Irish Flute Tunes

I don't think this really is Murphy's Reel.  It's a common enough reel but I've forgotten its name.  Can someone enlighten me? What with one thing and another I've not had a chance to put on tunes today.  I have just found this one lurking on my computer from when I put it there ages ago.  I'll hopefully get a chance to record a few more in the next couple of days.  After that I'll have more time....

Here's a very popular reel. I'm trying to pick tunes than don't have names starting with "The". I'm sorry for messing up the index with all the thes. As for going over the moor; I think a few bog-holes got me an the way. I seem to have fallen foul of a hummock or two too. I can't settle today. Hopefully normal service will resume shortly.

Here's a real flute / fiddle tune. I'm not sure how I ended the last part first time round. I think there's maybe a better variation the next time. I can't bear to listen to it myself. I don't know what "Down The Broom" is meant to mean. Maybe it's a bit like sword-swallowing with bristles.

Here's a reel called Fergal / Farrel / Fearghal / Anyone You Want O'Gara. It's a popular tune in sessions under all of its guises.

I think one of its legs came off when I was playing it. Maybe I'll be able to get it made into a flute.

The Rafferty's seem to have had a flair for picking names.  Here's another Páidín.  There were a few more of them as well.

Here's the commonest Páidín from this family.

I usually associate this tune with Seán McGuire. For one of Seán's offerings, it's a bit tame but that's a great help to those of us with fingers only numbered in single figures unlike dodecadigital demons of the late, great Mr. McGuire's ilk.

Here's a reel which I heard on a Paddy Killoran record.  I'm not sure how well I learned it but here is an approximation of how it goes.

I've not played much clothing related material so far. Here's a good garment based reel. I've played it double here. I'm not sure whether that's the proper way but it seemed appropriate for stockings.

Here's a nice tune which shouldn't hut the fingers too much. I'm not so sure about the audial appendages.

Here's a popular reel.  It's so well known that I know absolutely nothing about it.

Here's another one from your man.

Here's another Paddy Taylor reel. I never know the difference in this tune between C naturals / C sharps, the first part / the last part or how it goes / doesn't go. It's a bit like the trouble I have with semi-colons / commas / -s and so on; I hope this version isn't too much of a Cat astrophe.

Sorry there's no picture with this one.  I did try.

Here's popular reel.  I've played it double here but it might really be single.  There was rain forecast today and I think I'm getting into Noah's Ark mode, not that two heifers would save the breed, or would they?  I'm not a vet.

Maybe this reel will be renamed "The Stiletto in the Ghetto" or "The Stiffey By the Liffey" in honour of the one in the picture.  It probably already has.  I'm usually a few years behind the times. I think the tune is also called John Brennan's Reel.

Here's a tune from the playing of the late Mickey and Francie Byrne from Kilcar in Donegal. I think the name comes from the Irish "Ríl na nGlórtha" meaning "The Reel of the Voices", rather than from its own, undeniably splendid qualities. It's great on the fiddle as the second part gives plenty of scope for growling - The Growly Reel. You can sort of hum while playing the flute to get a drone effe...

I have a tape of the Donegal fiddle player, Vincent Campbell, playing this highland. On the tape e says he got it from Mickey Doherty and that Mickey Doherty called it "The Iron Man".  He did, however cast some doubt on the reliability of Mr' Doherty's tune names. I'm starting to have to rattle my way past my skeletons and hoik out tapes in order to remind myself of tunes.  I might be saved by run...

I'm sure this one is actually le hAinm but I can't remember the name. It's on a very popular record - Noel Hill & Tony Linnane's LP. I've lost this record so I can't get the name of the tune. If someone can remember the name, please let me know and I'll update the title here. I've 2 suggestions now for the name. Is it now "Kitty's Wedding to Joe Cooley"? ... Joe Cooley seems to be in the lead at t...

Here's a reel which is sometimes played in A. I always thought it sounded a bit scary in that key. Here's a slightly less disturbing version in G.

I'm still in hornpipe mode. The is a fairly common one and is also quite cheerful.

Here's a popular hornpipe named after a bay named after a popular city. It's usually in G minor but I've played it here in A minor which is a bit more flutish. There's a fairly new sewerage treatment plant in Galway Bay. I don't know whether hornpipes were used in its construction or not.

Here's a popular hornpipe named after a popular city.

I think this reel was found under one.  I had a bit of a sour taste in my mouth when I was playing it; it mustn't have been ripe.  The fact that my mouth was curled up it the manner of a cow licking pee of a nettle might help explain why the playing is a bit more miss than hit.