Hello. This site contains recordings I have made as a source of tunes for people who play the flute, or other instruments for that matter. They are often just versions of tunes as I remember them. My memory isn’t the best so in some cases I cheat and find the dots online. In some cases the online versions and the dots inside my head aren't quite the same so there may be a sort of 'average' appearing. I usually play the tunes once through slowly to make them easier to learn, then I have a bit of a run at them to give another view of them. I hope this approach is OK. If anyone has any comments, or tune suggestions, please get in touch ([email protected]).

Thanks, Michael Clarkson (Belfast, Luxembourg and on the Dublin-Belfast Aircoach). 

Slowing Down Tunes

Just in case the tunes on this site aren’t dull enough, you can slow them down using recent versions of Windows Media Player (I’m sure there are plenty of other ways of doing this too).

In Windows Media player click Now Playing at the top of the screen then pick Enhancements and then Play Speed Settings. There is a nice range of speeds displayed but I can only get the half speed one to work. That’s probably enough to be getting on with in any case.

Here's another tune from O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland. I hadn't noticed it before, despite its being there since 1907. I don't remember ever seeing a wren either. Maybe because they're so small.

Tune number 748 from O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland - 1001 gems 

There are 1000 tunes in this book with better names but only some of them are better tunes.

O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland tune number 129

I probably would have been better getting the cat to play it.

I play this tune by direct debit.

Here's another tune from Francis O'Neill's 'Dance Music of Ireland - 1001 Gems'.

My understanding of 'gem' in today's context is a tune without syncopation and notes keeping close company with other notes they don't get on with.

Here's tune number 652 in O'Neill's Dance Music of Ireland.

It's the best tune between tunes 651 and 653.

As requested, here's an attempt at a flute version of a steadfastly fiddle tune.

X: 1

Here's the uncut version: https://thesession.org/tunes/1665

Here's a tune high in vitamin C. Also called the 'Belfast March', named after a town low in every vitamin.

 https://thesession.org/tunes/5000

Here's a tune I was asked to post here. It's a great tune but I can't play polkas, so I never play them, so I can't play them, so I never play them, so ...

The associated polka dots are here: https://thesession.org/tunes/1560