Album Notes

The natural home of Irish music is the "session". These regular gatherings of musicians represent the best of the Irish traditional music scene: its camaraderie, and sharing of music, and its warm respect for performers of all generations and walks of life. For sessions to be successful it is important that participants have the opportunity to join in as much as possible, and learning the sets of standard traditional tunes in this book will make you feel at home in a session. You may enjoy learning to play these tunes along with the CD.

The selections are based on a consensus arrived at over the years during our regular Tuesday and Wednesday night sessions at the Cultúrlann na hÉireann in Monkstown. Musicians from many nations have played and enjoyed these tunes. Of course, melodic settings in the Irish tradition vary across players, styles and regions, with tunes passed down from person to person, varied and ornamented. As a result, what you hear on this album may not exactly match the notation in the book, but this is a normal part of the practice of Irish music.

Tá súil agam go mbainfidh tú taitneamh as an gceol seo. Bíonn céad míle fáilte romhat i gcónaí i gCultúrlann na hÉireann, go mór mhór ag seisiún ceoil ar aon Mháirt/Chéadaoin.

Brian Prior
April 2008