Great Tunes

Whitmores75087 · Post by **Whitmores75087** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:01 pm

I'm searching for lesser-known great tunes. By great I mean melodic or evocative, different, "Je ne sais quoi" (I don't know what I'm talking about). We're all familiar with the hoary old chestnuts that get trotted out at sessions....of necessity I have to say, because these are the tunes most folks know. But recently I was introduced by this board to "Hole in the Wall", a great English tune. I love it. Other tunes I've grown to love are "Windbroke" (Lunasa) and "Comb Your Hair and Curl It" (found it on a Chieftains CD) and "Crested Hens". Our little band has also gotten fond of a couple of Breton En Dro's.
Can anyone contribute to the list.

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 11:10 pm

The Sporting Days of Easter is a good one, it is on Mike McGoldrick's Wired album. Anything for John Joe is another, I don't know where I got it from. Devanny's Goat is also good, I learned it from a friend. I am sure I know more, I seem to know a bunch of weird tunes. Just thought of one as I was typing, I Shall Ne'er Ween Her there are three versions I have heard, John Williams, Lunasa, and Dervish.

markbell · Post by **markbell** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 11:14 pm

I'm fond of Campbell's Farewell, and also the Load O' Hay polka.

Mark

flutey1 · Post by **flutey1** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 11:54 pm

one of my current favorites is a jig called Paddy McMahon's that I got from Jimmy Noonan. he taught it to me in D, but on his cd, The Maple Leaf: Irish Traditional Music from Boston, it's in some other key (not sure what, I just know I can't play along with the cd).

Famous Last Words on Mike McGoldrick's Wired album is another favorite. but it's in 7/8, so definitely not something you'd want to attempt at a session

hm, I also like a lot of Rory Campbell's tunes that he composes. (Scottish piper/whistle player with Old Blind Dogs).

there are lots of great tunes out there that not many people play. so many tunes so little time!

cheers,
Sara

Buckeye67 · Post by **Buckeye67** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 11:55 pm

Unseen122 wrote:Anything for John Joe is another, I don't know where I got it from.

That is a good tune, CT. I learned that from John Skelton back in the day, and if I remember correctly it's on his "A Few Tunes" book/CD set. Another good one I learned from him is "Donald McLennan's Tuning Phrase". I'm not sure if either of those are on any of The House Band's CD's though.

Edit: A couple others that are on Skelton's "One At A Time" CD that are nice tunes are "Peadar O'Riada's Jig" and a breton tune (done on bombarde and pipe organ) called "Son Ar Skorff".

That entire CD is simply delightful.

boomerang · Post by **boomerang** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:26 am

Ok old mate you asked for it,
get these up ya
Palm sunday, lunasa....one of my current fav's
cathal McConne's
Eddie Kelly's #2, this one rocks, the inbuilt rythmn is great, and there is so much you can do with it.

and

The Queen of Sluts...yes it is a tune, and a fine one,
And i just love
Contentment is wealth, not only cos the title is so true, but also the tune does the name justice in its poetic sound,
like all fine tunes, its best not rushed, let the lilt carry you to annother land and annother time,
sigh!!!,
i love music

All available on JC's

Enjoy
David

Whitmores75087 · Post by **Whitmores75087** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:15 pm

Hey Boomerang, Palm Sunday is one of my favs too.
Thanks to all for their contributions. I'll look them all up.

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:32 pm

Palm Sunday and Cathal McConnel's (Slip Jig in F#min) are favorites of mine too.