Rose in the Gap

Roscommon Reel

With Ourselves

With Ourselves
composed by John Harling

Cooley's

A Goat in a Boat

I learned this tune from a concert by Louisa Bennion (concertina) and Loïc Bléjean (uilleann pipes) last week. It's fun to learn tunes from non-string players and pick out their variations, ornamentation, and phrasing! 

Andy de Jarlis, Ingonish, Mrs. McGhee

Here's a set of jigs I've probably listened to a million times on the Altan album. I recorded the entire set, not able to stop after the first jig. Love these tunes. The first is attributed to Andy de Jarlis, but it could also be traditional. Sorry about the dark screen. My camera was being moody today.

Lafferty's

Here's a reel I learned off of a youtube video of the great Kevin Burke.

Sevens

Here's a Liz Carroll tune! Her tunes are always top-notch.

Winnie Hayes'

Here's a really simple jig in E dorian. I learned this particular version from a youtube video of Donal Lunny playing with Mary Custy.

Foxhunter's

This is a cool little slip jig I learned off of a recording by Duncan Wickel and his aunt Beanie Odell. The two of them play twin fiddle on the album Red Wellies.

The Starry Lane to Monaghan

Here's another Ed Reavy tune (finally!) I got this one from the Kane sisters' album Side by Side. Their liner notes say he wrote this in honor of a starry night when he looked down the lane and saw the nearby county of Monaghan, where his mother was from.

The Orphan

Today I learned a jig from Kevin Burke's album, "Up Close."  I love Kevin Burke's emotive, sweet playing and his wonderful lilt.  This is a slow jig and pretty simple to learn.

Pigeon on the Gate

I learned this one. Finally.

The Road to Cashel

I underestimated the mental energy this project would take when combined with my thesis research and trying to maintain some semblance of an exercise schedule to keep my body from turning into a lump of hagen daas icecream with two, beady computer screen eyes.  Woops!  I did a nice, easy one today to give myself a break.  This is a traditional Irish reel I learned off of an Altan recording.

Seàn in the Mist

Today I learned another tune suggested by Lars M., from Colm Murphy's album "The Irish Drum," called Seàn in the Mist.

Beare Island

So this reel is the name of an actually place.  Bere Island is located in the Bantry Bay off the coast of County Cork in Ireland.  It's apparently known for its archaeological sites and whale/dolphin watching.  It wasn't named after the bear population, though, but after Queen Beara of Munster.  I highly recommend a visit!

Killavil Jig

I got a message today from a fellow who runs a site called TradConnect, which traditional Irish musicians of all levels and locales can join to share music, tips, discuss, and of course organize themselves.  He invited me to join and post these videos there.  So of course I was excited to sign up.  If you're interested in checking it out, follow this link: http://tradconnect.com/

The Wave Sweeper

In between bowls of noodles, (I'm carb loading.  Not because I want to.  Tomorrow I may die in a half-marathon) I learned a crazy composition by the whistle player/piper John McSherry. It's in that new genre that uber trad people probably can't stand... like a pop Celtic, or new Celtic. Neltic. Jazzy Irish. Jirish. Okay I should stop. Anyway, it's full of syncopation, which, if you listen to his recording, is emphasized even more by his back up rhythm section. Super cool. 

Teahan's Favorite

Today I'm on Day 3 of a family reunion, so I actually got my sister Liz to do my NTAD today with me.  I love Kevin Burke's playing, so smooth and connected.  So the tune we learned was from a video of him and Cal Scott playing a set of 3 slides.  This is the first of them.

The Monaghan Jig

Today's my grandma's 80th birthday!  So I and my five-hundred relatives have gathered on the Maine coast to celebrate.  Today we went on a ferry that took us to and island where we were each fed fish soup, 2 lobsters each, and a bowl of baked clams and finished off with a huge slab of blueberry cake.  Thus, I didn't get around to doing my NTAD until this evening.  Short on time, I chose a jig that I've heard five billion times and even faked once or twice at sessions.  It's much easier to learn tunes that you're already familiar with.  I have a couple versions, one by Tommy Peoples and one by Dónal Clancy, so those are the main inspirations for mine.