Irish Flute Tunes

Introduction

 

  

 

 **** Tune Index all Muddled up ****

 

I've just posted a tune here for the first time in months. While I was on the site I noticed that the tune names are no longer in alphabetical order. I think they are now in chronoligical order. If you just type Ctrl +F and then put in the tune name, or part of the name,  it will take you to the link for that tune if it is on the site.

 

*** Some recordings not playing ***

 

Some recordings go missing from this site from time to time; the internet seems to suffer from memory laspses jist like the rest of us. If you find that a recording doesn't play, please let me know. I have the recordings backed up somewhere (though I'm not sure where) and as a last resort I think I might be able to find some of the tunes in my head and somehow transfer them from there back onto the site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

The Shamrock Barndance

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.

There is a version of it here: http://thesession.org/tunes/11250 taken down from the fiddle playing of Vincent Campbell (presumably one of the Donegal fiddle players amongst whom this tune is popular).  I've also heard a recording of John Doherty playing it and I first learned it from another fiddle player, i.e. Paul O'Shaughnessy who has a keen awarness of the Donegal fiddle zeitgeist.

Ambrose Moloney's

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.

The Merry Harriers (reel)

I can't think of anything to write about this reel so

The Callan Lasses (Donnelly's) - Reel

I've finally got around to playing this one which I was asked to play ages ago. The second part has always been a bit of a mystery to me. I hope I haven't made it even more of one with this effort. I think some of the notes are right and the order in which they appear is mroe or lses KO. (This tune had a helium fit earlier. If it is still all Pinky and Perky tomorrow I'll record it again. In the meantime I'd recommend slowdown software). (26/01/2008 - I've rerecorded the tune now.  The only problem may be that I've forgotten some of it in the meantime).

The Providence Reel

This is my recollection of a fairly common reel.  I was asked to record this one and I has taken me that long to do so that I can't even remember when I was asked.  Maybe I wasn't asked at all.  I think I have at least one other reel I'm meant to be putting on as well.  Once I improve the organisational state of my life even to the lower reaches of chaos I will do the other tune too.

Paddy Ryan's Dream (2)

Here's another Paddy Ryan's Dream.  Mr. Ryan must have been some sleeper. I think this one is close to the version that John Doherty used to call "Mooney's Reel".

The Reel of Rio

I was asked to record this which is a good thing as otherwise my memory wouldn't have stumbled upon it. Now my mental recall has been provoked, I hope this is the same Reel of Rio that got lost in it years ago. I don't know what the "Rio" in question is. Maybe its just that the name sounds better that "The Reel of Lagan".

Eddy Duffy's Barndance

Here's the one which comes after the one which I haven't posted yet.  This one and the one which isn't here are tunes from Fermanagh.

Gan Ainm (Tom Busby’s Jig)

Here's another port gan ainm. Níl port le hainm fágtha agam faoin am seo. I seem to have run out of names of tunes to post so I'm going to have to start ganning ainms for the next while. I learned this jig from a piper who has an ainm - Robbie Hannan - but whose ainm for this jig escapes me just now. I was never sure just how the two parts of the tune got on with each other but sometimes I can sense an uneasy peace between them.

Miss Ramsey's (highland)

This tune is also played as a reel with an extra bit thrown in. I'm sorry about the mess up at the end. I suddenly realised that I had seven minutes to finish the tune, upload it, write a comment, digest my dinner (I suspect that may actually take days) and catch the start of the film which appears to be the only thing on TV tonight. I'll try the reel version soon.

The Heathery Breeze (reel)

Here's a reel from my holidays.  I don't play this very often so I hope my version has survived the years of neglect I've so lovingly administered to it. 

Smash the Windows (jig)

Here's a jig which I think is actually a single jig.  I don't really understand all these different jig types so I'll just play the notes and leave the counting to those better qualified than I am.  I think I first learned this tune from a book of the same name by Francie McPeake.  This version is probably a bit different but as I can't find the book I can't be sure.

The Golden Keyboard (reel)

I can't really see what particular use could be made of a golden keyboard apart from for naming a tune after.  It's a while since I either heard or played this tune (apart from about 3 minutes ago) so I can't guarantee that some keys on this particular board may be a bit more pig ironish than golden.

The Green Mountain (reel)

Sorry it's been so long since I posted a tune.  The last thing I can remember is thinking that I was getting seasonal amnesia  (I don't rightly know whether Santa will be able to fit it down the chimney, though).  This tends to reduce the regularity of tune postings. Here's one anyway.  I'm not sure whether the title refers to the said mountain's hue or to its being made of recycled hills.  It certainly can seem on occasions to be a fairly recyclable reel.  It's a nice one all the same and helps flute players to believe that tunes aren't all that hard after all.

The Top of Cork Road (jig)

Here's a jig I nicked off a record of Johnny Cronin and Joe Burke (that's Burke with a beard and banjo rather than a beard and box).  The name is sometimes given to Father O'Flynn's jig as well.

The Cottage in the Grove (reel)

(Thanks Bernie for telling me the name of this tune). Here's a reel which is as un-ainm-ated as I feel today having been at an over-crowded, over-priced and over-cooked Christmas (it's barely even December) dinner last night. At least now it's just an over dinner without a hyphen in pursuit. Whatever about the name, I know enough about this tune to be able to say that I'm playing it in the key above its normal one. The present key is much easier on the flute than its G minor neighbour. I have to go out into the rain now and listen to the shouts of the man who drinks beside the bus stop. He appears very placid in good weather but anticyclones seem to upset him. Hopefully the bus won't be too long in arriving.

The Knights of Saint Patrick (jig)

Here's my very belated response to a request to post this tune.  I hope late turns out to be better than never.

Smith's Favourite (hornpipe)

This is the name this hornpipe is given in Alan's Irish Fiddler. I think I've heard other names, and none, for it too. It's a good tune for exercising the G# key. I've included instances of both hitting and missing it throughout the tune.

Francis John McGovern's Reel

Here's a reel which I think has Fermanagh connections.  If I knew about FJMcG I'd be more sure of this. I played the tune in a big, empty room so each note probably repeats itself about ten times.  Just like my cooking.

Maudabawn Chapel (reel)

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.

Her Long Hair Flowing Down Her Back (hornpipe)

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.

Darby the Driver (jig)

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.

The Twenty One Highland

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.

The Ladies of Tullybardee (reel)

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".

The Dispute at the Crossroads (reel)

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.

Big Pat's Reel

Comes from big cow's?

The Devil in the Kitchen (Highland)

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

The Flaxdresser (jig)

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

The Tailor's Twist

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 ...