Irish Flute Tunes - podcast cover

Irish Flute Tunes

Michael Clarksonirishflute.podbean.com
Traditional Irish Tunes Played on the Flute (iflute@googlemail.com)
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Episodes

Father Kelly's (2)

I'm putting on a Father Kelly's (2) without first posting an FK's (1). I know that this is the wrong way to go about things and I also know that this tune isn't either of the tunes which I think really are called Father Kelly's. I saw this tune with the FK tag on it in a book. If anyone has another name for it, please let me know.

Aug 09, 20072 min

Johnny "Watt" Henry's (Níl sé Gan Ainm níos mó)

Thanks for the name, Harry. I'm glad it wasn't Nelly. I've been trying to be organised by recording tunes in advance and then posting them over athe subsequent days. This is OK when I have names for them but I've labelled this mp3 file as "ganainm17-18" and I can't really remember what it is. I suspect that it is a reel from which appears on pages 17 - 18 of the book "A Trip To Sligo". If I'm right then it's a good flute reel and the Trip to Sligo version comes from the playing of Colm O'Donnell...

Aug 08, 20071 min

Brendan Mulhare's Reel

I've not much to say about this one. It's called by this name in the "Trip to Sligo" book. Some of it (the tune and / or the book) is fairly pleasant.

Aug 07, 20073 min

Gorman's Barndance (Jamesy Gannon's)

Here's a barndance by way of a change from all the tunes that aren't barndances. This tune is called "Jamesy Gannon's Barndance" on a record of Michael Gorman, the Sligo fiddle player but then so are about half a dozen other tunes on the same recording. I've also heard this tune in more Northern climbs such as Donegal. Here it is in no geographical setting at all.

Aug 06, 20072 min

The Bellharbour Reel

Here's a popular reel. I've seen this reel called "Dillon's Reel" on www.thesession.org where someone has written that this isn't called the Bellharbour Reel. Wharever about its name, some of its notes are pleasant enough.

Aug 06, 20072 min

The Golden Eagle

Here's a nice hornpipe. The second part is supposed to have a couple of D sharps in it but my flute wasn't really convinced.

Aug 05, 20072 min

The Coachman's Whip

Here's a tune that was probably not written by a horse. Very few are. In fact, it was definitely not written by a horse. It was written by Co. Galway flute player Vincent Broderick.

Aug 04, 20072 min

Trim The Velvet

I put this on before but in company. I've just been asked to play it so here it is on its own. It's only about 9:00am which is a bit early for trimming velvet or anything more elaborate than toast or toenails but I did my poor best.

Aug 03, 20072 min

Paddy Mills' Fancy

Here's a reel from the late, great Paddy Mills from North Mayo.

Aug 03, 20072 min

McFarley's Reel

Here's a Donegal version of The Maids of Castlebar. A don't know whether there's a Mayo version of The Donegal Reel. I'll record The Maids of Castlebar as well when I get a chance so that the reference to McFarley's being a version of it makes some sort of sense.

Aug 02, 20072 min

The Setting Sun

Here's a popular and melodic jig which is called by this name in Ceol Rince na hÉireann 5. It must have been taken down a long time ago. I don't remember there having been a sun to set recently.

Aug 01, 20072 min

The Creel of Turf

Here's a popular jig dedicated to some semi fossilized plants which usually get thown on a fire.

Jul 31, 20072 min

The Lass of Ballintra

Here's one which Seán McGuire played. It's reasonably flutable for all that.

Jul 31, 20072 min

Toss The Feathers

Here's a very very popular reel. As for the activity described in the title, I know little of it. The limit of my experience of plumage related activities would be the odd unsuccessful attempt at ruffling.

Jul 30, 20072 min

John Doherty's Cameronian Reel

The Donegal fiddle player John Doherty played a few tunes which he called "The Cameronian Reel", none of which are the normal one of that name. This one was also recorded by Michael Coleman at some stage but I can't remember what he called it. I've played the first part single here. It maybe ought to be double, or maybe I would have been better leaving both parts out completely.

Jul 29, 20072 min

The Broken Lantern

I never had a name for this jig but it appears as "The Broken Lantern" in Ceol Rince na hÉireann vol. 5. This is more or less the version in that book too.

Jul 29, 20072 min

Around The World For Sport

Here's a popular reel which is sometimes also called "The Sword in The Hand" - worth two in the bush.

Jul 28, 20071 min

Kitty in The Lane

If this playing of this reel sounds bad, I'm blaming a big toe infection. It's making tapping time very uncomfortable.

Jul 27, 20072 min

The Flower of The Flock

The name of this reel always reminds me of wallpaper. I suspect I'm missing the point but I see more walls than birds or other flocking creatures in my daily life.

Jul 27, 20072 min

Miss McGuinness

Here's a reel which sounds like a few others but isn't any of them. It's a great tune for playing on the flute.

Jul 26, 20071 min

The Green Fields of America

Here's a reel celebrating the colour (color) of the grass in the USA. Willie Clancy was one person who played this tune.

Jul 26, 20072 min

The Devils of Dublin

This reel seems to be a Sligo thing (recorded by Michael Coleman and his ilk). I'm not sure exactly which Baile Átha Cliath Beelzebubs are referred to in its title.

Jul 25, 20072 min

Down The Back Lane

Here's a piping jig usually associated with Willie Clancy. (It may well not usually be associated with him at all but I couldn't think of anything else to write. Willie Clancy did play it, though).

Jul 24, 20072 min

The Navvy on The Shore

Here's a very flutish sort of reel. It's a good one for just blowing at and flapping the digits a bit.

Jul 24, 20072 min

Old Hag You have Killed Me

Here's a piping jig which Willie Clancy and then the Bothy Band made popular. I'll not write anything about its name.

Jul 23, 20072 min

The Humours of Westport

Here's a reel which is often in 'F'. I have it here in 'D' and 'G', either of which are a bit flutier. 'F' is often better for spelling a flute than playing one.

Jul 23, 20072 min

Tommy Bhetty's Waltz

Here's a waltz for a change. It comes from Fermanagh and goes more or less like this.

Jul 22, 20072 min

Swinging on the Gate

Here's a reel I was asked to play. Make sure you ask the gate owner's permission before trying this. I remember being shouted at as a child for just climbing on a gate, let alone oscillating on it.

Jul 22, 20072 min

Rip the Calico

Here's a very popular reel. It is particularly suited to the flute.

Jul 21, 20072 min
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