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