Karen Tweed's Irish Choice Book

Irish Session Tune Collection by Karen Tweed

Karen Tweed's Irish Choice is a beautifully personal collection of Irish session tunes selected and interpreted by the renowned piano accordion player Karen Tweed.

The book includes reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas and miscellaneous tunes, presented with chords, tips, anecdotes, photographs and Karen’s own thoughts on the music. Although Karen is known for her extraordinary piano accordion playing, these are not simply “accordion tunes” — they are Irish traditional tunes that can be adapted to many melody instruments and personal styles.

With 93 tunes, a foreword by Phil Cunningham, a discography and optional companion recordings, this is a rich and inspiring collection for players wanting to explore Irish session music through the musical imagination of one of its most distinctive interpreters.

Key Features:

• 93 Irish Session Tunes: A personal selection of reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas and other traditional material.
• Karen Tweed’s Own Interpretations: Includes her versions of favourites alongside respected session standards.
• Foreword by Phil Cunningham: Includes reflections from one of the most respected names in traditional accordion music.
• Chords, Tips and Anecdotes: Helpful musical guidance and personal notes bring the tunes to life.
• Suitable for Accordion, Melodeon and Traditional Melody Instruments: Useful for accordion, melodeon, fiddle, flute, whistle and other melody instruments.
• Optional Companion CDs Available: Recordings help players hear phrasing, lift, rhythm and Karen’s distinctive style.

Why We Recommend This Book

At Squeezebox Marketplace, we recommend Karen Tweed's Irish Choice because it gives players more than a list of tunes. It offers insight into how a highly respected musician thinks about, shapes and lives with Irish traditional music.

Karen’s approach treats each tune as a living thing rather than a fixed museum piece. For accordionists, melodeon players and other traditional musicians, this makes the book especially valuable as both a repertoire source and a window into expressive traditional interpretation.

About Karen Tweed

Karen Tweed is widely recognised as one of the most influential piano accordion players in traditional music.

Karen Tweed is widely admired for her imaginative, expressive and technically accomplished piano accordion playing. Her interpretations of Irish traditional music are full of character, movement and respect for the living tradition.

This collection reflects her personal musical choices. The settings are intended as musical examples rather than fixed definitive versions, encouraging players to adapt the tunes to their own instrument and style.

Who This Book Is For

• Piano accordion players exploring Irish traditional music
• Accordion and melodeon players building expressive repertoire
• Traditional musicians wanting Karen Tweed’s tune settings
• Fiddle, flute, whistle and other melody instrument players
• Session musicians looking for strong Irish repertoire
• Players interested in interpretation, phrasing and musical style

Tunes Included

Click to view the full list of 93 tunes included

Reels

All Around the World
Andy McGann's
Bríd Harper's
The Broken Pledge
Bunker Hill
Christmas Eve
The Congress
The Convenience Reel
Corney's Coming
Dennis Langtou's
Dinkie's
The Drunken Landlady
The Fairy Reel
Fearghal O'Gadhra
Girl Who Broke My Heart
Hand Me Down the Tackle
Humours of Loughrea
The Humours of Tulla
The Kilfodda
Launching the Boat
Matt Peoples'
Maudabawn Chapel
The Milliner's Daughter
Miss Thornton's
The Monaghan Twig
My Love is in America
The Old Copperplate
Over the Moor to Maggie
Paddy Lynn's Delight
The Piper's Despair
The Raheen
The Reel of Mullinavat
Return to Miltown
Sailor on the Rock
The Scholar
Seámus Meehan's
The Silver Spire
Siobhán O'Donnell's 3
The Steeplechase
The Watchmaker

Jigs

Boys of the Town
The Bunch of Roses
The Bush on the Hill
Con Cassidy's
Connaughtman's Rambles
Connie O'Connell's
Conway's
The Cúil Aodha
The Flowers of Spring
Gander in the Pratie Hole
The Hare in the Corn
Hartigan's Fancy
The Humours of Kesh
The Maid on the Green
The Miners' Jig
Munster Bacon
The New House
Rambling Pitchfork
Scotsman Over Border
The Second Victory
Siobhán O'Donnell's 1
Siobhán O'Donnell's 2
Strayaway Child
Tommy Peoples'
Tom Trainor's
Vincent Campbell's

Hornpipes

The Cliffe Hornpipe
The Cuckoo
Frank McCollum's
Joe Skelton's
Queen of the West
The Smell of the Bog
Smith's Favourite
Spellan the Fiddler
The Tara Brooch
The Turnpike

Polkas

Ailbe Grace's
An Gallope
Art O'Keeffe's
The Ballydesmond
Captain Byng
Cousin's Delight
Din Tarrant's No. 3
Jim Keeffe's
Peg Ryan's
Sweeney's
Teahan's Favourite

Miscellany

Drops of Springwater
Going to Well for Water
Humours of Derrycrosane
Merrily Kiss the Quaker's
The Scart
Whinny Hills of Leitrim

Optional Companion Recordings

Click to view the companion CD options

Drops of Springwater
Product Code: AP104C
Label Number: DMPCD9401

The Silver Spire
Product Code: AP104D
Label Number: DMPCD9402

Specifications

• Title: Karen Tweed's Irish Choice
• Author: Dave Mallinson
• Featured Musician: Karen Tweed
• SKU: AP104
• ISBN: 9781899512126
• Style: Irish traditional music, session tunes and piano accordion repertoire
• Suitable for: Accordion, melodeon, fiddle, flute, whistle and other melody instruments
• Level: Developing to experienced players
• Number of Tunes: 93
• Page Count: 52 pages
• Book Content: Tunes, chords, tips, anecdotes, illustrations, photographs, discography and foreword by Phil Cunningham
• Optional CDs Available: Drops of Springwater; The Silver Spire
• Format Options: Book only, book with Drops of Springwater CD, book with The Silver Spire CD, or book with both CDs

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book only for piano accordion players?

No. Although Karen Tweed is closely associated with the piano accordion, the tunes are suitable for many traditional melody instruments, including accordion, melodeon, fiddle, flute and whistle.

Does the book include chords?

Yes. Chords are included, making the collection useful for accompanists as well as melody players.

Does this book include Karen Tweed’s own tune settings?

Yes. The collection includes Karen Tweed’s own interpretations and settings of many well-known Irish session tunes.

Is this useful for Irish session musicians?

Yes. The collection contains many widely played Irish session tunes alongside Karen Tweed’s personal interpretations and musical insights.

Are Karen Tweed’s versions definitive?

No. The settings are examples of how Karen has learned and interpreted the tunes. Players are encouraged to adapt the music to their own instrument, style and musical voice.

Are companion recordings available?

Yes. Optional companion recordings are available, including Drops of Springwater and The Silver Spire.

Compare with Other Traditional Tune Collections

Players interested in Irish session repertoire may also enjoy 100 Essential Irish Session Tunes, 100 Evergreen Irish Session Tunes and 100 Enduring Irish Session Tunes. Karen Tweed's Irish Choice is especially valuable for players wanting a more personal, interpretive collection shaped by a distinctive traditional musician.

Explore More

Browse our complete range of accordion and melodeon books and learning resources, together with our selection of melodeons and accordions.

Included

• Book only: Printed copy of Karen Tweed's Irish Choice.
• Book with Drops of Springwater CD: Book supplied with the companion recording Drops of Springwater.
• Book with The Silver Spire CD: Book supplied with the companion recording The Silver Spire.
• Book with both CDs: Book supplied with both companion recordings.