Irish Flute Tunes

Rip the Calico

Here's a very popular reel.  It is particularly suited to the flute.

The Garden of Daisies

Here's a set dance or long dance.  I'm afraid the daisies are a bit wilted here but hopefully someone out there will revive them.

Martin Mulhaire's Number 9

Here's one which I was sent a while ago (thanks Billy) and have only got around to posting now.

Rolling in The Barrel

I know about rolling out the barrel. Here another way to barrel roll. This tune is on a record of PJ Hayes and Paddy Canny.

Gillian's Apples (2)

Here is the four part 'D' version of the previous jig.

Gillian's Apples (1)

Here's a jig the title of which sometimes states the apples as being Gillan's and not Gillian's. As Gillan is just a Gillian with an eye missing then bad spllenig probably accounts for this.  There are two main versions of this tune.  Here's the two part one in G.

The Old Copperplate

This is the one some people call "The Copperplate" while calling the one I call "The Old Copperplate" "The Copperplate".  If you search this site for "Copperplate" you'll find the one I call "The Copperplate" sandwiched between 2 other tunes which I neither call "The Copperplate" nor "The Old Copperplate".  I hope that clears up any potential confusion.

The Plough in The Stars

Here's a reel written by Larry Redican. I could never really get all that constellation stuff (or anything to do with the universe for that matter). The nocturnal lanterns all just look like dots to me. I'd love to be able to look up and see "Ursa Minor" or "Pegasus" or "The Sturmey Archer 3 Seeed Hub" but all I get are dots. Nice Reel though. Thanks again, C. (The rest of the list is going to require a bit of head scratching - hard to do while playing a flute but nothing ventured ...)

The Hunter's House

This is another of Reavy's tunes.  I had to check in a book of his tunes to see which one matched this name.  I then had to check the order in which my fingers waggled in order to bring my version towards some sort of approximation of the way he had written it. Hopefully this version should be close enough to play with people with better powers of recall than mine. It is one of Reavy's most popular reels.

The Green Gates

The picture is just a blatant ploy to allow me to quote Sherlock Holmes when asked what had happened to the gates ... "Lemon entry, my dear Watson" (primary school, 1975). This is a very popular reel, again from my new list (thankyou). I hope all gates that should be, are now very verdant indeed.

The Cúil Aodha Jig

Here's another one from my new list.  I hope it's the right one. I've already played it as "Amhrán an Tae" (The Tea Song) but as I used a different key and a different name, I'm claiming that it is a different tune. It's a good tune to exercise the G sharp key although the wee finger on my left hand seemed fairly reluctant to be party to procedure.  I think I'm going to play tunes with no notes in them at all for the next while - sort of John Cage on the flute.

Jenny's Chickens

Here's a reel which I've recently been reminded of.  It has been recorded by many people in the past, none of whom made it sound as foul or paultry has it does here.

The Jug of Punch

This is actually a picture of a jug of Tasmanian Iced Tea but it looks quite nice.  The picture I first found of a punchbowl had something disgusting in it. Talking of things disgusting, I afraid the playing here isn't all that pretty but it might be OK as a raw material for someone else to make a tune from.

The Old Dundeen

Here's a tune about a Dundeen.  It's the first reference to Dundeens I've heard today. I think the fiddle player Paddy Killoran recorded this when the Dundeen was not just quite as old as it is now.

The Broken Bridge Hornpipe

Here's a hornpipe from a new list of tunes I have.  I first heard it in 'A' but my fingers refused to acknowledge this and I've played it here in 'G'.

The Fisherman's Island

Here's a Reavy tune which is often just known as "Reavy's".  I don't know why.

Molloy's Favourite

Here's a good tune.  It's particularly good at being the one after the one before it.  Paddy Killoran made a good job of it on a record about 70 years ago.

Buckley's Fancy

A nice reel which is nice to play.  All very nice indeed.

O'Rourke's Reel

Here's a very popular reel. I'm surprised I hadn't put it on the site before now. It suits most instruments which people use for playing Irish traditional music. The ones it doesn't suit are probably just too hard to please, or to be pleased with.

