I play Irish-style fiddle—though I’m not really Irish to speak of, my Dad listened to this music and played it a bit when I was growing up, so I got to like it and was motivated to learn it when I was in grad school, and I’ve played ever since.
Anyway, while practicing recently, it occurred to me that I might just broadcast my practice sessions and some beginners might benefit. (I have taught fiddle, lo, about 20 years ago.) This ended up turning into some recordings of session tunes—and here you go.
I will be adding to this list as I make new videos. Single jigs/slides and slip jigs still to come, at least.
Reels
Sally Gardens – slow 1:31 faster 3:14 The Silver Spear – slow 5:02 faster 6:51 The Sligo Maid – slow 8:26 faster 10:10 The Merry Blacksmith – slow 11:48 faster 13:42 The Flowers of Edinburgh – slow 15:19 faster 17:13 The Wind that Shakes the Barley – slow 18:52 faster 19:48 Ships Are Sailing – slow 20:42 faster 21:54 Dick Gossip – slow 23:38 faster 25:10 The High Reel – slow 26:49 faster 28:40 St. Anne’s Reel – slow 30:31 faster 32:03 O’Brien’s – slow 33:52 faster 35:26
The strings were brand new so sounded a little weak I guess. The audio sometimes cut out, also, due to the bad streaming. Later videos in this series are recorded in advance so shouldn’t have this problem.
Father Kelly’s #1 – slow 0:30 faster 3:22 The Musical Priest – slow 2:13 faster 4:40 Humors of Tulla – slow 6:06 faster 6:46 The Providence – slow 7:42 faster 9:01 The Wise Maid – slow 10:26 faster 11:49 The Maid Behind the Bar – slow 13:20 faster 14:35 The Banshee (a.k.a. McMahon’s) – slow 16:12 faster 17:33 O’Rourke’s (a.k.a. The Wild Irishman) – slow 19:00 faster 19:44 Jackie Coleman’s – slow 20:38 faster 22:01 The Bucks of Oranmore – slow 23:54 faster 26:03
The Ash Plant – slow 0:09 faster 1:34 John Brennan – slow 3:10 faster 4:44 Down the Broom – slow 6:29 faster 8:04 Stony Steps – slow 9:34 faster 10:36 Gravel Walks – slow 11:59 faster 13:57 The Foxhunter’s Reel – slow 15:48 faster 17:52
The Green Fields of America – slow 0:19 fast 1:33 The Star of Munster – slow 3:02 fast 4:40 The High Road to Linton – slow 6:28 fast 7:55 Julia Delaney – slow 9:29 fast 10:51 The Drunken Landlady – slow 12:25 fast 13:45 Gregg’s Pipes – slow 15:10 fast 16:16 Cooley’s Reel – slow 17:28 fast 18:49 The Mountain Road – slow 20:18 fast 21:46
The Silver Spire – slow 0:18 fast 1:54 Martin Wynne’s #1 – slow 3:29 fast 4:47 The Pigeon on the Gate – slow 6:32 fast 7:49 The Chicago Reel – slow 9:24 fast 10:43 The Golden Keyboard – slow 12:11 fast 13:28 Martin Wynne’s #2 – slow 15:10 fast 16:24 Jenny’s Chickens – slow 18:15 fast 19:43
Hornpipes
Walsh’s Hornpipe – slow 0:33 fast 1:45 The Rights of Man – slow 3:38 fast 5:18 Tim the Turncoat – slow 8:01 fast 9:03 The Liverpool Hornpipe – slow 11:06 fast 12:15 The Home Ruler – slow 14:16 fast 16:59 Kitty’s Wedding – slow 15:37 fast 19:07 Harvest Home – slow 21:13 fast The Boys of Bluehill – slow 23:12 fast 24:57 The Cuckoo’s Nest – slow 29:30 fast 31:07
Polkas
The Ballydesmond Polka – slow 0:41 fast 5:50 Denis Murphy’s – slow 2:38 fast 6:51 John Ryan’s – slow 4:15 fast 7:48 Egan’s – slow 9:17 fast 13:32 Peggy Ryan’s Fancy – slow 10:36 fast 14:22 Bill Sullivan’s – slow 11:46 fast 15:13 Denis Murphy’s (a different one) – slow 16:21 fast 17:19
Double Jigs
Tripping Up the Stairs – slow 0:42 fast 3:39 Father O’Flynn – slow 2:17 fast 4:42 The Kesh Jig – slow 6:23 fast 10:09 Morrison’s – slow 7:41 fast 11:12 The Banshee – slow 8:57 fast 12:11 The Maid at the Spinning Reel – slow 13:56 fast 15:56 The Frost Is All Over – slow 18:33 fast 19:34 Smash the Windows – slow 21:08 fast 22:05 Haste to the Wedding – slow 23:13 fast 24:32 The Cliffs of Moher – slow 26:04 fast 27:17
Langstrom’s Pony – slow 0:36 fast 3:10 The Lark in the Morning – slow 5:42 fast 8:09 The Old Favorite – slow 10:48 fast 12:02 Willie Coleman’s – slow 14:14 fast 15:16 The Shores of Lough Gowna – slow 16:49 fast 17:52 The Humors of Glendart – slow 19:05 fast 19:54 Sixpenny Money – slow 21:22 fast 22:10
Behind the Haystack – slow 0:37 fast 4:48 Merrily Kiss the Quaker – slow 2:47 fast 6:15 Out on the Ocean (The Portroe Jig) – slow 8:01 fast 9:06 The Ship in Full Sail – slow 10:35 fast 11:40 The Hag with the Money – slow 13:14 fast 14:54 The Connaughtman’s Rambles – slow 16:37 fast 18:51 Paddy Clancy’s – slow 17:46 fast 19:50 Sorry, I think my tuning was off a bit.
by
Larry Sanger
“Internet Knowledge Organizer.” Currently President of the Knowledge Standards Foundation, started Wikipedia and various other educational and reference sites. Ph.D., Philosophy, Ohio State, 2000. [read more]
Please do dive in (politely). I want your reactions!
2 responses to “Irish Session Tune Tutorial”
KM
Hi Larry – I’ve been reading your site for a few years now and really appreciate your thoughts on the world. For some reason I never saw this post until now. This is great! My son began learning Irish fiddle several years ago. I’ve always been a music lover and his playing got me hooked. I’ve picked up the tin whistle and I have a fiddle that belonged to my great grandfather. Looks like it’s time for me to learn another instrument!
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