This question is directed to the Members of this list living in Ireland. I realize in Ireland many people learn almost all of their tunes at sessions. That said though what are the most popular Tunebooks in Ireland, that people seem to commonly use? I know which ones are big here in the states, but are they also the most popular in Ireland?
As you say, books are not a primary source for the music. Breandan Breathnach’s Ceol Rinnce na hEirreann (especially the first three volumes) would be the single most important collection of the last century.
More specific works like the Dance music of Willie Clancy, Johnny Leary of Siabh Luachra etc are also important if not whistle focussed.
And (I forget them and edit them in here) books of original compositions by Paddy O Brien, Sean Ryan (respectively Tipperary accordeon and fiddle player), Paddy O Donohue are worth going through as well.
[ This Message was edited by: Peter Laban on 2001-11-30 08:51 ]
As you can see by Peter’s reply, there are no specific “session” tunebooks because most of the tunes in any session are learned not by the eye but by the ear. Peter has given you not a good start but rather a great start. The only addition to this that I would personally recommend is the 4 CD set by L.E. McCullough called 121 Favorite Irish Session Tunes. The package contains the CDs which are literally gems and a book where the tunes are written. Each tune on the four discs are placed slowly at first and then at what L.E. feels is the proper speed. It is a must if you do not have it. But from my own perspective, the enemy of the ear is the eye, so give the book with the notes in it to someone less serious about the music and learn these by ear. That way you’ve got em in your heart, where all music, in my opinion, should come from.
Sorry for the long-winded post.
Good luck,
Bob Pegritz
On 2001-11-30 09:51, Whistleworks wrote:
That way you’ve got em in your heart, where all music, in my opinion, should come from.
Oh Bob! I knew I was doing something wrong. Talk](http://www.tullberg.com/heart.mp3%22%3ETalk) about irregular heart sounds.
I’ve learned almost all the tunes in the Walton’s 110 Ireland’s Best Tin Whistle Tunes with the help of the two CD’s (fantastic learning tool!) and was considering purchasing their session tunes book/Cds but didn’t know if I would be buying many of the same tunes over again. Does anyone know if this would be the case?
Sorry if this isn’t applicable to this thread.
[ This Message was edited by: ysgwd on 2001-11-30 11:16 ]
Erik, neat bodhran! Was that a funky hornpipe or a slightly twisty strathspey?
It was a worbling red bellied blood pumper 
On 2001-11-30 11:11, ysgwd wrote:
I’ve learned almost all the tunes in the Walton’s 110 Ireland’s Best Tin Whistle Tunes with the help of the two CD’s (fantastic learning tool!) and was considering purchasing their session tunes book/Cds but didn’t know if I would be buying many of the same tunes over again. Does anyone know if this would be the case?
Sorry if this isn’t applicable to this thread.
Hi,
I’ve had a quick look though both books, and I’ve only spotted 14 duplications:
Reels -
Anderson’s Reel,
Salamanca, The
Traveller, The
Wind that shakes the Barley, The
Jigs -
Donnybrook Fair
Father O’Flynn
Haste to the Wedding
Swallow’s Nest, The
Templehouse Jig, The
Hornpipes -
Boys of Bluehill, The
Cronin’s Hornpipe
Flowing tide, The
Misc -
Fanny Power
Hardiman the Fiddler
I could have missed one or two
Hope this helps,
Keith
[ This Message was edited by: keiths on 2001-12-01 12:58 ]
It may be dangerous to open this can of worms, but I have to disagree with what Bob said about giving McCullough’s book away to “somebody less serious about the music”. As an educator I have learned long ago that there are many different styles of learning, and there is evidence that these styles are somnewhat hardwired as they tend to be consistant throughout ones life. For someone who is a visual learner, having the music available can give access to the tune much faster. It is not fair (or true) to say that such a person is automatically “less serious” about the music.
That said, however, I must say that I do agree with the spirit (if not the words) of what Bob said. However we aquire the notes to a tune, that next step is the crucial one. Simply because we can play all the notes in a tune up to speed does not mean we own it. To have a tune well and truely in our hip pocket we need to listen and feel it more than play its notes. I have alot of tunes I can play up to speed, some with music some not; but there are much fewer that I truely own. Of all the tunes I own, however, none require notes on a page - only in the air.
By all means learn by ear, but don’t be afraid of the written music. Both get left behind in the end…
Clark