Celtic Airs

These 102 lilting slow airs with suggested chord changes are suitable for violin, flute, penny whistle, recorder, concertina, accordion, keyboard, harp, hammered dulcimer, etc., accompanied by any chord-capable instrument. Ancient to 19th-century in origin, most of these melodies will seem refreshingly new to modern-day musicians, audiences and even connoisseurs of the Celtic style. The author encourages readers to add their own ornaments once they have learned the basic tunes.


Most of the tune titles appear in their original Scots Gaelic or Irish with helpful English translations; the original titles, however, lend this collection an air of authenticity. These melodies are worthy of performance and recording by modern musicians, and one Christmas tune in particular, “Taladh Chriosta” (Christ Child’s Lullaby”), ranks right up there with “What Child Is This/Greensleeves” in its originality and sheer beauty.


This collection includes access to online audio of all 102 melodies.