Some of the most familiar and recognisable Manx folk tunes have been released as easy-to-learn files.

A set of Manx folk tunes, commonly referred to as the ’Steady As She Goes’ set, have been recorded and put together in an informative and simple-to-follow learning resource to make them easier to pick up and learn.

Among the tunes included in the set are a mix of traditional jigs and reels that feature well-known and popular Manx folk tunes, such as ’Three Little Boats’, ’Creg Willy Syl’, ’Mylecharaine’s March’ and ’Car Juan Nan’, along with familiar songs including Birlinn Ghorree Chrovan, Hunt the Wren and Hop tu Naa.

Also included are some lesser-known tunes, such as Arrane ny Niee and Arrane y Chlean.

The ’Steady As She Goes’ set contains 38 songs and tunes that would be regularly heard in a trad Manx folk music session and the learning resource has been produced by Culture Vannin to encourage musicians to pick up and play the tunes and then take part in one of the many informal sessions which often occur in the island’s pubs.

The resource were produced by local music teachers Laura and David Rowles, who played the songs at a ’steady’ tempo on guitar and violin and was recorded during the lockdown period as part of the ’Treisht’ arts support programme.

’David and Laura are well-known music teachers in the island, with years of experience playing Manx music, so they were ideally placed to record the tunes and songs for us,’ said Chloe Woolley, the Manx music development officer.

’A lot of learners or newcomers to Manx music are shy of joining in with the sessions when the tunes are being played at full throttle, and so there was a call for an aid to learning tunes and practising at home.

’The chords are straightforward to follow and there is a whistle version with finger numbers available too.’

The complete set of sheet music and audio tracks can be found through the ’Learn’ pages of manxmusic.com.

There is also an online album of the tune’s recordings available to hear on the Culture Vannin bandcamp page.

by Mike Wade

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