The Wedding Reel

Here's a tune I was asked to put on.  I wasn't aware of knowing a "Wedding Reel" so I just made a stab at this version: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/518 .  It's more a "Reading Reel" here and in order to expunge some of my most dodgy notes it may have to be a "Weeding Reel". I've played the second part as plainly as possible here.  I suspect some people (especially a few in the list on thesession.org of those who have recorded it) might put a bit of syncopation into this part but I'm around eighty million percent allergic to that particular activity in most traditional tunes.

Paddy Clancy's Jig

Here's a nice jig which I stole from the same place as the previous two tunes.

The Tar Road to Sligo

Another bit of Bothy Band booty.  A Tar dis to Sligo would be handy.  The roads are better now than they were but it's hard to find them under all the cars.

Patsy Geary's Jig

Here's the first of today's "sure he's just nicking tunes of Bothy Band records now" tunes.  I stole it from a Bothy Band record.  Ir's a sort of slide / jig but I'll keep it in the jig section as I'm too far north for sliding.

The Road to Lisdoonvarna

Not much to say about this tune ... common as muck but feels better in the ear than muck. As with most common tunes it's common because it's a good tune and so people like it.  It's also a good reel for learning on the flute, without too many "funny bits".

An Charraigín Rua

Here's a Micko (or is it Micho?) Russell reel.  It sounds a bit like something else - don't they all? I'm never sure about the Micko / Micho thing. A badly written "k" can have a fair bit of "h"iness about it so maybe they're the same thing.  I'm sure there are plenty of people who know the answer to this crucial question.

The Boys of Tandragee

I think this jig is from a song : "The Roll-ick-ing Boys of Tan-der-a-gee". All I know of Tandragee is that the Northern version of Tayto crisps are made there.  Whatever about other questions of nationality, surely the two Tayto communities in Ireland could come together.

The Humours of Lissadell

Here's a great reel for flute, fiddles or flugelhorns.  I'm working of the layout for an irish fluglehorn tunes site but it's not ready for air yet.

Seán sa Cheo

Here's a reel to get misty-eyed about while you travel out on the high Cs.  If you know any fiddle players who haven't quite got round to playing elevated notes it can be a fairly passable recreation to watch their various ways of playing the second part of this reel.

Ríl Gan Ainm

Here's a good flute tune. I don't know what it's called. It can be found, among other places, in the book "Trip to Sligo" among the tunes from the South Sligo flute player and singer, Colm O'Donnell.

Miss Monaghan

If someone could clone Clones then there would be no need to miss Monaghan ever again. Sorry for trotting out the same puny pun as before. I have no imagination. This reel is a good stalwart of sessions and recordings wherever Irish traditional music is played.  I hope this version is OK.

Miss McDonald's (2)

Someone else misses it too. Here's another pelt peeling for poor felix. I've not played this tune for years as there used to be someone living here who played it all the time.  The only thing more annoying than that was almost any other tune he played.  My immune system is just beginning to allow the tune back into my head now.

Miss McDonald's

Like ways to skin a cat, there is more than one set of notes to make a Miss McDonald's Reel. This is a nice light sort of a one. I've been mostly dining on stout, gin, water and nervously nibbled nails over the last while - not a burger in site. I can't say that I miss McDonald's at all. In fact I'd be happy if the one in the centre of Belfast wasn't there. It makes the surrounding area smell of stale fat which isn't very nice for the tourists who are waiting across the road for their rain soaked open top bus tour of the city. At least when the bus arrives it takes them away from the smell of I'm Lovin' It.

The Corner House

Here's a nice reel I was asked to play (is this it, M?). I used to hear this tune more than I do now.  Maybe that's just because I need my ears syringed.

Courting Them All

This sounds like the stage between mass arrests and sentencing. I think this tune is on a record of Kevin Burke and Jackie Daly.  I know it is in CRÉ 3, number 119 as that's where I stole this version from.

Killannan's Fancy

I never knew the name of this tune and seems to have about 6.3 half versions of it floating around in my head. While I was in the process of stealing tunes out of Ceol Rince na hÉireann Vol 3, I found this version with this name.  It is number 116 and comes from Roger Sherlock's flute playing.

