Cap't Bob.

When I address you as Cap't Bob, I have this mental image of the failed publishing magnate, Robert Maxwell. He who was found floating behind his yacht, after spending all his employees pension fund money. For Cap't Bob was his nickname, please reassure me that he IS gone and that you are not he.

As to what you say about your hornpipe. The thing that amazes me is not that that tunes sometimes sound similar, but that given the limited number of note combinations, that they ever sound different.

I think sounding different is the key. For although written down the tune you found may have looked identical to yours, actually hearing it played it probably would have not sounded identical.

Dependent of factors such as the nature of the lead instrument, who is playing it, the combination of instruments being used, the tempo, the timing, the key, how well or how badly it is played, where emphasis is placed and any number of other reasons, a familiar tune can sound almost unrecognisable.

I will use the following as an example. this is how my thinking goes at a session, on hearing a tune started.

On hearing the A and B parts the first time around: -- I don't know this tune.

On hearing the A and B parts the second time around:It sounds a little bit like *????*.

On hearing the A and B parts the third time around:---It's The Blarney Pilgrim!

It could be the drink though ?