Simply Carolan

108 Tunes from the Irish Harper Turlough O’Carolan

Simply Carolan by Dave Mallinson is a carefully arranged collection of 108 tunes attributed to, or written in the style of, the Irish harper and composer Turlough O’Carolan.

The tunes are presented in keys commonly used by present-day Irish traditional musicians, including G, D, A, Am, Em and Bm, with a few pieces in F, C, Dm and Gm. The arrangements are designed to be readable and practical, with tunes set out in lines of 4 or 8 bars wherever possible.

Chord suggestions are included as a guide for accompanists, making this a useful collection for accordionists, melodeon players, fiddlers, harpists, whistle players and other traditional musicians interested in Carolan’s distinctive musical world.

Key Features:

• 108 Carolan Tunes: A substantial collection of tunes attributed to, or written in the style of, Turlough O’Carolan.
• Practical Modern Keys: Arranged mainly in keys commonly used in Irish traditional music sessions.
• Readable Layout: Tunes are arranged in lines of 4 or 8 bars to make reading as straightforward as possible.
• Chord Suggestions Included: Useful for accompanists and players wanting a clearer harmonic guide.
• Carefully Selected Settings: Difficult slow-air type pieces have been avoided, making the collection more practical for many players.

Why We Recommend This Book

At Squeezebox Marketplace, we recommend Simply Carolan for players who want to explore one of the most important figures in Irish traditional music without being overwhelmed by overly complex or impractical arrangements.

Carolan’s music sits beautifully between Irish tradition, harp music, baroque influence and song-like melody. This collection makes that repertoire more accessible to today’s players while still respecting the character of the original music.

About Turlough O’Carolan

Turlough O’Carolan, also known as Terence Carolan, was born near Nobber in County Meath in 1670 and died in County Roscommon in 1738. Blinded by smallpox at the age of eighteen, he later became an itinerant harper, travelling through Connacht and Ulster.

Although he was not regarded as a master performer, Carolan became highly respected for his poetry, improvised verse and musical compositions. Many of his tunes were dedicated to the patrons and families who welcomed him into their homes.

Who This Book Is For

• Accordion and melodeon players exploring Carolan repertoire
• Traditional musicians interested in Irish harp music
• Players looking for lyrical Irish melodies beyond standard session tunes
• Fiddlers, whistle players, harpists and other melody instrument players
• Accompanists looking for Carolan tunes with chord suggestions
• Teachers and players wanting a practical Carolan collection

Tunes Included

Specifications

• Title: Simply Carolan
• Author: Dave Mallinson
• SKU: AR114
• Style: Irish traditional music, Carolan repertoire and Irish harp music
• Suitable for: Accordion, melodeon, harp, fiddle, whistle and other melody instruments
• Level: Developing and intermediate players
• Number of Tunes: 108
• Special Feature: Practical keys, readable layout and chord suggestions included
• Format Options: Book only

Compare with Other Traditional Tune Collections

If you are looking for Irish session repertoire, books such as 101 Easy Irish Session Tunes, 100 Essential Irish Session Tunes, 100 Evergreen Irish Session Tunes and 100 Enduring Irish Session Tunes may be a better fit. Simply Carolan is more focused on the lyrical and historic repertoire associated with Turlough O’Carolan.

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 collection of 108 Carolan tunes arranged by Dave Mallinson.