A New Collection of Traditional Tunes

A New Collection of Traditional Tunes

Paddy O'Brien, All-Ireland accordion champion from County Offaly, has released the second volume of his tune collecting project, the Paddy O’Brien Tune Collection.

"The Paddy O’Brien Tune Collection. The first installment, with 400 reels and 100 jigs, was published in 1995. This new volume comprises another 500 tunes — 150 double jigs, 120 hornpipes, 100 polkas, 100 reels and 30 slip jigs.

In scope the Collection doesn’t quite reach that of Francis O’Neill’s 1903 Music of Ireland, but being a recording project first and foremost it will be of particular interest to players who learn by ear. The written materials which accompany the tunes include suggested keys, information on techniques used and on sets of tunes, as well O’Brien’s recollection of the titles and provenance of the tunes.

O’Brien also indicates variations that he knows and which are peculiar to certain regions, instruments, and players. Among the versions included in this second volume of the Collection are three settings of ‘The Moving Cloud’, four settings of ‘Drowsy Maggie’, and three of ‘The Wild Irishman’.

Similar to Volume One, Volume Two is made up thirteen CDs in a zippered leather wallet and a 126-page booklet containing background notes and information about the tunes.

www.paddyobrien.net/tune-collection

Published on 9 November 2011

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