What are the Core Trad songs every whistler should know?

The Laughing Imp · Post by **The Laughing Imp** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:01 am

I don't know any other pennywhistlers in my local area here in Utah so I don't get a chance to hang out in a session and jam with other trad players. But one day I will come across a session and I want to be prepared for the experience. Who knows? Perhaps a wandering band of Irish fiddlers will knock upon my door and beg me to play with them. What songs will I need to know to keep up? And is there a book or two that collects them?

scheky · Post by **scheky** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:53 am

If you are looking for Session tunes (and I'll break it to ya now, LOTS of folks are gonna ride ya for calling a tune a song), go hit www.thesession.org and look for the most popular tunes on the tunebook.

Every town has a different list of specifics though. L.E. has a good book with 121 of them to get you started, if you would prefer a tutor for them.

Honestly though, ask any ten folks here on the board about tunes you need to know and you will get about 10 completely different answers.

Of course, what do I know. I avoid most sessions and have a longtime obsession with obscure polkas.

mordred · Post by **mordred** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:46 am

The Laughing Imp wrote:I don't know any other pennywhistlers in my local area here in Utah so I don't get a chance to hang out in a session and jam with other trad players. But one day I will come across a session and I want to be prepared for the experience. Who knows? Perhaps a wandering band of Irish fiddlers will knock upon my door and beg me to play with them. What songs will I need to know to keep up? And is there a book or two that collects them?

I second his question.. I was wondering myself that too, and for the same reasons (i.e. lack of sessions in my area)

peteinmn · Post by **peteinmn** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:46 am

Danny Boy

TonyHiggins · Post by **TonyHiggins** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:39 am

Buy LE McCullough's 121 Favorite Irish Session Tunes. I've been around a few different session groups and people tend to know these ones. Around here, beginners tend to know these ones.
Tony

AlonE · Post by **AlonE** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:43 am

mmmmm :

Calliope House

Donny Brook Fair

Silver Spear

Kid on the Mountains ( very hard song)

Blarney Pilgrim

Kesh jig.

Morrison`s jig

The Soldier Song

Foggy Dew

Sean South ( I think)

luck!!

cavefish · Post by **cavefish** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 11:22 am

irish washer woman , kesh jig, saint patricks day

fearfaoin · Post by **fearfaoin** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 12:06 pm

Here is a collection of the tunes commonly played in my area.
There are several in there that seem to be pretty common in
most geographical regions, from discussions I've seen here.

http://ncfolk.net/sessions/pinecone1/

vintagekits · Post by **vintagekits** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 12:35 pm

boys of bluehill

WyoBadger · Post by **WyoBadger** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 12:38 pm

peteinmn wrote:Danny Boy

...preferably in medly with "When Irish Eyes are Smilin'.

Tom

vintagekits · Post by **vintagekits** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:11 pm

WyoBadger wrote:
peteinmn wrote:Danny Boy
...preferably in medly with "When Irish Eyes are Smilin'.

Tom

cut in a hip hop style with "Has anyone here seen Kelly"

azw · Post by **azw** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 2:08 pm

Here's a decent list:
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~updf/cel ... page8.html

(By the way, the Irish weekend for which that list was created was fun, too.)

walrii · Post by **walrii** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:37 pm

vintagekits wrote:
WyoBadger wrote:
peteinmn wrote:Danny Boy
...preferably in medly with "When Irish Eyes are Smilin'.

Tom
cut in a hip hop style with "Has anyone here seen Kelly"

Would "My Wild Irish Rose" fit in that medley?

The Laughing Imp · Post by **The Laughing Imp** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 2:23 am

LE McCullough's book was on my list, but now it's at the top. Thanks for mentioning it, Tony.

AlonE ~ Great list. Thx.

Cavefish ~ Ah, finally one I know! St. Patricks Day. Phew. Now I only have a few hundred more to learn.

fearfaoin ~ Fantastic list, especially since it includes sheet music. Thanks a ton.

azw ~ That's what I call organized. A set foundation for your sessions for others to come prepared for... I even know a few of them, so I'm feeling less daunted.

Thanks for your suggestions everyone. I'll be sure to dig into all of them, especially Danny Boy...

Chiffed · Post by **Chiffed** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:51 am

Just found this one - good PDF sheets of many tunes, some different from the Pinecone book:

http://www.novasession.org/Bog%20Kit/bwindex.htm

I'm sure it's been posted before, but I've missed it 'til now.

Chiff and Fipple Forums

What are the Core Trad songs every whistler should know?

What are the Core Trad songs every whistler should know?

Re: What are the Core Trad songs every whistler should know?

Re: What are the Core Trad songs every whistler should know?