The recordings on this site grew out of classes in Irish session music that I’ve been teaching since 2001. The classes began at Artichoke Music in Portland, Oregon and moved online in 2020 during the pandemic. They continue on in that format since my move to Amsterdam in 2021.  I offer them usually around three times a year, and you can sign up for them in the Classes section of this website.

I made these recordings – originally on CD – as reference material for each class, now 70 and counting.  On them, you’ll find sets of tunes (usually two) played at moderate tempo with accompaniment, followed by individual tracks of each of those tunes played more slowly.  Most of the melodic playing is on the fiddle, but you’ll also hear a fair amount of C#/D box (played by my wife, Fran Slefer), some tenor banjo, a smattering of mandolin, and a bit of flute.  The accompaniment is mostly guitar, with some bouzouki now and then. Each recording download also includes transcriptions of the tunes.

A lot of the recordings have a specific theme focusing on a certain aspect of Irish trad.  The themes range far and wide: regional styles (Clare, Kerry, Donegal); instrumental traditions (fiddle, pipes, accordion); notable players’ repertoires (Denis Murphy, Kevin Burke, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, P.J. and Martin Hayes, Jackie Daly), well-known composers (Ed Reavy, Peadar Ó Riada, Seán Ryan, Junior Crehan, Vincent Broderick); older manuscripts and collections (O’Neill’s, Goodman, Ceol Rince).  And more.  If you see the balance tipping toward music from Clare and Sliabh Luachra, then it shows you that we all have our preferences!

I’ve played Irish fiddle since the early 1980’s, having started musical life as a guitarist.  Over the years, I’ve been particularly influenced by the playing of Kevin Burke, Matt Cranitch, and Denis Murphy.  Kevin moved to Portland around the time I started and set me straight on quite a few things.  Later travels to Ireland led me to cross paths with Matt, and hours of listening to Denis Murphy’s playing – as well as to others influenced by it – helped shape how I hear and play the music.

This site will grow over time.  New recordings appear as I teach new classes, and I regularly add the older ones to fill in the gap between then and now.  There is also at least one free recording on offer.  I hope you enjoy learning and playing the music.

Fran and I co-host the Irish sessions most Wednesday nights at Mulligan’s Pub in Amsterdam, and play in many sessions in the Netherlands and Belgium.  Hope we can share a tune sometime…

Cheers,

Dan Compton