Oct 30, 2009
The Turnpike Gate (reel)
Friday Oct 30, 2009
Friday Oct 30, 2009
I'm not sure I've ever seen a turnpike gate so I'm not sure what qualities one might have to get a reel named after it. Anyway, here's a tune called after such a gate.
Thursday Oct 29, 2009
The Home Ruler (hornpipe)
Thursday Oct 29, 2009
Thursday Oct 29, 2009
Here's another request from long ago. I don't think the tune's title refers to a domestic measuring tool.
Wednesday Oct 28, 2009
The Mills are Grinding (reel)
Wednesday Oct 28, 2009
Wednesday Oct 28, 2009
I was asked back in August to play this tune. I've at least managed it before October ended. The flute hasn't forgiven me for spending a lot of the last hour playing a miniature version of itself (I think baby flutes have a special name but I'm always getting the 'cc's and 'll's confused in the spelling) and blowing into a big flute has proved difficcullt - (it's happenned again only worse). Anyway, thanks Mary for telling me about this tune on 2nd August, and I hope it sounds OK.
Saturday Oct 17, 2009
Charlie Lennon’s Number 4 (reel)
Saturday Oct 17, 2009
Saturday Oct 17, 2009
I was asked to record this tune so here it is, only a few days late. I've always just known this tune from afar so if it sounds like I'm a bit unfamiliar with its finer points (like the notes and stuff like that) then that's probably just because I am. Like most of CL's tunes, it's a fine piece of music and might be strong enough to emerge intact from my mangling.
Sunday Oct 11, 2009
The Hunter’s Purse (reel)
Sunday Oct 11, 2009
Sunday Oct 11, 2009
Here's a popular reel - so popular that it has taken me 3 years to think of it.
Monday Oct 05, 2009
Jackson’s jig
Monday Oct 05, 2009
Monday Oct 05, 2009
I've been laptopless for a while so have hadn't been able to post any tunes. I now have a new laptop and it and an old flute have combined to record this not so new jig. I'm not used to the recording level on the new computer so this post may only be audible to canine creatures. Maybe they can be persuaded to bark a louder version out if necessary.
Friday Aug 14, 2009
John McHugh’s Jig
Friday Aug 14, 2009
Friday Aug 14, 2009
Here's a nice jig. I can't type any more as I can hear a baby stirrng; a baby who cares little about this site and the words and notes thereon.
Tuesday Aug 04, 2009
The Torn Jacket (reel)
Tuesday Aug 04, 2009
Tuesday Aug 04, 2009
I've finally got around to looking at a couple of requests to record tunes. This is the only one I've got around to playing though. It's also the only torn jacket I've given any attention to although I seem to have several, the holes in which heavily outnumber the arms I can find to put through them.
Thursday Jul 23, 2009
Lad O’Beirne’s reel
Thursday Jul 23, 2009
Thursday Jul 23, 2009
Here's a tune I was asked to play. It is named after the great Sligo fiddle player whose name escapes me just now.
Saturday Jul 18, 2009
Mary O’ the Wisp (reel)
Saturday Jul 18, 2009
Saturday Jul 18, 2009
This isn't really a flute tune. It comes from the fiddle playing of Francie Byrne from Kilcar, Co. Donegal.
Monday Jul 06, 2009
The Castlemahon Lasses (reel)
Monday Jul 06, 2009
Monday Jul 06, 2009
All I know about this tune is what I read about it in Ceol Rince na hÉireann vol 5. It says there that the fiddler James McEnery composed it. I hope I'm not decomposing it too much here.
Friday Jun 12, 2009
Dúlamán na Binne Buidhe (highland)
Friday Jun 12, 2009
Friday Jun 12, 2009
The title of this tune (and song of the same name) translates as "The Seaweed of the Yellow Cliff". - a tune caught between a wrack and a hard place perhaps. There are a few versions of this tune but I could only think of this one just now. I still have to think of the other tunes which are on my list to play here but my thought processes are running very slow these days.
Sunday May 31, 2009
Con Cassidy’s Highland
Sunday May 31, 2009
Sunday May 31, 2009
Here's a tune I stole from a recording of Con Cassidy. I don't know much about it, except for what the notes are. I suppose that's a start.
Saturday May 30, 2009
Gurney’s Favourite (jig)
Saturday May 30, 2009
Saturday May 30, 2009
Here's a jig I heard on a recording of Michael Gorman. It's called Guiry's favourite in O'Neill's. I was a bit distracted by an infant with a new set of noisy birthday presents but hopefully the tune recovers sufficiently frequently to make it possible to pick up.
Friday May 08, 2009
The Lads of Laois (reel)
Friday May 08, 2009
Friday May 08, 2009
I'm a bit behind on recording tunes at the moment. I'm even behind with being behind with things. I think that's what's behind the delays. Anyway. I was asked for "The Lads of Laois", so here it is / they are, unleashed. I think I was asked for a nice version. I never really had a nice version so I had to record a nasty one. I listened back to the start of this recording through my computer's speakers and it sounded as if the tune was being played underwater on a trombone but maybe once it has been hung out on the web for a while it'll dry out a bit. I'll record the other tunes on my list once I find the list.
