Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
I want to give mh son the most comprehensive irish fiddle tune book for Christmas, preferably one with guitar cords noted as well. I don't need anything slick or an instruction manual, just the most tunes packed into one book as I can find. Any ideas out there for me? Hurry, Santa is running out of time!
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
i'd suggest 'Mallys 100 essential irish session tunes'- maybe not to everyones tastes, but it covers the standard session tunes(if there is such a thing), and has suggested guitar chords as well. it was the book that really got me into irish music, and still serves me pretty well.
one other i'd suggest (for sheer number of tunes) would be the fiddlers fakebook, with over 500 jigs, reels, hornpipes, airs etc. the only thing being with this is that it includes english, breton, french-canadian, shetland, scottish as well as irish tunes. it includes guitar chords, and a handy little guide to tune types/genre/method/tunings etc at the front.
"The Northern Fiddler" - Alan Feldman & Eamonn O'Doherty
"The Northern Fiddler" - however you can get ahold of it. It isn't just a collection of tunes, there are pictures worth experiencing in it - photos, drawings and words. It is one of the few attempts to place the music in context, to capture some of the heart of it...
If you go for O'Neill's, I'd recommend "The Dance Music of Ireland - 1001" ( the supposed number of tunes in it)... However, no chords, if I'm remembering rightly...
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
What about the "Fiddlers Fake Book", thats got guitar chords in it. As well as Irish tunes its got lots of Oldtime and Bluegrass tunes in it.
Not so sure about some of the arrangements though . . . they look complicated because it shows the ornmentation as well. I prefer something simpler because its then easier to read.
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
Aargh -- no, not the Fakebook! ;) The settings in there are conglomerates of every single version the compiler could find and some of them are almost unuseable for sessions, plus he threw in every single ornament he heard anyone play, so they're...well, 'highly ornamented', is probably mild. O'Neill's, for sure, though it has no chords. That's the one "must have", it's the classic, even though I rarely use mine; I tend to use it mainly as a reference.
Of course, I also think the fact that it's got lots of Old Time and Bluegrass in it is a downside rather than an up. ;)
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
I CERTAINLY agree with Zina, I had Mandolin Fake book with the same arrangements and notation. It really got me more confused than helped. In frustration I gave it away, but made the added mistake of giving it to someone I play with all the time. This could have been more disastrous, but turns out he can't read music, so all was well. I told him to burn the danged thing. WB
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
What's wrong with the tune database on the Session? Just grab dots as you need them. You're far more likely to find those tunes that REALLY get played than in any book. And if you print out the gif's rather than running the ABC through something posh, you have the added incentive of eyestrain to learn them quickly!
Then you can get something useful for Christmas, like a barrel of beer...
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
Hey thanks to everyone for all of this input.
Roland has gone through many of the tunes in the fakebook and while it does present difficulties, his interest in bluegrass and oldtime and newgrass (Dave Grisman et al) as well as Irish tunes gave him reason to like the fakebook somewhat as a way to get started on some initially defficult tunes. At this point though he plays and learns mostly by ear and has moved on to an obsession almost exclusively with Martin Hayes -- his versions of Rakish Paddy, John Naughton's, Brown Coffin, Ger the Rigger, Blackthorne, Exile of Erin, Green Gowned Lass, etc.
O'Neill's sounds great -- as wonderful as the session index is, sometimes I'm not at work where I can download, and sometimes I just like the book format. I think I'll try O'Neill's for Christmans and then see where we go from there.
More comments welcome, what a great community you've got here.
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
There's O'Neill's, and then there's O'Neill's....
There's the Miles Krassen version of "O'Neill's Music of Ireland" where the tunes come heavily pre-embellished with fiddle ornaments and variations, and for that reason has not been very useful for me. I'm sure there's a "clean" version of this available out there too.
Then there's "O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland, l001 Gems" published by Waltons, with virtually no added ornamentation which I happily use as a reference. I often find the tune settings in current use to be quite different (the c might have been sharped then where it typically isn't now, or there are repeats for the A and B parts, where O'Neill's doesn't show them.)
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
I remember someone saying it was his Sergeant, James O'Neill (not a relative) who actually did the listening and transcribing, and inserted some errors or maybe personal preferences in there instead.
Why can't I have a boss who is so consumed with IRTRAD that he pays me to listen to it all day?