Pull The Knife and Stick it Again

Here's a tune I was asked to play.  It's on Matt Molloy's first record.  I don't know where he got the tune or the name from.  It sounds a bit odd played slowly but here goes ... (The quicker version seems to recover its composure a bit) Brendán Breathnach put it in Ceol Rince na hÉireann 3 (No. 12) in case you want to see the dots, or blood spatters.

Lománach Cross

Here's a flute friendly sort of reel.  Brendán Breathnach got it from Denis Murphy but it appears on a few other people's records, including one of Mary Bergin and one of Matt Molloy. My playing here is more Lame Knack Cross than Lománach Cross but hopefully it is still a cross that is possible to bear.

Lucy Campbell

I must have pressed the wrong buttons on the recorder.  Poor Lucy sounds like she's calling for rescue from an oil drum, or maybe it's a big soup tin. This is a good sturdy reel of Scottish stock - more soup.  I hope Lucy isn't stuck in an echoey BROTHel.

Seán McGuire's Reel

Here's a common enough reel named after a far from common fiddle player.  The tune may well have other names but this is what Roger Sherlock called it on a record.

Port Sheáin tSeosaimh (Old Joe's Jig)

Here's a jig Mary Bergin recorded.  It's not a long way to Old Tipperary from this tune on the same record.

The Wexford Reel

Here's a tune Brandán Breathnach collected from the South Sligo whistle player Jimmy McGettrick and included in Ceol Rince na hÉireann 2, number 215.

The Maid Behind the Bar

Here's the one after the one before it.  This tune is fairly hyperphenominally popular and can be found rattling around sessions everywhere.  I'd imagine Miltown Malbay is getting its fair share as we speak.

Patsy Touhey's Reel

Here's a reel named after a great Co. Galway piper who moved to America and made a great success of his career as a musician and entertainer. I believe he was hyperphenominal. I just impaled my food (I meant to write "foot" - never ask a spellchecker to make your dinner - fish fingers are where I draw the line)  on a cassette (pre-recorded / legal and all that) of Matt Molloys's first record. Never walk round an untidy house with bare feet. Anyway, this tune is on that record. I had to keep time here with my wrong foot as the right one was (and is) still sore. I hope this hasn't interfered with the flow.

The Drunken Tinker

Here's one a good friend reminded me of recently. I'll now maybe give my poor old Rudall / Willis / Murray creation a chance to rest and settle into its newfound freedom from its 3 year long subescalatory incarceration.

Elanor Keane's Reel

Here's an Ed. Reavy composition.  I was reminded of it this week by the fiddle player Dónal O'Connor - one of Dundalk's finest musical exports to Belfast.

The Maids of Mullaghmore

Here's another John Doherty tune. He's been ringing in my ears of late. I remembered after playing the tune that this old flute has low C keys.  Maybe I should have used the C# key in the first part.  On second thoughts, I shouldn't have.  That note belongs on a fiddle.

The Oak Tree

Here's a John Doherty sort of reel. I can't remember how many times each to play the parts. I was out playing last night and the person who started this very same tune had a similarly random approach to this matter also.

Life is All Chequered

Like a cheap Parisian tablecloth or an Irish Times crossword, or maybe a flag you find by driving far too fast. I'm carrying on with my poor George Rudall's rehabilitation so please forgive the fluffier bits in this playing.

It Goes as Follies

I've just found my poor, neglected George Rudall flute in the cupboard under the stairs. The thing is around three million years old (early 1820s - is that just 2 million then?) and Sam Murray rescued it a bit more recently than the 1820s. It's not firing on all cylinders due to my neglect but I thought this reel would be a fairly gentle device for coaxing it back into some sort of life. I heard this tune on Michael Tubridy's excellent "Eagle's Whistle" LP.

Miss Lyon's Fancy

This title sounds more like some sort of cherry-topped cup cake but the tune itself sounds like a reel. It's another tune from a many years ago maestro. In this case, the fiddle player James Morrison.

Ballinasloe Fair

A lot of horses (and a very good Londis supermarket as far as I recall).  This reel was made famous by Michael Coleman who recorded it many years ago.  That could really have gone without saying as he died many years ago.  I heard people saying they knew a tune so well that they could play in in their sleep but never ...

