Irish Tune Learning Home Page

Origin of this reel is believed to be with the Irish in New England. Notated versions can be found in Ryan's Mammoth Collection (1883), O'Neill's Music of Ireland (1903), and O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland (1907).

From Comhaltas Fionn Seisiún series Vol 1
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/ships_are_sailing/

Extended version recorded at Tir na nOg in Trenton, NJ on May 16, 2010.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhSWnDSRhjk

Jazzed-up version by Denis and Rachel Sanacore (Duo Sanacore). Video has clear view of bowing and fingering.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkBi2MZqIgM

Sean Ryan (whistle) & Alec Finn (bouzouki) at the Cobblestone, Feb 2, 2010.
Second one in this set beginning at 1:50
http://source.pipers.ie/Media.aspx?mediaId=5038&categoryId=350

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Double jig "Humours of Glendart" also called "East at Glendart" and "East of Glendart". The version we'll learn was collected by Capt. Francis O'Neill and appears in his book, O'Neill's Music of Ireland published in 1903.

A few recordings to listen to:
- Comhaltas Foinn Seisiun series of Books and CDs
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/humours_of_glendart
- The Groton Session - Irish traditional music fiddle player Laurel Martin. Look for "Humours of Glendart" near bottom of page.
http://www.thegrotonsession.com/tunes.html
- First one in this set (0:00 to 1:17) by Planxty 1980
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgzBGeCAO1U
- First in this set (0:00 to 0:59) by Greg Knowles and Mike Taylor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFNjdiCc8t0

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CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW

Keeping with the Winter theme, we'll learn a tune that is often played this time of year, Apples in Winter, key of E minor. It's an old tune. The version we'll work on comes from Callinafercy, Co. Kerry fiddler and piper William F. Hanafin (1875-1924) who emigrated to the States and lived in Boston, Mass.

A few versions to listen to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0--5P_KeLig
The first tune in these sets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq8kZrkZ7Ew
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_264_6_roscommon_trio/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxoz4-b_3OM

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Another common session tune, a reel in key of G called Sally Gardens. It was made popular by Paddy O'Brien and Joe Cooley in the 1950's and 1960's. Follow this link to read more about the origins of the tune.
http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/SALLY_SALV.htm#SALLY_GARDENS_[1]

Follow the links below to listen to a few versions:
-From Foinn Seisiún CD Vol 1 published by Comhaltas:
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/sally_gardens/
-Second one in this set beginning at 1:49 by accordian player Paddy O'Brien.
http://www.itma.ie/digitallibrary/sound/yellow-tinker-paddy-obrien/
-Fiddler Sean McGuire mixes up the order. He plays Sally Gardens / The Dawn / Sally Gardens / The Dawn
http://www.archive.org/details/SeanMcGuireSallyGardensTheDawn
- Excerpt of online fiddle lesson with Ian Walsh on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq0wFcjTOSI

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Welcome everyone back for the fall for another popular hornpipe in key of D.

There is a classic recording by Liam Walsh in 1933 that puts Alexander's Hornpipe with Dunphy's Hornpipe.

First tune in the following sets:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM9h-upQ1t4
http://www.itma.ie/digitallibrary/sound/alexanders-hornpipe-mckenna/

And the first one in this set by Sean McAloon
http://source.pipers.ie/Media.aspx?mediaId=9997&categoryId=380

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This month we'll work with the double jig called Trip to Sligo in key of Em. There is also a popular reel "The Trip to Sligo". So when you're at a session, be sure to specify that you want to play the Trip to Sligo Jig.

First tune in this set:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqYME9cQDsY

And with the harp:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ6w0Y9lYQc

From the Groton Session, second tune in these sets:
http://www.thegrotonsession.com/tunes.html#Workshop 18
Starts at 1:16 - http://www.thegrotonsession.com/tgs/10-1-08/LadOByrnesTriptoSligoNyJigTatteredJack-slow.mp3
Starts at 1:30 - http://www.thegrotonsession.com/tgs/10-1-08/LadOByrnesTriptoSligoNyJigTatteredJack-med.mp3

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We'll work on the polka Memories of Ballymote key of G, which is today more commonly called the Church Street Polka. Excerpt from Fiddler's Companion website:
"A polka in the Sligo/Leitrim tradition (as opposed to the Kerry polka tradition). The tune was first recorded in New York by fiddler Paddy Killoran, originally from County Sligo, for Decca in 1937 (Deccda 12103, backed by Jim McGinn on piano). Memories of Ballymote is usually known under the Church Street title today, stemming from the influential recording by the Chieftains in 1964."