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
O'Neill's 1850 (the Shanachie repro) has, after subtracting the airs and O'Carolan tunes, 1200 plus tunes. Yet I'm always coming across tunes that are in 1001 but not in 1850, e.g. Teetotallers, Bunker Hill, Maid I Ne'er Forgot, New Century and more.
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
If you can get your hands on it, there is a great book of session tunes as played in Seattle called 'Smoke in Your Eyes'. You can get it through Dusty Strings, in Fremont (http://www.dustystrings.com). I don't know if they would sell one over the phone, but it might be worth a try. If they will ship you one, be sure to ask for the small one. Same number of tunes, better form factor.
Some of the transcriptions are a bit weird, but it is still my resource of choice because it is small and I can take it anywhere.
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
Wouldn't be without the O'Neill, but no-one seems to have mentioned The Irish Fiddle Book: The Art of Traditional Fiddle-Playing by Matt Cranitch - this is the book I have spent most time with and return to again and again. I haven't got much out of the Fiddler's Fake Book. Sean Keane's 50 fiddle solos with cd is great - the cd is blisteringly good (if a bit dispiriting 'cos it's too bloomin' good)
However I now use theSession as my main source of tunes - only things lacking are slow airs and guitar chords ( yes, I know why airs are not on TheSession!).
As a start just get the 'most downloaded' tunes on the Session
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
richard darsie's tunebooks have straight forward versions of lots of good tunes, many with guitar chords, not always the ones i would play but someplace to start.http://www.darsie.net/tuneweb/
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
I'd agree that Matt Cranitch's tutor is wonderful -- some of the settings will get you a funny look at sessions here in the States, but nothing too out of the way, and I personally prefer many of them to the ones played round here. It's def the one I recommend the most for fiddlers, but not a guitar chord in sight. It's really more a tutor than a tunebook, though the settings of the tunes in the back certainly make it worth while for anyone.
I would like to remention the Mally publications, especially the Matt Cunningham book, and it has chords, but the main reason to recommend it is the variety of tune types in the book as well as over 200 tunes, and decent versions...
Plus sides for the recommended collections are that these two have recordings associated with them:
"The Irish Fiddle Book" - Matt Cranitch
The Mercier Press, 1988
ISBN: 0853428034
"Matt Cunningham's Dance Music of Ireland"
Dave Mallinson Publications, 1999
ISBN: 1899512454
The Cunningham collection has a greater variety of forms, such as polkas, marches, waltzes, etc.
Of the O'Neill collections, and I've had them all, the one most used and most borrowed and appearing favoured by others is the "1001". I have a personal love for "Waifs and Strays", and that's probably reflective in part of my quirky nature, and it does have 'chords'. Also, there are two other collections I quite like, the first having quite a variety of tunes and also being one where influences worked both ways - representing the traditions of Ulster, the second having an Irish-American swing to it:
"The Roche Collection of Traditional Irish Music" - Francis Roche
Ossian Publications, Cork, Eire, 1982
ISBN: 0946005052
"Reavy Collection of Irish American Traditional Tunes: The Music of Corktown"
Green Grass Music, 1997
ISBN: 0952837013
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
Here's the link to the ABC site that Zina mentions....not too surte how to post it.
I might also suggest a couple of other books not mentioned.
50 Irish Fiddle Tunes
just a short fiddle book, but has a CD with Tommy People's playing through each tune just once. I think it's put out by Walton's?
I noticed you are in Seattle. There was a limited release tunebook by a Band named Taku Gaels. Everyone I have every spoken to has always said, "Don't get O'Neils, get the Taku Gaels Collection Volume II". It's published in Juneau Alaska by a guy named Greg Laughlin. I am sure you could find his details on the web somewhere. You MIGHT find it in a little Irish music shop that really knows thier stuff up in the NorthWest. I don't think you'll find it on Amazon.
Eclectic mix under a contra influence, but it sounds like you are of a similar inclination?! - and it has chords...and it has 'notes' which help to place the tunes in at least some kind of context... Do still try to get ahold of a copy of "The Northern Fiddler", beg, borrow, but don't steal - to exercise the heart and soul...
Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
I want to give mh son the most comprehensive irish fiddle tune book for Christmas, preferably one with guitar cords noted as well. I don't need anything slick or an instruction manual, just the most tunes packed into one book as I can find. Any ideas out there for me? Hurry, Santa is running out of time!
