Geoff the Fiddler
Irish Fiddle & Celtic Music
A Sound that Transports You
The Music of a Land
Irish Fiddle is a style of fiddle playing that is fast, emotional, and insists on being danced to. Full of intricate bowing and furiously fast notation, Irish and Celtic fiddling is stirring. When you hear the fast fiddling done in Irish or Celtic style, you can almost see the dancers in your mind's eye.
A traditional Irish dance party, called a "Ceilidh" (pronounced KAY-lee) features jigs and reels, along with slow airs. It is a mix of extremes: fast-paced tunes and slow, haunting airs that bring a tear to your eye. If people are really into it, they can dance a jig. Or they can get together and do a set dance like a reel, with intricate steps and movements that usually involve a dance caller.
Jigs and Reels
So what is the difference between a Jig and a Reel? The trick to remembering the answer is in the question itself. "Jig" has three letters: J-I-G. And a Jig features a set of REALLY fast triplets. One-two-three, one-two-three, etc. Click here for an example.
Meanwhile, "Reel" has four letters: R-E-E-L. Reels have four beats, played extremely fast. Here is an example.
So now you can amaze your friends when you tell them the difference between a jig and a reel!
My Setlist
If you don't see it here, ask!
I might know it.
If I don't, I can learn it.
Classical Tunes
Boccherini's Musica della Strada Di Madrid
Canon in D by Pachelbel
Christmas Adagio by Corelli
Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring
Overture from Tannhauser
Pop Songs
As the World Falls Down
Banjo Moon
Bittersweet Waltz
Brown-Eyed Girl
Can't Help Falling in Love
Crazy Love
Hallelujah
I'm Yours
Iris
Memory
My Girl
Postcard to Henry Purcell (Pride & Prejudice)
Rainbow Connection
Stand by Me
Sweet Caroline
A Thousand Years
You're Still the One
Movie/TV/Videogame Themes
Ashokan Farewell (The Civil War)
For the Dancing and the Dreaming
Game of Thrones
Last of the Mohicans
Leave Her Johnny (Assassin's Creed: Black Flag)
Skye Boat Song (Outlander)
Theme from The Godfather
Leave Her Johnny
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Airs, Waltzes, and Slower Tunes
Angel Band
April Waltz
Ash Grove
Auld Lang Syne
Aura Lea
Battle Cry of Freedom
Battle of Aughrim
Blind Mary
Bonnie Charlie
Bonnie Jean of Aberdeen
Bonny At Morn
The Butterfly
Danny Boy
The Dark Isle
Fanny Power
Feidlim’s Little Boat
The Foggy Dew
Give Me Your Hand
Hard Times
Hector the Hero
Leave Her Johnny
Like a Songbird that has Fallen
MacPherson’s Lament
Man from the Daily Mail
Mazurkas: Donegal and The Glenties
Midnight on the Water
Minguelay Boat Song
The Nightingale
John Brown’s March
Old Maui
Over the Hills and Far Away
The Parting Glass
Planxty Erwin
Pretty Saro
Scotland the Brave
The Second of May
She Moved through the Fair
Shenandoah
Si Bheag Si Mhor
Star of the County Down
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Fast Tunes
An Phis Fhliuch
Boccherini's Musica della Strada Di Madrid
Bonaparte’s Retreat
Boys of Malin
Britches Full of Stitches
Cold Frosty Morning
Crowley’s/Toss the Feathers Reels
Drowsy Maggie/Cooley’s Reels
Girl I Left Behind Me
Glasgow Reel
Gravel Walks
Gypsy Princess
*Harvest Home
Haste to the Wedding/The Joys of Wedlock Jigs
Irish Washerwoman
John Brown’s Dream
John Ryan’s
Kesh Jig
Kilfenora/Walls of Liscarrol Jigs
King of the Fairies
Longborne/Ashgrove/Atholl Highlanders Jigs
Maple Sugar
Maggie in the Woods SM
Miss McLeod’s
Morrison’s/Donnybrook Fair/Lt. Maguire’s Jigs
Musical Priest
OSullivan’s March
Old 1812
Pig’s Foot
Rakes of Mallow
Red Wing
Road to Lisdoonvarna
Roches Favourite
Rocky Road to Dublin
Rocky Top
Sal’s got Mud between Her
Toes
The Silver Spear/The Silver Spire
Soldier’s Joy
St Anne’s Reel/Liberty
Swallowtail Jig
Three Sea Captains
The Turnpike/Shetland Fiddler/Boys of Malin Reels
Whiskey Before breakfast
Whoopty Liza Jane
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