Thanks for this discussion, it makes me feel better about having been confused about hornpipes.

Len in Chorlton, can you play the tunes on a midi keyboard and see how the notation turns out in the software? That would be interesting, seeing how the software interprets it.


And thanks, too, for the new additions to the English technical language of music: hornpipiness, hornpipify, reelify, "play it quite dotty", etc

When I first started learning tunes I bought a book called "Begged, Borrowed or Stolen" which had hand transcribed session tunes which were wonderful for beginners or more advanced players.

I just Googled and found these ABC tunes, and the first few are from the book:

Ceolas ABC tunes: Begged, Borrowed or Stolen

and some more here:

Ceolas ABC tunes: Begged, Borrowed or Stolen

There are even more on the site.

I believe that Mudcatter Bob Bolton was somehow involved in the book's production.

From memory I think the notes were undotted for the tunes you are referring to. Word of mouth tradition was that you play them NOT as written, by listening to other musicians or recordings.

Helen