Gary Clark
# Posted on November 30th 2004 by gpc@vtusa.com
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
O'neils
# Posted on November 30th 2004 by ...
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
i'd suggest 'Mallys 100 essential irish session tunes'- maybe not to everyones tastes, but it covers the standard session tunes(if there is such a thing), and has suggested guitar chords as well. it was the book that really got me into irish music, and still serves me pretty well.
one other i'd suggest (for sheer number of tunes) would be the fiddlers fakebook, with over 500 jigs, reels, hornpipes, airs etc. the only thing being with this is that it includes english, breton, french-canadian, shetland, scottish as well as irish tunes. it includes guitar chords, and a handy little guide to tune types/genre/method/tunings etc at the front.
hope that helps.
# Posted on November 30th 2004 by aaron b
"The Northern Fiddler" - Alan Feldman & Eamonn O'Doherty
"The Northern Fiddler" - however you can get ahold of it. It isn't just a collection of tunes, there are pictures worth experiencing in it - photos, drawings and words. It is one of the few attempts to place the music in context, to capture some of the heart of it...
# Posted on November 30th 2004 by ceolachan
To avoid - "Walton's Ireland's Best" - that series, as the versions are on the whole odd...
# Posted on November 30th 2004 by ceolachan
"DETAILS"
gpc - write some details here on site about yourself, that could help us tailor our answers to your interests and personality -
# Posted on November 30th 2004 by ceolachan
"Matt Cunningham's Dance Music of Ireland" - a good mix of 298 dance tunes and some decent versions, also a Mally publication.
http://www.mally.com/
# Posted on November 30th 2004 by ceolachan
If you go for O'Neill's, I'd recommend "The Dance Music of Ireland - 1001" ( the supposed number of tunes in it)... However, no chords, if I'm remembering rightly...
# Posted on November 30th 2004 by ceolachan
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
Any of the O'Neills books are good. No guitar chords though. Do you need them?
# Posted on November 30th 2004 by nfiddle
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
What about the "Fiddlers Fake Book", thats got guitar chords in it. As well as Irish tunes its got lots of Oldtime and Bluegrass tunes in it.
Not so sure about some of the arrangements though . . . they look complicated because it shows the ornmentation as well. I prefer something simpler because its then easier to read.
# Posted on November 30th 2004 by Justintime
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
Aargh -- no, not the Fakebook! ;) The settings in there are conglomerates of every single version the compiler could find and some of them are almost unuseable for sessions, plus he threw in every single ornament he heard anyone play, so they're...well, 'highly ornamented', is probably mild. O'Neill's, for sure, though it has no chords. That's the one "must have", it's the classic, even though I rarely use mine; I tend to use it mainly as a reference.
Of course, I also think the fact that it's got lots of Old Time and Bluegrass in it is a downside rather than an up. ;)
# Posted on November 30th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
I CERTAINLY agree with Zina, I had Mandolin Fake book with the same arrangements and notation. It really got me more confused than helped. In frustration I gave it away, but made the added mistake of giving it to someone I play with all the time. This could have been more disastrous, but turns out he can't read music, so all was well. I told him to burn the danged thing. WB
# Posted on November 30th 2004 by wvwhistler
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
What's wrong with the tune database on the Session? Just grab dots as you need them. You're far more likely to find those tunes that REALLY get played than in any book. And if you print out the gif's rather than running the ABC through something posh, you have the added incentive of eyestrain to learn them quickly!
Then you can get something useful for Christmas, like a barrel of beer...
# Posted on November 30th 2004 by Ottery
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
Mmmmmm, barrels of beer....
# Posted on November 30th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
"O'Neill's, for sure ... even though I rarely use mine" - That's a comment I've often heard, and it applies to me too.
Mally's - great book. I hope whoever found mine in a hotel room somewhere is enjoying it as much as I did.
If you can live without the guitar chords, just wrap up the following internet link:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/index.php
It's worth any ten tune books you can find in the store.
# Posted on November 30th 2004 by grego
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
Oh, I see Ottery beat me to it with the TheSession recommendation.
# Posted on November 30th 2004 by grego
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
Hey thanks to everyone for all of this input.
Roland has gone through many of the tunes in the fakebook and while it does present difficulties, his interest in bluegrass and oldtime and newgrass (Dave Grisman et al) as well as Irish tunes gave him reason to like the fakebook somewhat as a way to get started on some initially defficult tunes. At this point though he plays and learns mostly by ear and has moved on to an obsession almost exclusively with Martin Hayes -- his versions of Rakish Paddy, John Naughton's, Brown Coffin, Ger the Rigger, Blackthorne, Exile of Erin, Green Gowned Lass, etc.