Wednesday Apr 22, 2009
Higgins’ Hornpipe
Wednesday Apr 22, 2009
Wednesday Apr 22, 2009
I've just been asked to play this tune so here it is. I'm not too sure how reliable this version is but it is maybe a bit closer to the version common in Ireland than the version on another website near you. I think it mightn't originally be an Irish tune so maybe the funny version is the normal version where the funny version comes from and the normal version is maybe ... etc. This is also known as "The Cliff Hornpipe". Whether that's the Cliff of "Summer Holiday" fame, I don't know.
Saturday Apr 18, 2009
Bill Malley’s Reel
Saturday Apr 18, 2009
Saturday Apr 18, 2009
I was asked a while ago to play this. I think I've already played it under a different name but I'm happy enough to post it with this name and look like I know more tunes than I really do. I can't remember what the other name I called it was so this is probably the one I'll use in future.
Monday Apr 13, 2009
Mulqueeny’s Hornpipe
Monday Apr 13, 2009
Monday Apr 13, 2009
Here's one I wasn't asked to play. I wasn't asked not to play it either so as it doesn't seem to be here already I thought I'd give it a go. I think I was half the age I am now when I last played this tune and if I live to be twice the age I am now I'll either have too few teeth or too much sense to play it again. There's a touch of a farting in the bath sound about it. Maybe it's more of a windpipe than a hornpipe.
Monday Apr 13, 2009
Johnny Cope (hornpipe)
Monday Apr 13, 2009
Monday Apr 13, 2009
Here a very long hornpipe which I've been asked to play. I maybe played it a bit too fast the second time around but as it has so many parts I had to rush to finish it before the shops shut. (This version is vaguely like the one in Ceol Rince na hÉireann Vol. 3 - No. 208)
Friday Apr 03, 2009
The Bantry Lasses (reel)
Friday Apr 03, 2009
Friday Apr 03, 2009
I had to look this one up in "The Book" when asked tp post it. I found it in O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland, 1001 Gems (No. 469). I had just previously found "The Book" on the sideboard by the door into the kitchen. There is some audible dissent in the background but O'Neill was from Bantry so I'd trust this version OK despite the critical opinion which is to the fore in parts of this recording.
Saturday Mar 14, 2009
The Battering Ram (jig)
Saturday Mar 14, 2009
Saturday Mar 14, 2009
I found a 'please play the battering ram' email so here's said man-ewe (not Man U which I believe is a soccer team). This rendition is more sheepish than extraordinary but most of the notes are there.
Friday Feb 27, 2009
The Song of the Chanter (march)
Friday Feb 27, 2009
Friday Feb 27, 2009
I was asked to record this tune so here it is. I don't know what key it should be in. Here's a go at it in D minor and then A minor. I heard something once about dropping a piano down a coal shaft and getting A flat minor.
Sunday Feb 22, 2009
The Iron Man (highland / strathspey)
Sunday Feb 22, 2009
Sunday Feb 22, 2009
There's a character in The Magic Roundabout called Mr. Rusty. I fear that my Homme de Fer may have become a Fear Meirgeach himself.
Friday Feb 20, 2009
The Jolly Seven (reel)
Friday Feb 20, 2009
Friday Feb 20, 2009
Here's a Paddy O'Brien reel (I think). Instead of a jolly seven here I think I have a fairly happy seven and a mildly miffed number 8. The overall recording quality is a bit dodgy here and the sound of the sean nós shouting infant in the background maybe doesn't help things too much (no infants were harmed in the making of this post).
Saturday Jan 31, 2009
Cois Abhann na Séad (slow air)
Saturday Jan 31, 2009
Saturday Jan 31, 2009
I can't think of any quick tunes at the moment so here's a slow one. I want to spell this "Cois Abhainn na Seod" but forces I don't understand take me to the spelling I used instead. This is a song air which comes from Cúil Aodha in Co. Cork. I probably have it all wrong but I never go to Cork so I should be safe from close quarter retribution at least. (The title in English is "Beside the River of Gems / Jewels - I know how to spell that anywaieieieiy).
Saturday Jan 31, 2009
The Pigeon on the Gate (reel)
Saturday Jan 31, 2009
Saturday Jan 31, 2009
I just got an email from a pigeon fancier, or at least someone who wanted me to post this tune. So here's my pigeon-post, or maybe pigeon on the gatepost. I'm surprised not to have recorded a pigeon on the gate to date, but better late than never at any rate.
