From the Book's Introduction

This is a book of 23 of my own compositions, with melodies and accompanying left hand.  I have also included a separate arrangement for accompaniment of each piece.  There are 7 slip jigs, 2 reels, 4 airs, 2 barndances, 3 jigs, 2 planxties, a polka, a strathspey and a minuet presented in the book.

All pieces are composed in the traditional idiom.  I have arranged each piece as I might play it once through.  Background information is provided for all of the compositions.

Ornamentation is suggested in each piece, along with some suggested variations in both the melody and the left hand accompaniment.  The 23 tunes presented here are part of a collection of over 40 composed in the last ten years.  Many of the tunes were composed as part of the following three suites:

• The Famine Suite which was commissioned in 1996.
• Aifreann na Gaeilge (The Irish Mass) which was commissioned in 1997.
• The Millennium Suite, commissioned by Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann in 2000.

I spent the academic year 2005-2006 completing a Master’s Degree in Traditional Music Performance and composing for harp and string quartet.  Five of the pieces from that collection are included in this book.

It is important to note that this is not a tutor book, nor are the tunes presented in any particular order based on the degree of technical difficulty.  This is simply a collection of my music presented in sets of two tunes where appropriate.

About the Author

From Scotstown, Co. Monaghan, Michael Rooney is regarded as one of the finest exponents of the harp in traditional Irish Music.  He has composed extensively over the past decade and has completed four suites of music.

Michael recently released two albums, “Draiocht” and “Land’s End” with Sligo flute player, June McCormack.  In 1997, he released an album “Ocras”, featuring ten of his compositions from “The Famine Suite”.  Michael is in much demand as a harp and concertina tutor in Ireland and throughout the world.

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