Martin Ansboro's Reel

Here's a tune which I'm glad to be able to put on here.  I glad to and an on here at all.  The site www.went away for a while but the hosting people kindly got it back for me. This tune was previously recorded by a flute player called Matt Molloy.  I'm sure some people may have heard of him.

The Dances at Kinvara

Here's another Reavy tune - a barndance this time.  I'm a bit rusty at it but you should get the idea.

The Swans Among the Rushes

Here's a jig from Mr. Reavy. I'm told it can break a person's arm with one of its wings,

The Whistler of Roslea

Here's a reel composed by Edward V. Reavy.  I fear it may be somewhat decomposed here by Michael J. C.  Reavy's tunes are usually robust enough to survive even my minor brutalities.  Hopefully this version is learnable.

The Union Reel

Here's a good tune (197 in Ceol Rince na hÉireann 3 is almost the same as this version). I played the bits twice in the slower version. I think once is more normal - the unity of one and all that. There's a bit of the bass of a Richard Thompson CD coming through the ceiling too - hopefully not enough to get me into bother for copyright infringement. I was feeling guilty for neglectful cruelty to a website. Hence the three tunes in the one day. I'm away out now to play some in a pub.

Johnny Cronin's Reel

Here's a reel named after the Kerry fiddle player Denis Murphy - sorry Johnny Cronin. I'm not sure whether to play the parts single or double.  I never thought counting up to 1 would be such a challenge.

Ríl Gan Ainm (Miss Langford's)

Here's a reel in A minor. It often appears in G minor but my fingers aren't feeling too Geed up just yet. It's a nice one for the flute in this key too.

The Queen of the Fairies

Here's an ornate sort of hornpipe from Paddy Taylor's playing.

The Peacock's Feather

Here's a hornpipe which I think De Dannan did.

The Irish Washerwoman

This poor jig is much maligned.  To add insult to injury I've put it in the 1100 rpm spin cycle towards the end. I think it recovered eventually.

The Merry Days of Easter

Here's a slightly out of season reel.

Jenny's Wedding

I great piping reel. Sure, the flute's only a wooden pipe anyway.

When Sick is it Tea You Want?

It probably is ... G & T (I'm sorry if I've played this already, although I don't think I have)

The Chattering Magpie

Here's a fairly melodic reel.  I can never make out what they're chattering about.

The Moving Bog

It can be a bit inconvenient when they do that.

Walsh's Hornpipe

Here's a nice hornpipe from the South West.

Nine Pint Coggie

I heard this reel from the fiddle playing of John Doherty.  He played it in "G".  I've tried it in "G" and then "A".  I'm told a nine pint coggie is a vessel which holds nine pints of beer.  I know a few two-legged coggies (although the number of legs  diminishes as the pint count increases).

Fasten The Leg in Her

I've never investigated what this name is about.  It's probably just "Fasten the Legging" but even that's quite far from the first think I'd look up in a phrasebook prior to going on holiday.

The Durrow Reel

A nice simple reel.

Cronin's Hornpipe

Here's a Sliabh Luachra thing, I think.

The Rakes of Kildare

A gardening Jig

The Pride of The Bronx

Here's a good reel for the flute.

Shandon Bells

A ringing jig.

Haste to the Wedding

Don't be late.

Donal a' Clumper's Reel

Here's a Denis Murphy tune with a great name.

Saddle The Pony

Here's a good standard jig.  It seems to get  a bit neglected these days.

The Salamanca Reel

I've always wanted this to be the salamander reel. The picture is of a salamander from the Spanish Armada. Maybe it came from Salamanca. It was very kind of the Ulster Museum to lend it to me.

The New Century Hornpipe

I have fairly vague memories of the lats time there was a new century.  I suspect the title of this tune refers to the one before that.  The absence of my having been born adds to my amnesia regarding that event.  I hope I've at least remembered the tune.  I think it is in O'Neill's and on the "Contentment is Wealth" record of Sean Keane and Matt Molloy.  You could check those sources for a bit of reassurance.

Connolly's Reel (The Whistling Postman)

A version of his tune is in Ceol Rince na hÉireann 3 under this name. I've never heard a name for it in "real life" or "reel life".