Listen to the first tune in this set:
http://www.archive.org/details/PaddyKilloranMemoriesofBallymoteGurteenCrossPolkas
Here is version from Comhaltas:
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/memories_of_ballymote/

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This month we'll learn another popular session tune, Sheehan's Reel in the key of G.

A few versions to listen to:
http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/sheehans/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd-95Vck1AA
Second one in this set starting at 1:06
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VqyYQ0Lf-Y

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We'll work on the reel, Christmas Eve, written by Tommy Coen key of G major.
Read more about the origin of the tune at Fiddler's Companion.
http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/CHER_CHURN.htm#CHRISTMAS_EVE_[2]

A few versions to listen to:
First one in this set
http://media.comhaltas.ie/audio/fs3/wip/ChristmasEve.mp3
First one in this set
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhBW3tgEkw0
And a version as recorded by the Chieftains
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a2qsEGJt0A

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We'll work on the reel, Drowsy Maggie, key of E dorian.

Listen to a few versions here:
http://media.comhaltas.ie/audio/fs1/2-28ReelsP13DrowsieMaggie.mp3
http://www.archive.org/details/PaddyKilloranDrowsyMaggieTosstheFeathers

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We'll work on the barn dance, Little Stack of Barley, also called Stack of Barley, key of G. It's the tune for the barn dance Stack of Barley.
Believe that the barn dance originated in North America and caught on in Ireland. Rhythm is akin to a Scottish fling, a skipping rhythm somewhat like a hornpipe.

Listen to a few versions here:
http://media.comhaltas.ie/audio/fs2/2-40StackOfBarley.mp3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ2iZ_lB_t4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msukfcqjP2s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zefVcu6YssM
Slower version for teaching uilleann pipe here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc-aEC33FUY

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We'll work the double jig, Lark in the Morning in the key of D. It's one of those chestnuts that is often played in area sessions. This is the last meeting before our summer break. Our next meeting is October 2010.

Here are links to a few versions:
http://media.comhaltas.ie/audio/fs1/1-45JigsP25LarkInTheMorning.mp3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqcT9Y1Ztb0&feature=fvsr
And one that's a YouTube tutorial for fiddle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyhCWmKYN0o

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We'll work on Cooley's Reel in the key of E Dorian, which is a relative of D.
You can hear a version at the Comhaltas web site:
http://media.comhaltas.ie/audio/fs1/2-20ReelsP11JoeCooleys.mp3

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We'll work on Muirsheen Durkin in the key of G. It's a song that we'll learn as a polka.
You can see a popular version (in key of D) as performed by Luke Kelly and The Dubliners on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhpb_-QGPQ0

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The Sailor's Hornpipe key of G. It's also known as the College Hornpipe.
Read more about history of the tune at Fiddler's Companion website.
http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/CO_COLL.htm#COLLEGE_HORNPIPE

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The next tune we'll learn is a jig Sailor's Wife in key of Em.

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The next tune we'll learn is: Bill Sullivan's Polka in key of A.
Print sources are Comhaltas Foinn Seisiún 3, page 35 and County Champaign Irish Tune Collection Vol 1 No. 6002

You can listen to a version at
http://media.comhaltas.ie/audio/fs3/wip/JohnnyDoIMissYou.mp3
Bill Sullivan's is the last tune in the set starting at 01:53.

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I've taken the liberty of selecting the tune for our first meeting for the fall.
Glass of Beer - Reel - key of Bm.

Print sources are Comhaltas Foinn Seisiún 1, page13 and County Champaign Irish Tune Collection Vol 2 No. 4066

You can listen to clip at http://media.comhaltas.ie/audio/fs1/2-29ReelsP13GlassOfBeer.mp3

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The next tune is Fiddler's Green which is a song that we'll learn as waltz. Melodies for songs are often simple enough to learn in a few keys, so we'll try to learn Fiddler's Green in keys of G and D.

You can listen to the song on YouTube -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jR4lT-ce9E

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For our first meeting, I've taken the liberty of selecting the first tune. It's a double jig called "The Swallowtail Jig" or "Swallowtail Jig" (Not to be confused with the reel called "The Swallow's Tail").

Notated version of "The Swallowtail Jig" can be found in the County Champaign Irish Tune Collection, Volume 1 as tune No. 1027. Free download at: http://www.mckenna.dk/pdf-sheet11/ccitcol-v1.pdf

Sheet Music ABC PDF