Ever since the first European immigrants landed on North American shores, the music of the British Isles has been a decisive factor in the formation of the American folk and popular songbook. Although titles and lyrics may vary, many of these songs are still performed and recorded in their original forms. Not surprisingly, these charming melodies are easy to play on a standard diatonic harmonica in the key of C. The 15 solos in this collection are written in standard notation and blow/draw harmonica tablature with suggested accompaniment chords. For ease of learning, the author has provided online audio recordings.

This exceptional collection of 41 truly beautiful airs and ballads from the British Isles offers both well-known tunes by the prolific blind Irish harpist, Turlough O’Carolan and rarely heard melodies by anonymous composers; all have stood the test of time. Arranged for soprano or tenor recorder, these include O’Carolan’s classically influenced “Lord Inchiquin” and “Eleanor Plunkett” as well as “O Gentle Dove” and “Cuckoo Dear”— both examples of the strong tradition of song in Wales. Among other tunes, the haunting modal melodies of “The Dark Slender Boy” and “Enchanted Valley” express the melancholic heart and soul of the British Isles. A few of these songs have taken on a life of their own in modern times. “Bonny at Morn”, a popular traditional tune of northern England and Scotland, was arranged for soprano voice and harp by the 20th century British composer, Benjamin Britten. “The Skye Boat Song” originally recounted Bonnie Prince Charles Edward Stuart’s journey to the Isle of Skye after his defeat at the historic Battle of Culloden. Later, the song evolved into a lilting lullaby and was more recently used as the theme song for the popular Outlander television series. Departing slightly from recorder notation practice, author Marcia Diehl has judiciously arranged these melodies complete with spare slur markings to aid the amateur player in authentically and musically rendering these tunes.

A great beginner's book for learning diatonic harmonica performance. Contains 42 songs, all easy and fun to play. Diatonic, Blues, and Chromatic harmonica stylings are all contained in this book. Also includes a section teaching the rudiments of music. The book teaches tone variance, bend, vibrato, and tremolo techniques. Audio and video download available online

This book contains 138 well-known Irish jigs, reels, hornpipes, set dances, O'Carolan tunes, folksongs, ballads, airs and waltzes. These wonderful Irish melodies are written in harmonica tablature and standard notation for use on the 12-hole chromatic, standard 10-hole diatonic, and tremolo harmonica. Learning these melodies will enhance your playing skills as well as your repertoire. the stereo recording is in split-track format and includes a selection of 25 melodies from the book.

In this unique solo fingerstyle guitar collection, Luke Edwards presents 17 melodies from the Celtic nation of Wales, The Land of Song, sheep and dragons and birthplace of Merlin the wizard. With arrangements derived from ancient to more modern traditional tunes, this book provides a glimpse into a fascinating musical culture. Often overlooked in comparison to neighboring Scotland and Ireland, the music of Wales is rich and multifaceted. This book covers a variety of traditional Welsh genres including hymns, lullabies, hornpipes, fiddle tunes, and even a selection from The Robert Ap Huw Manuscript of 1340, the oldest known example of harp music in the world. As all of the arrangements were made in guitar-friendly keys in either standard or drop-D tuning, they can be readily combined into sets for performance. Written in both standard notation and tablature, historical notes and complete right and left-hand fingerings are provided throughout. Recommended for the intermediate to advanced guitarist, the collection includes access to online audio.

This collection of 20 Christmas carols is written for the intermediate to advanced 5-string banjo player familiar with tablature in gDGBD tuning. These tunes are considered timeless folk songs that will enhance your musicianship and technique, and delight your friends and family at holiday gatherings. Recordings and extensive right-hand fingerings are provided as learning aids for each tune, leaving interpretation and left-hand fingerings up to the player. Readers are encouraged to make their own recordings of the carols to better evaluate their playing. Most importantly, you’ll celebrate Christmas with the joyous sound of the 5-string banjo! Includes access to online audio

Evoke the traditional sounds of the Celtic lands with these instrumental arrangements of songs for solo Celtic harp. These 25 tunes are Manx, Welsh, Irish, Scottish, Cornish, Hebridean, and Bretton, including pieces by Turlough O'Carolan and Robert Burns. Notes at the end of the book give insights into the meanings of the texts of the songs, aiding interpretation and inviting you to experience the ambience of the Celtic lands through their music. Lyrics for selected songs are given in the notes in English.