Actually I really do enjoy the great quantity of tunes. It's fun at times just to sit down and play through a section of O'Neill's Music of Ireland (fifteen hundred and fifty melodies) or the book 1,000 more tunes. I guess you would say it's sort of like looking for a perfect gem. A couple of other tune books that I enjoy are: NEW ENGLAND FIDDLER'S REPERTOIRE and THE MASTER COLLECTION OF DANCE MUSIC FOR VIOLIN. All of the tunes are good although some require playing through several times to get the right sound.

The only problem I have is when I get together with others to play it's rather difficult to come up with tunes that everyone knows. Luckily, as time marches on, you get to know people and start picking up some of their songs. One thing nice about playing "Old Timey" music is that a song may last around a half hour and by the time it ends everyone knows the song and you are in sort of a trance.

Over the years I have written several tunes and songs. Basically it seems that I have no real technique. Songs with lyrics are usually inspired by some situation or something that I see or hear. For some unknown reason most of my songs are of the novelty type. Tunes just seem to crop up from nowhere although I usually come up with better tunes when I'm playing the recorder or penny whistle in the woods, sailing, etc. I don't recall every setting down with the soul purpose of writing a song or tune.

Shambles....I would be honored to have you name your hornpipe Cap't Bob's Hornpipe. Better watch out though, I just might come with something like Shambles Strathspey.

Cap't Bob