Philip and I pick up fun, new tunes from various musicians from all over, come up with what we think are interesting sets with nice transitions, and some good combinations… We thought it would be a great idea to post some of these tunes here on our website – so that we can share what we’ve found! This way, you can access these tunes to learn if you'd like – and then be able to play along when we meet up at session on Tuesday evenings 7 - 10 at St Stephen’s Green Pub – in Spring Lake!

Keep in mind – Phil and I are just throwing tunes down in mp3 form…on our iMac - on our lap top - or on his Ederol in the diningroom…usually while we're having a glass of wine or a Guinness in the evening after dinner... So this is NOT professional - Gads No! We're just horsin' around and doing what we love to do... play tunes! These are all traditional tunes from the public domain.

So scroll down... and the tunes will be attached! Have FUN! Sincerely, Jennifer!
About this Tune

Here's a super simple set of reels... I learned from Matt Cranitch up at the Irish Arts week about 8 years ago or so... it's a fun set and it gets rolling off your fingers real nice like! First tune is Free & Easy in the key of G... into the Blacksmith Reel... in the key of D... I tried to keep this at a decent learning speed... it's generally played much faster.
Blacksmith Reel - Free & EasyAbout this Tune

Here's a fun set we love to pick things up with... Again, recorded about 3 or 4 years ago at St. Stephen's Green. Bob Higgins - Guitar; Lyn Higgins - Bodhran; Bob Schmidt on Mandolin; me on fiddle... Phil on Uilleann pipes... Frank Curran on flute... or whistle... don't remember...

Pigeon SetAbout this Tune

This is one of Rich's signature tunes... Tthis is a recording made during session at the Green one night about 3 years ago... Rich Braughtigam on Banjo kicks this off...

Mason's Apron - LiveAbout this Tune

Here's two mp3's of the polka set we regularly do. One is a good learning speed... the other... a bit faster... Taken from a recording of session at St. Stephen's Green... a few years ago... back in 2009... On one of the mp3's... we have both Frank & Rich with us!
The first tune is Green Cottage in g... or Am... into - Sweeney's Polka in A... into John Ryan's... in D

Polka set 1

Polka Set 1 - fasterAbout this Tune

The first two jigs in this set are in Am... But the sun comes out when the third tune - by Dave Richardson - "Calliopy House" comes in in bright, sunny key of D major. I play the B part first... because I like it that way... Banks of Lough Gowna - Lilting Banshee - Caliope HouseAbout this Tune

I learned this tune off of the Boys of the Lough... "The Day Dawn". If I remember correctly... it's a Shetland tune... I bought the album - FOR THIS TUNE. The fiddler with the band was a Shetland Fiddler... and told a story that I found most charming... It made me ache to go to the Shetland Islands... He said in the winter there... it was always dark... and so on the way home from work at night... the darkness, snow and cold was brutal... he, and several other musicians - headed home in the cold, would stop at the Farrier's shop... where the horses would be shod... for the Farrier always had a big fire blazing - at which he hammered the shoes for the horses... They would bring their instruments... and gather there each night... and play a few tunes... and warm up - before traveling the rest of the way home in the cold... I loved the story... and loved the tune... here it is: Midwinter's WaltzAbout this Tune

This set I learned from 'the piper'... The first tune - Sean Bui...is a classic piping tune in the Key of D. It's not really terribly fiddle friendly... but it's fun... The second tune in the set - Garett Barrys is in the key of G... then into Rambling Pitchfork - back to the key of D. Sean Bui - Garret Barry's - Rambling PitchforkAbout this Tune

Here's a set that just came along into being... It's got some hard stops between tunes... We "try" to keep the tempo slower - (yeah... i'm sure you're chuckling to yourself right now) but I like to start it off slow-ish, and build energy up as we go... ending with a rip! Here it is...
Peacock's Feathers (yes... i know... it's a fecking hornpipe) into - Copper Plate.... (new or old I don't care) into - Rakish Paddy... We've been bringing it into session... and it's pretty fun!

Peacocks Feathers - Copper Plate - Rakish PaddyAbout this Tune

Here are two tunes... the first we learned off of an awesome Boys of the Lough cd - "Mid Winter's Night's Dream" and it's called "Da Cold Nights of Winter, it is a Shetland tune... The second tune we learned from Matt Cranitch... on his cd "Take a Bow"... and it's called "Boys of Malin" which is a Donegal tune. They seem to go nicely together - they're fun... and have a lively, holiday feel to them... enjoy!

Cold Nights of Winter_Boys of MalinAbout this Tune

Hey! Here's the new polka set we introduced at session last week... The first is "Bally Gow", second is "The Wistful Lover"... the third I think is "Maids of Ardagh"... we learned this set from Jean-Yves lePape... a great piper, and can not take credit for the compilation of the tunes.

I've played it here as clearly as i can... twice each tune, i believe they are all in D. Give it a try! It's lively, fun and hoppin!

Jennifer
Bally Gow_Wistful Lover_Maids of Ardagh
About this Tune

Okay! Here's a couple tunes we frequently do at St. Stephen's Green... We fell into the the end of the night during - again - Tom White's visit... The first tune is known as Tobin's Favorite... into Tripping up the Stairs... both Jigs... Jennifer's on fiddle here, Tom's backing on Guitar... and phil... he'll come in with some kickin' Bodhran! Check it out... these are fun and easy to play! Enjoy!Tobin's Favorite - Tripping up the Stairs Jennifer FiddleAbout this Tune

Already underway... this recording taps into a clipping version of Pigeon on the Gate... Jennifer plays fiddle here... Tom's backing on Guitar, and Phil comes in later on Pipes! This is another tune from that late night session! Pidgeon gate -Jennifer FiddleAbout this Tune

Here's another fun set of tunes that we recorded during a late night tune session in the midst of Tom White's visit last week ... the first is - Brian O'Lyn played on fiddle by Jennifer -joined by Tom White... then joined on whistle by Philip... they eventually go into a tune called East of Glendart... Both are jigs... fun and lively! Easy to play! Give it a shot! Brian O'Lynn_East of GlendartAbout this Tune

This past week we spent a few wonderful evenings with our friend Tom White... who's producing our latest album - Shadow of a Crow... One evening we ended up jamming well into the early hours... and here's one tune we did capture that was fun... Give a listen... I think it's in B minor... Phil sounds great when he comes in with that 'Bothy Band' style drumming...
So... here goes...Otter's Holt-jennifer FiddleAbout this Tune

Here's a new set we've been having some fun with... We love the short, but solid stop between the first and second tune... on fiddle I do a slide from the open A to a b... kinda fun, and it keeps on rolling! Sporting Paddy_ashplant_Boyne Hunt Give it a try! Have fun!About this Tune

Here’s a really fun set of 2 tunes, both in D mixolidian tuning… the first is called, Jenny Picking Cockles and from that we roll into the Beauty Spot. I learned the Beauty Spot from an awesome couple we love to play tunes with – Mairean & Tom Gittleman… Mairean taught us this tune at a session we had out at our friend’s home in Yardley, Pa… at one of the sessions there. Putting ‘Jenny Picking Cockles’ as the first tune – just seemed like a nice compliment to the beauty spot… so – here it is! We tried to keep it at a slower speed… again… Have some fun! It sounds great when you really get goin’ on it!
Jenny Picking Cockles_Beauty Spot 1About this Tune

King of the Pipers- Mp3About this Tune