The Limerick Lasses

This is what this reel is called on Noel Hill and Tony McMahon's LP. I have the end a bit iffy ish - especially the first time round. I think it recovers after that but I then smelt my dinner when I was nearly finished and my mouth began to water. I'm a fairly bad cook (potatoes, tinned tuna and the rest of yesterday's packet of salad) but I was hungry. That'll learn me. I hope the tune's nicer than my meal.

Creamer's Reel

Here's a particularly flutey reel.

The Old Concertina Reel

There aren't all that many notes in this tune.  I sometimes think that makes it a bit tricky but most of the time I'm not thinking about anything at all. It can be found on Noel Hill and Tony McMahon's i gCnoc na Graí record.  They seem to have been able to work it out OK.

Patsy Hanley's Reel

Here's a reel associated with the Roscommon flute player of this name.

The Glentaun Reel

Here's the one after "The Galtee Rangers".

The Crosses of Annagh

Here's a popular reel.

Johnny When You Die (The Old Maids of Galway)

I was asked by David T to play this tune. He heard it from a Cd of Harry B who called it "The Old maids of G". I learned it years ago from a book by Brian V under the name "Johnny When You D".

The Galtee Rangers

Here's a Sliabh Luachra reel.  It's name makes me hungry and I'm away to fry some breakfast.

Mike Flanagan's Reel

Here's one I heard on a record of Frankie Gavin and Paul Brock.  I think it's also on Frankie Gavin's flute LP which is one of the best commercial flute recordings I've encountered.  I don't spend all my time encountering commercial flute recordings.  If I did I don't know what my opinion would be.

Sheehan's Reel

This tune sometimes gets "Wellington's" reel and probably other names to boot.  It's also in "A" on occasions.  I've played it in "G" here.  An easy life is often best.  (Fiddle players don't necessarily like "A" either as it makes them drop the fiddle trying to reach the higher notes.

John Brennan's Reel

Here's what I remember of this tune.

The Monaghan Twig

I'm not sure whether the title refers to a penny dropping in Castleblaney or to something sticky.  Which ever if the above (or adjacent) is true, the tune seems to have stuck the years OK.

Éamann a' Chnoic (Ned of the Hill)

Here's a slow tune for a change.  It's probably easier than a lot of slow tunes to pick up and, unlike a good book, I'm sure it will be even easier to put down.  If I get enough requests to so do, I'll remove it.

Ríl Gan Ainm

Here's another reel which I've no name for.  If anyone can ainmate it then please let me know.  It can be found in Ceol Rince na hÉireann 2, number 221 with most of the notes matching the ones in this version.

The Glen Cottage Polka

Here's a polka. My apologies to polka land people for my interpretation of it. A lot of them are good tunes for learning and are well suited to the flute.

The Glendowan Fancy

Here's a Sligo Maidish type of reel.  There are different version's of this one around.  This one's more or less the same as the one in the book Alan's Irish Fiddler. I'm only after finding a link with all the tunes in that book:  http://www.oldmusicproject.com/allans.html They also seem to have O'Neill's Music of Ireland on the site.  Aren't people kind?

Thady Casey's

I saw this name for this tune in a book.  I can't remember which book at this stage.  My memory is like the result of a vagueness generator being put in a cheap food blender (both food and blender).  This reel sounded familiar to me when I recorded it but that was a couple of long days ago.  A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then.  Most of the water was mixed with other, more potentially confusion inducing liquids, and the bridge was the sort which lives in a mouth. I hope the tune is OK notwithstanding all this.

The Gatehouse Maid

Here's a standard tune, albeit with a lot of non standard versions.  It is often played after "Down The Broom". I hope it really does go like this.

Gorman's Reel (2)

Here's a tune that's listed in Ceol Rince na hÉireann 3, No. 188, as "Gorman's Reel".  It sounds a bit like an A minor "Sporting Nell".  I don't know when a minor sporting Nell is like a sort of under 18 camogie player. Whatever about that, it's a nice reel and easy enough in this key.

The Mullingar Races

Here's a fiddle tune which I hope is flutable.