Words and themes in a song can define a place, or give a sense of place. But do you get a sense of place from a traditional tune? I've no answer to this, by the way - just asking out of sheer curiosity.

Whenever I hear the Northumbrian small pipes, I can be transported in my mind to the Cumbrian fells where I used to walk as a teenager. But that's probably not surprising, as it's probably the sound of that instrument itself - rather than the the particular tune being played - which conjures up the mountains, fellside and lakes.

Is there something, for example, inherently Irish or Scottish or English in a tune, for example - and could you place a tune's origin from its melody?