O'Neill's sounds great -- as wonderful as the session index is, sometimes I'm not at work where I can download, and sometimes I just like the book format. I think I'll try O'Neill's for Christmans and then see where we go from there.
More comments welcome, what a great community you've got here.
# Posted on November 30th 2004 by gpc@vtusa.com
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
Did you know that O'Neill's is available online someplace in ABC format? The gift of a CD of O'Neill's and an ABC program could be cool.
# Posted on November 30th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
There's O'Neill's, and then there's O'Neill's....
There's the Miles Krassen version of "O'Neill's Music of Ireland" where the tunes come heavily pre-embellished with fiddle ornaments and variations, and for that reason has not been very useful for me. I'm sure there's a "clean" version of this available out there too.
Then there's "O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland, l001 Gems" published by Waltons, with virtually no added ornamentation which I happily use as a reference. I often find the tune settings in current use to be quite different (the c might have been sharped then where it typically isn't now, or there are repeats for the A and B parts, where O'Neill's doesn't show them.)
# Posted on December 1st 2004 by grego
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
Or some tease of a player played something all fancy for the Chief that would never be played that way at a session!
# Posted on December 1st 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
I remember someone saying it was his Sergeant, James O'Neill (not a relative) who actually did the listening and transcribing, and inserted some errors or maybe personal preferences in there instead.
Why can't I have a boss who is so consumed with IRTRAD that he pays me to listen to it all day?
# Posted on December 1st 2004 by grego
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
Mmm, no kidding... These days, they fire police chiefs who hire on the basis of nationality (and whether they play musical instruments!).
# Posted on December 1st 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
O'Neill's 1850 (the Shanachie repro) has, after subtracting the airs and O'Carolan tunes, 1200 plus tunes. Yet I'm always coming across tunes that are in 1001 but not in 1850, e.g. Teetotallers, Bunker Hill, Maid I Ne'er Forgot, New Century and more.
I don't get the math but you should get the 1001.
# Posted on December 1st 2004 by edl
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
If you can get your hands on it, there is a great book of session tunes as played in Seattle called 'Smoke in Your Eyes'. You can get it through Dusty Strings, in Fremont (http://www.dustystrings.com). I don't know if they would sell one over the phone, but it might be worth a try. If they will ship you one, be sure to ask for the small one. Same number of tunes, better form factor.
Some of the transcriptions are a bit weird, but it is still my resource of choice because it is small and I can take it anywhere.
# Posted on December 1st 2004 by pelsor
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
"Play 50 Reels with the Armagh Pipers Club"
# Posted on December 1st 2004 by snorre
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
Wouldn't be without the O'Neill, but no-one seems to have mentioned The Irish Fiddle Book: The Art of Traditional Fiddle-Playing by Matt Cranitch - this is the book I have spent most time with and return to again and again. I haven't got much out of the Fiddler's Fake Book. Sean Keane's 50 fiddle solos with cd is great - the cd is blisteringly good (if a bit dispiriting 'cos it's too bloomin' good)
# Posted on December 1st 2004 by RichardB
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
I found Mel Bay's Complete Irish Fiddle Player very good - includes CD played at moderate pace and takes you through the ornamentation
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0786603291/002-0491149-8880019?v=glance
ISBN: 0786603291
However I now use theSession as my main source of tunes - only things lacking are slow airs and guitar chords ( yes, I know why airs are not on TheSession!).
As a start just get the 'most downloaded' tunes on the Session
Slainte
Domnull
# Posted on December 1st 2004 by domhnall.
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
PS from Domnull
Click on the link shown above and choose 'search inside this book' - it showns you the contents and the first few pages
Domnull
# Posted on December 1st 2004 by domhnall.
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
O'Neills, Allans Irish Fiddler and O'Carolans' complete works are all in ABC format at
http://www.sosyourmom.com/Oneils1.html
# Posted on December 1st 2004 by geoffwright
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
richard darsie's tunebooks have straight forward versions of lots of good tunes, many with guitar chords, not always the ones i would play but someplace to start.http://www.darsie.net/tuneweb/
# Posted on December 1st 2004 by Dont
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
I'd agree that Matt Cranitch's tutor is wonderful -- some of the settings will get you a funny look at sessions here in the States, but nothing too out of the way, and I personally prefer many of them to the ones played round here. It's def the one I recommend the most for fiddlers, but not a guitar chord in sight. It's really more a tutor than a tunebook, though the settings of the tunes in the back certainly make it worth while for anyone.
