Tunes & compositions
Original tunes, instrumental arrangements & commissions
About folk 'tunes'
Pieces of instrumental music played for ceilidh dancing are typically arranged as 'sets' of multiple 'tunes' - shorter, discrete pieces of music which can be from different composers in contrasting keys and styles - with a consistent rhythm to suit a particular dance. Scottish, Irish and other Celtic instrumental music recorded or played at concerts also typically consist of multiple tunes arranged together, although these can be more diverse if not set for a specific dance. Tunes played in pub or other 'sessions' are generally led by the person who starts the first tune, with the diversity and spontaneity of their choices increasing with a musician's experience. As well as arranging existing tunes for ceilidh dances and public performance, I have composed hundreds of original tunes. Most of these are in the Scottish folk tradition, remembering and celebrating people and events in my life. Some are commissions as gifts for weddings, special events and occasions - please just let me know if you want one!
Commercial releases featuring my tunes
A selection of Mike's original tunes which have featured in commercial releases and had radio play. Click the player to hear excerpts from tracks on Spotify. The written music (not the recordings) and many of my other original tunes are freely available for non-commercial use here and from websites such as TheSession.org. However, note that as a member of PRS for Music (IPI 828821515) all public performances must be logged for PRS. Please contact me using the enquiry form or e-mail address below to obtain permission and / or license for any recording, sync or other commercial use.
3rd tune of 'Chilled Maggie', Teannaich Energised CD. Mike on cittern.
3rd tune of 'Astoria Hangover' Teannaich Lucid CD. Mike on mandolin.
1st tune of 'Inverness Sonic Extensions' Teannaich Energised CD. Mike on cittern.
2nd tune of 'Inverness Sonic Extensions' Teannaich Energised CD. Mike on cittern.
1st tune of 'Astoria Hangover', Teannaich Lucid CD. Mike on mandolin & bassoon.
2nd tune of 'Wakada', Teannaich Lucid CD. Mike on mandolin.
2nd tune of 'Astoria Hangover' Teannaich Lucid CD. Mike on mandolin.
Tunes for all four parts of 'Finding the Fishbone', Teannaich Lucid CD. Mike on mandolin.
Commissions for tunes and arrangements
Alongside the steady stream of folk tunes and other original compositions which I have written almost like a diary over the past 30 years, I have also been commissioned by individuals and groups to write original tunes to commemorate specific events and people, and to create novel arrangements of my own and others' tunes to go with particular ceilidh dances or for other performances. I very much enjoy writing and arranging to commission, and helping others to do so. If you have an event, person, advertisement or other idea in mind for which you want a special tune, or some other original composition or arrangement, please get in touch using the enquiry form below. Typically we would arrange a call to discuss your requirements in detail and the options available - including but not limited to type of composition, title, arrangement, format, artistic printing and framing, audio recording, and live performance at your event. Turnaround time depends on your requirements and my availability, but a pdf with electronic playback of a simple original folk tune can often be done in as little as 24 hours.
Above is the original tune, as 'audiated' (imagined, without singing or playing it) in my head and handwritten on manuscript (thus neater than my usual hand-drawn lines), and pasted into one of my tune books in rough date order ("1-20" means book 1, page 20). When I subsequently played and heard this at a later date, I must have decided the C in bar 10 sounded better an octave down and corrected it. Below is a neater MuseScore version.
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