Book (5555B) This book contains 50 Irish jigs, hornpipes, reels and airs arranged for the harp by Sylvia Woods. This is an excellent book for intermediate and advanced harp players interested in learning about Irish dance tunes, or for those already involved in the Irish music scene. It can be used by groups of musicians as well as harp soloists. In sharp keys with fingerings and chord symbols. 64 pages, spiral-bound.
Companion CD (5555D) or Cassette (5555C) The companion CD or cassette will assist harp players learning the pieces in this book. Since many of you will want to “play along” as you are learning, Sylvia has recorded most of the pieces slower than they are usually played, and as “straight” as possible, with little or no expression or rhythmic variations. The pieces are in the same order as in the book Most people find the CD easier to use than the cassette, because you can go directly to a specific track. The prices of the “Book and CD” or “Book and Cassette” sets listed above are $2 off the price of the products if purchased separately.
Lyrics Although most of the pieces in this book are dance tunes with no lyrics, 4 of the selections do have words: Rocky Road to Dublin, Little Beggarman, Carrickfergus, and The Parting Glass. You can get these lyrics in two ways. #1. You can download and print a FREE PDF of these lyrics.
#2. You can purchase the Lyrics From Three Books booklet for only $2.95. It includes the lyrics for these 4 songs, as well as lyrics from Teach Yourself to Play the Folk Harp and Hymns and Wedding Music for All Harps.
Click on a note icon below to see the first 2 lines of the printed music.
Includes:
JIGS Blarney Pilgrim Garryowen Geese in the Bog Haste to the Wedding Maid at the Spinning Wheel Merrily Kiss the Quaker Money in Both Pockets Morrison’ Jig Off She Goes Road to Lisdoonvarna Smash the Windows Tobin’s Favorite
SLIP JIGS A Fig for a Kiss Boys of Ballysodare Dublin Street Give Us a Drink of Water Hardiman the Fiddler Kid on the Mountain Rocky Road to Dublin
HORNPIPES Boys of Blue Hill Fisher’s Hornpipe Ladies’ Hornpipe Little Beggarman O’Donnell’s Hornpipe Off to California Plains of Boyle Rights of Man Soldier’s Joy
REELS Earl’s Chair Fairy Dance Ree Green Fields of America Leather Buttons Maid Behind the Bar Mason’s Apron Miss McLeod’s Reel Music in the Glen Musical Priest Tent at the Fair Thro’ the Field Waterfall Who Made Your Breeches? Wind that Shakes the Barley Wise Maid
AIRS, MARCHES, AND OTHER TUNES Battle of Aughrim Brian Boru’s March Pig Town Fling Carrickfergus King of the Fairies March of the King of Laois Parting Glass
06/08/2010 - by Sandra Fromm from Sacramento, CA US
This is one of the best books for learning traditional Irish music. Like the reviewer above, I too have purchased a lot of harp music, but all of Sylvia Woods' books are the best. They offer easy and intermediate level accompaniments, and chording so that you can add additional notes. This particular book has fast become one of my favorites; it offers a good variety of traditional Irish music, information on traditional music sessions, and fingering. The fingering for traditional Irish music is slightly different than for other harp music because it is played very quickly, so the fingering included in this book is very helpful when learning to play the songs. I also appreciate the companion CD for those songs that I am not familiar with. Highly recommend this book and CD!!
You can play and tap your toes at the same time! Great book.
05/03/2005 - by Judy Diaz from Huntington Beach, CA
All of Sylvia's harp arrangements have a "high playability" rating with me. Believe me when I say this because I have looked at, and purchased a lot of harp music over the years. No one can arrange for the harp the way Sylvia can! This book is a perfect example of being able to make playable complicated Irish jigs, slip jigs, reels and hornpipes for those of us who are not "professional" harp players. This traditional music gets all of our collective toes tapping. Two introductions are included to help the novice better understand the nature and spirit of Irish dance tunes. I have had a lot of fun, and challenge, from the pieces in this book. It also includes one of my FAVORITE AIRS, Carrickfergus.
