Irish Flute Tunes

Two Common Reels played slowly.

Here are the same tunes again, a bit quicker.

Here are 2 popular tunes.  I've slowed them down here to make them easier to pick up.

Here's the last tune alomg with one in D to save metal fatigue in the F natural key.

This is a version of Juila Delaney's reel.  I never really played this on the flute, apart from in sessions with fiddle players.  There are a few holes in this version but I hope you'll find that you can play along with more stringy people in a session with this setting.

Here are 2 polkas which John McKenna recorded, as did lots of other people.  I've used a bit of helium with these ones.

The first is based on a vague memory of a tape I have somewhere of the fiddle played Mickey Doherty.  The second is a reel recorded by one or more of Coleman / Morrison / Killoran (Michael / James / Paddy) in G minor.  I can't remember it's name; only that I don't like playing it in G minor on the flute.

Same tunes. "normal" speed.

Here are a jig and a slip jig from the fiddle players Con Cassidy (Teelin, Co. Donegal) and James Byrne (Meenacross, Co. Donegal). I've slowed them down a bit here in case that helps people pick them up.  The first one is usually fairly leisurely anyway.

The first one is Amhrán an Tae (The Tea Song) and I've called the second one "Denis Murphy's".  Considering the number of tunes the last Mr. Murphy knew, this title is usually a safe bet when you don't know the actual name.

The first tune is the House on the Hill. I think I've heard it called Miss Thornton's as well. I Think I first got it from a recording of Packie Duignan from Roscommon. My mis-spent late youth has probably corrupted my version of it since then. The second tune is called the Ashplant (I think). I know very little about this tune apart from approximately haw it goes (or how to spell "how" it would a...

The first one is an E minor version of a tune Paddy Carty played in D minor. The second one might be called by the name I've given it. On the other hand ...

For Quinn's reel see RTÉ CD of Pádraig O'Keefe and also Ceol Rince na hÉireann 2, number 171.

Here's the jig The Humours of Drinagh, slowed down to make it easier to learn.

Here's the Mountain Top reel again, this time at normal speed.

Here's the Mountain Top Reel.  I've slowed it down in case this helps people learn it.

Here are 2 jigs - Contentment is wealth and Tom Billy's. The second part of the first one often varies. I've taken a sort of average.

The Liffey Banks and the Shaskeen (not sure whether the first one is usually played double or single - perhaps I should get out more and I might know - In fact I'll go out right now.)

The Standing Abbey / Tomorrow Morning (hornpipes). Shaky start - best learn them without the shakes.

The Blackhaired Lass (name a bit unsure - aren't they all?) / Trim the Velvet

An Rógaire Dubh (The Black Rogue) and The Maho Snaps

Here's Kennedy's Favourite and the Woman of the House. Best listen to a recording of Denis Murphy or Padraig O'Keefe at these to get them right. They're easy enough extracted from a flute.

These are Corney is Coming / The Humours of Scarriff (in G - more humane for flute players' hands) and the Cocktail Reel (a relation of the Dublin Reel but further north west)

Can't remember these too well but they might be some use to someone out there.