Friday Jan 23, 2009
The Small Hills of Offaly (reel)
Friday Jan 23, 2009
Friday Jan 23, 2009
Here's a reel which I think Paddy O'Brien (from Smallhillsville) composed. The hills may be small but they seemed to take an age to upload onto this site. They must be the wrong shape for internet pipes. I know little of hills and tend not to go anywhere more topographically elevated than upstairs in a not too tall house in a low down town. I hope the tune's shape hasn't been too distorted, either by its journey to the web, or by its time spent in my mildly mangled music head.
Friday Jan 16, 2009
Aggie Whyte’s Reel
Friday Jan 16, 2009
Friday Jan 16, 2009
I've finally got round to playing another tune. I stole my wife's flute to play it as I can't remember where I left my own. The fact that this recording sounds like it was made in a sewer is no reflection on the flute. The recording wasn't made in a sewer; I'd never bring someone else's instrument into such an environment. Now I come to think of it, the same flute was once found in a wheelie bin after a burglary.
Friday Jan 02, 2009
The Game of Love (reel)
Friday Jan 02, 2009
Friday Jan 02, 2009
Here's a tune I was asked to play. Some people associate this time of year with Yule logs. I appear just to have a backlog but this will hopefully have removed at least a sawtooth's fill from it. One reason I'm so slow about posting tunes these days is that I can't remember the names of any more of them. I got this one by asking Mr.Google about the name I was given. He seems to call it 'The Girls of Farranfore'.
Monday Dec 22, 2008
Father Tom’s Wager (jig)
Monday Dec 22, 2008
Monday Dec 22, 2008
Here's a jig about a betting Priest, or a Priestly bet. I don't know how he fared in the gamble but the jig flutters on to this day. There are a few versions of this knocking about. This is more or less like the one in O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland.
Friday Dec 19, 2008
A Fig For a Kiss (slip jig)
Friday Dec 19, 2008
Friday Dec 19, 2008
Here's a slip jig which I was asked to post here. It's been so long since I posted anything that the requestor has probably forgotten requesting it. I don't know whether you need a special type of fig for a kiss; "can I have a fig please; one of those ones you use for ... ?" and if so is it the same sort which helps with the digestive processes. Maybe just typing this little 'f' word will ease the blockage in my tune posting pipeline. I must go now and post some Santa cards.
Friday Nov 28, 2008
The Little Stack of Wheat (hornpipe)
Friday Nov 28, 2008
Friday Nov 28, 2008
Here's a tune I've been asked to play. I think there are various cereal crops piled up in hornpipe names. In these straitened times maybe a little stack is the most appropriate choice for the days that are in it ... innit'?
Thursday Nov 20, 2008
The Mist on the Mountain (jig)
Thursday Nov 20, 2008
Thursday Nov 20, 2008
I've been asked to play this one so here it is. There's a tune call "snow on the hills" a few posts down. This one is continuing the theme but maybe has more to do with Kagools than with skis.
Monday Nov 17, 2008
Tory Island (reel)
Monday Nov 17, 2008
Monday Nov 17, 2008
Here's a reel which is also called "Murphy's Hound". I'm not sure how it got these two names or what the connection may be between them. Something to do with the Isle of Dogs maybe, though as one island is in the Thames and the other in the Atlantic, I may well be barking up the wrong tree entirely.
Monday Nov 10, 2008
Anything for John-Joe? (reel)
Monday Nov 10, 2008
Monday Nov 10, 2008
The question mark is part of the title, not an indication of doubt about what the title is. Having said (or typed) that, I'm not sure whether said question mark should be in the title. Maybe I should have typed (or written) 'Anything for John-Joe??'. I'm not too sure about the hyphen either. Hopefully the tune is more straightforward???
Thursday Oct 30, 2008
Snow on the Hills (reel)
Thursday Oct 30, 2008
Thursday Oct 30, 2008
The recent weather which, according to the radio person, is the worst and snowiest since the last time we were told it was the worst since bad weather started to be bad and to be recorded as such, has reminded me that I was asked to post this tune. I didn't know it so here's just a rough guess as to what the dots at www.snowonthehills.org (http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/8535) say it goes like.
Monday Oct 27, 2008
The Eavesdropper (jig)
Monday Oct 27, 2008
Monday Oct 27, 2008
Here's a tune I overheard someone asking for. I've a couple more to do too and I'll get around to them as soon as I find where I tied the knot in my hankerchief.
Friday Oct 17, 2008
Dinny O’Brien’s Reel
Friday Oct 17, 2008
Friday Oct 17, 2008
I dinny play this before 'cause I dinny know it right. Chance I still donny but here's a try. (See CRÉ 3 uimh.145 for more reliable version.)
Saturday Oct 11, 2008
The Hawthorn (slip jig)
Saturday Oct 11, 2008
Saturday Oct 11, 2008
Here's a wee tune I stole out of Ceol Rince na hÉireann 3 (uimhir 57). I know it's meant to be bad luck stealing or interfering with thorn bushes in the wild. Hopefully na daoine beaga don't take such a dim view of thorn thefts from tomes.