This book of Irish session tunes diverges from the usual pattern in that the emphasis is not on the reels. Loosely speaking, the jigs and reels found in this book are the next most popular after those found in 100 Essential Irish Session Tunes. Another major feature of this book is the prominence given to the various other types of tune, such as slides, set dances, hornpipes etc. They always come a poor third to reels and jigs, but they constantly crop up in the sessions with such a significant frequency that they cannot be ignored. There are hornpipes, marches, a strong selection of jigs, some slip jigs and one or two other well-known melodies to spice up your repertoire. 100 tunes (14 hornpipes, 15 slides, 34 jigs, 23 reels and 14 miscellaneous tunes) with chords, classified and alphabetical (with alternative titles) indexes. Important note from Mally The tune settings in this book are all 'session friendly', i.e. you can learn them exactly as written and know that you will have a perfectly acceptable version. However, I consider it unwise to learn a tune from only one source and I would suggest strongly that, when learning a new tune, you pay heed to settings in other books, on recordings and what you hear down the pub. It is important to note that the settings in this book are greatly influenced by the instrument I play, the D/G melodeon. I've made a conscious effort to allow this to happen in order to give the book its own unique character. The list below would constitute an excellent nucleus towards forming a valuable Irish music library, many of them are available from mally.com. When choosing books, take care not to be put off by the title; some of the best sources of tunes are from tuition books. Just because the book cover says 'Learn to Play the Banjo', don't think it's of no use if you play the tin whistle. Books will only help you to learn the notes of a tune. To pick up the rhythm of Irish music you must devote a large amount of time listening to both recordings and live musicians. Of greatest importance, you must practise; the value of these books is directly proportional to the number of hours a day you spend practising.

Contents

Reels

Anything for Jonjo?  Blackthorn Reel  Cloone  Craig's Pipes  Croghan Hill  Fermoy Lasses  Flowers of Edinburgh  Green Groves of Erin  High Road to Linton  Hills of Clogher  Hunter's House  Johnny Cronin's Fancy  Johnny Macclejohn  Lad O'Beirne's  Lucy Campbell  Mason's Apron  New Copperplate  O'Rourke's  Otter's Holt  Reel of Rio  Sunny Banks  Swallow's Tail  Trim the Velvet

Jigs 

Bill Harte's  Boys of the Town Bride's Favourite  Connie O'Connell's  Cook in the Kitchen  Eavesdropper  Fasten the Leggin'  Frieze Britches  Gander in the Pratie Hole  Garrett Barry's

Gillian's Apples  Gold Ring  Hag at the Churn  Humours of Ennistymon  Kilfenora  Knights of Saint Patrick  Legacy  Lilting Fisherman  Maid in the Meadow  Mooncoin Jig  Old Joe's  Pipe on the Hob no. 1  Pipe on the Hob no. 2  Rambling Pitchfork  Rose in the Heather  Strike the Gay Harp  Tobin's Favourite  Tommy Peoples'  Tone Rowe's  Trip to the Cottage Tune the Fiddle  Whelan's  When Sick, is it Tea  Willie Coleman's

Hornpipes 

City of Savannah  Cronin's  Delahunty's  Flowing Tide  Galway  Golden Eagle  Home Ruler  King of the Fairies  Kitty's Wedding  Little Beggarman

Rights of Man  Stack of Barley  Stack of Wheat  Sunshine

Slides

Dan O'Keeffe's no. 1  Dan O'Keeffe's no. 2  Clog  Connie Walsh's  Denis Murphy's  Going to the Well for Water John Kelly's  Johnny Mickey's  Kathleen O'Hehir  Lonesome Road to Dingle  Old Favourite  Pádraig O'Keeffe's  Road to Lisdoonvarna  Siobhán Hurl's  Star above the Garter

Miscellany 

Blackbird  Boys of Ballisodare  Brian Boru's March  Butterfly Carolan's Concerto  Give me your Hand  Halting March  Hardiman the Fiddler  Hewlett  Hunt Kid on the Mountain  O'Neill's Cavalcade  Sonny's Mazurka  Whinny Hills of Leitrim