Hornpipe 01

This tune was written in or around 2002. I have always been interested by some of the fancier hornpipes popularised by Sean McGuire and this was my attempt at writing a tune in that style.

Jig 01

This tune was written on the piano in 1984/5. I'd often write tunes on different instruments to try and get an unorthadox run of notes or a phrase which I do not drop into automatically while playing the flute. This is a fairly standard three part jig in G. I've heard this played a good bit around Limerick and Ennis (although I haven't been to either place recently so it may have died a death at this stage).

Jig 02

This tune was written on flute around 1984/5. I wrote several tunes in a relatively short space of time and still don't know how I got into these keys. At the time I was listening to a variety of musical sources which may have started me in this direction. It is a two part jig in E Minor (I think) but also makes use of two accidentals - D sharp and G sharp. Can be a bit tricky and may seem a little contrived but I still enjoy it.

Jig 03

This was written in 2000/2001. It is a very simple two part jig in D Major. When I wrote this tune I had a name for it - the first time ever. I've since abandoned the name, but not the tune.

Jig 04

Again, a two part jig, this time in A Major. Written in 1984/5. One D sharp and a slide up from a G sharp are the only tricky things in this tune (unless you're a fiddle player - then the top C might prove a little tricky). This tune was inspired (if that's the right word) by my childhood geographical proximity to Scotland. Since Newcastle is only a stone's throw away from the scottish border, I was lucky enough to hear a number of scottish musicians that would frequent the area, usually for the purposes of playing at feis etc. I enjoyed the challenge of playing some of the tunes in the key of A Major and decided to try and write one in that idiom.

Jig 05

Written in 1984/5, this tune is in D Minor and can be a bit tricky with all the F Naturals. In particular, the very first phrase contains a low D followed immediately by an F Natural which means that on a simple system flute you need to use the long F Natural key (or else be extremely quick with the short F Natural key). Then there are some G sharps thrown in also. Two part jig with sad undertones. I think I was a bit depressed when I wrote some of these!

Jig 06

This jig was written on Piano also the same day that Jig 01 above was written. It was my intention to play these two jigs together however that didn't really work out. Three part jig in G Major - reasonably easy except for one chromatic run which includes a G sharp.

Jig 07

Two part jig in A Minor, written on the tin whistle in 1984/5. A fairly simple tune where I was trying different phrasing in order to construct a rhythmically different sounding jig.

Jig 08

Two part jig in G Major (ish), written in 1984/5. The very first tune I composed (with a little help from Mary Larkin - a box player living in Newcastle but originally from Sligo). Only F naturals to confuse things here but a reasonably esay tune.

Reel 01

This is the second or third tune I composed and can be a little tricky on the flute (although I have heard Brian Finnegan and Michael McGoldrick play this in Flook however they transposed it into b minor). It is based in A Minor (I think) but includes F naturals, D sharps and G sharps. Two part reel.

Reel 02

I wholly apologise for the third part of this tune. I like the first two parts but haven't found a third part to fit so I just stuck with the original version I wrote - sad eighties pretend syncopation I'm afraid but I was young and impressionable. Three part reel in A Minor.

Reel 03

Two part reel written in 1984/5 on tenor banjo. The second part can be a little like another reel but I hope there is enough difference in my second part to justify its inclusion. Easy enough reel in D Major.

Reel 04

I hated recording this but I had to do it. Written in 1984/5 this is yet another "I want to play the flute like Sean McGuire plays the fiddle" experiment. Still can't play this tune at full speed. The second part is a beast to play. Two part reel in D Major.

Reel 05

Two part reel in E Major written on guitar in 2000/2001. Unfortunately this is not very easy on flute and may be better transposed to D.

Reel 06

Two part reel written to follow Jig 07. Very similar phrasing and runs employed in both tunes. D sharps and G sharps in a tune based in A minor.