The Big Book of Celtic Tunes
This book is one in a series that provides every article that was published in Flatpicking Guitar Magazine about a particular topic or genre. Here, in this book, we have included the best Celtic Tunes.
The terms “Celtic”and “Celtic Music” come to have various meanings to people. For our purpose the term “Celtic Music” will cover traditional music that has its roots in either England, Ireland, Scotland, or the British Isles. Since many of the bluegrass songs and fiddle tunes that we flatpickers love to play can be traced back to Irish, Scottish, or English roots, we thought it would be interesting to provide an archival compilation that focused on music from these countries and traditions.
The majority of our regular columnists, and some of our feature artists, provided tunes from the Celtic traditions during the years that we published the magazine, and in Volume 8, Number 3 we provided a special Celtic Music issue. Several of our columnists played in bands that prominently featured Celtic Music (specifically, John McGann, Craig Vance, and Kathy Barwick) and often contributed tunes from that tradition. Even if you don’t specifically play Celtic music, you are going to run across many of these tunes in a bluegrass jam. Also, a study of the techniques that are prevalent in the Celtic music traditions will certainly help you advance your skill as a flatpicker.
In addition to presenting 86 tunes arrangements, this book also presents a short article on Irish rhythm guitar, by John McGann, and feature articles based on interviews with Arty McGlynn, Tony McManus, John Doyle, and Chris Newman.
This book presents 185 pages of information and includes 122 audio tracks on one mp3 CD data disc.
Song List (in alphabetical order - the columnist or feature artist who arranged the tune for the magazine is listed beside the name of the tune):
A Bit of Ginger by John McGann
The Ash Grove (Sent Forth By God’s Blessing) by Harold Streeter
Bachelor Jig by Adam Granger
Bear Island Reel by John McGann
Belfast Hornpipe by John McGann
Bessie Brown by Adam Granger
The Blarney Pilgrim by Adam Granger
Bonnie Dundee by Adam Granger
Burning the Piper’s Hut by Bill Bay
The Butterfly by Joe Carr
Calliope House by Kathy Barwick
Carmondy’s Jig by Adam Granger
Coleraine by Adam Granger
Constitution Hornpipe by Adam Granger
Creeping Docken by Arty McGlynn
Crested Hens by John Doyle
The Dark Island by John McGann
Doheny’s Favorite by Adam Granger
Doherty’s Reel by Adam Granger
Dowd’s Reel by Adam Granger
Drowsie Maggie by John McGann
Drowsy Maggie by Jeff Troxel
Durang’s Hornpipe by Adam Granger
Eddie Kelly’s by Adam Granger
Elfin Jig by Adam Granger
Elk’s Festival Hornpipe by Steve Kaufman
Ellen O’Grady by Adam Granger
Far From Home by John Carnie
Farewell To Whiskey by Mike Maddux
Farrell O’Gara by John McGann
Flee As A Bird by Beppe Gambetta
Flowers of Edinburgh by Orrin Star
Flowers of Edinburgh by Jeff Troxel
Flowers of Edinburgh by Adam Granger
The Flowers of Sweet Erin, the Green by Bill Bay
Fred Finn’s Reel by Beppe Gambetta
Green Fields of America by Craig Vance
Green Fields of America by Kathy Barwick
Greensleeves Jig by Adam Granger
Griffin Hornpipe by Adam Granger
The Helseyside Reel by Adam Granger
The Irish Washerwoman by Adam Granger
The Irish Washerwoman by Joe Carr
The Irish Washerwoman by Orrin Star
Jackson’s by Adam Granger
Jenny’s Chickens I by John McGann
Jenny’s Chickens II by John McGann
The Kid On The Mountain by John McGann
King of the Pipers by Tony McManus
Lark In The Morning by Adam Granger
Lark In The Morning by Adam Granger
Lark On The Strand by Adam Granger
Loch Leven Castle by Craig Vance
The Maids of Castlebar by John McGann
The Man From Newry by John McGann
Martin Ainsboro’s Reel by John McGann
The Mathematician by Chris Newman
McGibbney’s Fancy by Adam Granger
Men of Ulster by John McGann
Merrily Kissed the Quaker by Orrin Star
Parson’s Farewell by Bill Bay
Peter Byrne’s Fancy by Arty McGlynn
Planxty Irwin (Praise and Trust) by Harold Streeter
Pop Goes The Weasel by Adam Granger
The Pot O’ Gold Jig by Adam Granger
Rakish Paddy by Robin Bullock
Return From Fingal by Orrin Star
The Rose In The Heather by Steve Kaufman
The Roseville by Joe Carr
The Rose Tree by Adam Granger
Sailor On The Rock by John McGann
Scotland the Brave (Alba an Aigh) by Adam Granger
Sheebeg and Sheemore by Jeff Troxel
Sligo Lament by John McGann
Smash the Windows by Adam Granger
The Spey and the Spate by Beppe Gambetta
Star of Munster by Adam Granger
Star of Munster by Craig Vance
Star of The County Down by Orrin Star
Star of the County Down by Steve Kaufman
The Star Spangled Jig by Adam Granger
Stenson’s #2 by Orrin Star
Tailor’s Twist by John McGann
Tamlin by Orrin Star
Wise Old Maid I by Kathy Barwick
Wise Old Maid II by Kathy Barwick
