Tune Books

Since I became interested in traditional music I have loved collections of tunes, and stories behind them. As I found out more I would scribble alternative titles in the margins or interesting titbits. All that information is being gathered together here, and although it's a long-term project, it has progressed to a stage where it's useful for anyone with an interest in tune histories and origins. My research is being combined with that of other like-minded people.

Click on the links below to take you to particular collections.

Nigel Gatherer

A catalogue of books and essays produced by Nigel Gatherer.

Kerr's Collections

The 19th century tune collections of James Kerr: tune histories, alternative titles, background stories.

Music from Ireland

An index of tunes from Bulmer and Sharpley's collections of Irish session tunes, first published in the 1970s. Extensive notes giving alternative titles, tune histories, and alternative settings.

Ceol Rince na hEireann

A translation from Gaelic of Breandán Breathnach's original notes by Paul De Grae, including extensive notes giving alternative titles, tune histories, and details about the musicians.

Ryan's Mammoth Collection

An index of some of the tunes in this popular fiddle collection, originally published in the US in the 1880s, and republished in 1940 as Cole's 1000 Fiddle Tunes. Contains hundreds of tunes of Scottish and Irish origin.

The Northern Fiddler

Allen Feldman's fascinating collection of fiddle tunes from Donegal and Tyrone.

Hidden Fermanagh

Cyril Maguire's fascinating collection of tunes from Fermanagh.

The Fiddler's Fakebook

Popular collection of American, Canadian, Irish, Scottish and English tunes. This index is in an embryonic stage.

Robert Petrie's Collection

An 18th century fiddle collection rendered in ABC format by Steve Wyrick.