# Posted on December 1st 2004 by Zina Lee
Ditto on the Cranitch book - excellent
I would like to remention the Mally publications, especially the Matt Cunningham book, and it has chords, but the main reason to recommend it is the variety of tune types in the book as well as over 200 tunes, and decent versions...
Merry Christmas!
# Posted on December 1st 2004 by ceolachan
Plus sides for the recommended collections are that these two have recordings associated with them:
"The Irish Fiddle Book" - Matt Cranitch
The Mercier Press, 1988
ISBN: 0853428034
"Matt Cunningham's Dance Music of Ireland"
Dave Mallinson Publications, 1999
ISBN: 1899512454
The Cunningham collection has a greater variety of forms, such as polkas, marches, waltzes, etc.
Of the O'Neill collections, and I've had them all, the one most used and most borrowed and appearing favoured by others is the "1001". I have a personal love for "Waifs and Strays", and that's probably reflective in part of my quirky nature, and it does have 'chords'. Also, there are two other collections I quite like, the first having quite a variety of tunes and also being one where influences worked both ways - representing the traditions of Ulster, the second having an Irish-American swing to it:
"The Roche Collection of Traditional Irish Music" - Francis Roche
Ossian Publications, Cork, Eire, 1982
ISBN: 0946005052
"Reavy Collection of Irish American Traditional Tunes: The Music of Corktown"
Green Grass Music, 1997
ISBN: 0952837013
# Posted on December 1st 2004 by ceolachan
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
Here's the link to the ABC site that Zina mentions....not too surte how to post it.
I might also suggest a couple of other books not mentioned.
50 Irish Fiddle Tunes
just a short fiddle book, but has a CD with Tommy People's playing through each tune just once. I think it's put out by Walton's?
I noticed you are in Seattle. There was a limited release tunebook by a Band named Taku Gaels. Everyone I have every spoken to has always said, "Don't get O'Neils, get the Taku Gaels Collection Volume II". It's published in Juneau Alaska by a guy named Greg Laughlin. I am sure you could find his details on the web somewhere. You MIGHT find it in a little Irish music shop that really knows thier stuff up in the NorthWest. I don't think you'll find it on Amazon.
# Posted on December 2nd 2004 by scottcantrell
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
Okay, that is NOT how you post it. Maybe just a text one then.
http://trillian.mit.edu/~jc/music/book/oneills/
or the last try
http://trillian.mit.edu/~jc/music/book/oneills/
# Posted on December 2nd 2004 by scottcantrell
NORTHWEST? - "The Portland Collection"
by Susan Songer with Clyde Curley - local yokels
ISBN 0-9657476-0-3
http://www.theportlandcollection.com/
Eclectic mix under a contra influence, but it sounds like you are of a similar inclination?! - and it has chords...and it has 'notes' which help to place the tunes in at least some kind of context... Do still try to get ahold of a copy of "The Northern Fiddler", beg, borrow, but don't steal - to exercise the heart and soul...
# Posted on December 3rd 2004 by ceolachan
Dave Mallinson and Mally Music - etc...
http://www.mally.com/
The "Mally Presents" Series, 3 volumes with chords!:
100 Essential Irish Session Tunes
100 Evergreen Irish Session Tunes
100 Irish Polkas
The "Music of Ireland" Series, 5 vols. with chords!:
Where's the Crack?
30 reels, 12 jigs, 6 hornpipes, 7 slides, 12 polkas and 5 miscellaneous.
The Big Session...
37 reels, 18 jigs, 15 slides and 5 polkas.
A Mighty Tune!
30 reels, 21 jigs, 9 slides and 6 miscellaneous.
Give Us Another
33 reels, 13 jigs, 7 hornpipes and 8 miscellaneous.
Fire Away Now
35 reels, 12 jigs, 8 hornpipes, 16 polkas.
# Posted on December 3rd 2004 by ceolachan
Re: Help me identify the MUST HAVE Irsih fiddle tune book
I would go for the Portland Collection
For beginners tunes I would buy 'Begged Borrowed and Stolen' published by Talunga Press in Australia
There's O'Neill's Music of Ireland (1850 tunes or the 1001 fiddle tunes)
And Brendan Breathnach's Ceol Rinc n'Eirann in five volumes
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by ijerry