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Flute Music

This page offers audio samples of Martin Doyle and other musicians playing Martin Doyle flutes.
Our good friend Ronan Browne made an astute observation regarding the recordings displayed on this page: "These samples have been recorded in environments ranging from recording studios to churches to lounge rooms and kitchens. All the instruments have been made by the same maker and it makes for an interesting exercise to listen to their different sounds in each location." It is perhaps worth noting too that each player has his or her unique way of playing and this is also reflected in the recordings. We hope you enjoy listening to these flute music samples and we would also like to thank the musicians for their contributions.

Playing a flute is like writing a book. You're telling what's in your heart.
        – Eddie Cahill.

Martin Doyle

Martin Doyle recorded these tunes on a variety of keyless C flutes using cross-fingering to obtain flats and sharps.
Related: Martin Doyle playing concert flute »

• Tune: Sally In The Willow (jig)

• Tunes: Paddy Fahey's (reel) and The Cliffs of Moher (jig)

• Tunes: Paddy Be Aisy, unknown and A Fig For A Kiss (slip jigs)

• Tunes: Unknown (jig) and Ladies Bonnet (reel)

• Tune: Sean Tiobrad Arann (jig)

• Tune: The Blue Hills of Antrim (air).
  Martin is accompanied by harpist Claire O'Donnell. This is a tune that Martin learned from his mother who often sang it to him when he was a child. For more information on this tune, visit The Blue Hills of Antrim/Maureen Hegarty and The Blue Hills of Antrim lyrics.

• Tune: King Of The Blind
  Here is an audio file of Martin Doyle playing one of his Baroque flutes. King of the Blind is a Turlough O'Carolan tune from Nicholas Carolan's facsimile edition of John & William Neal, A Collection of the Most Celebrated Irish Tunes proper for the violin, German flute or hautboy, which was first published in 1724.

The Aiki Céilí Band

• Tunes: The Green Fields of Rosbeigh and Paddy on the Railroad (reels)
  This is a recording of The Aiki Céilí Band – four musicians who are members of Martin Doyle's Clare Aikikai Aikido group in Liscannor, County Clare. The Aiki Céilí Band consists of Martin Doyle (flute), Éamon McCarthy (flute), Frank Healy (double bass) and Gabrielle Cappachione (guitar). This piece of music was recorded at the Liscannor town hall for a radio programme called The Music Tree which features Martin Doyle on a visit to Tanzania to experience first-hand the efforts being made to preserve and equitably manage African Blackwood.
  Related: Introducing The Aiki Céilí Band »

Joe Doyle

Joe Doyle (one of Martin Doyle's two sons) is an actor, musician, voice artist and model.

• Tune: The Green Fields Of Rosbeigh (reel)
  Joe recorded this tune at his father's home in County Clare on a D flute made of African Blackwood in June 2011. This particular flute is significant in that it was the first flute Martin Dolye has produced from FSC certified African Blackwood.

• Tune: The Flute Maker Martin Doyle (jig)
  Joe composed and recorded this tune in late August 2011. He said that the tune came to him while he was playing his Brazilian rosewood flute in the garden of Martin Doyle's home in County Clare, so he named it in honour of his father.
  Related: The Flute Maker Martin Doyle »

Brian Morgan

This sample of Brian Morgan playing the flute (with Joe Doyle accompanying him on bouzouki) was recorded by Martin Doyle in April 2013. Brian, a left-handed player from Corofin in County Clare, is playing a Martin Doyle six key flute made from Brazilian rosewood. A photo of Brian's flute can be viewed here »

• Tunes: The Bush In Bloom, Lady Ann Montgomery and Maud Millar (all reels).

Ronan Browne

Ronan Browne is a well known Irish traditional musician – a piper and flute player, composer and teacher – who lives in Conamara, County Galway. He is also a member of CRAN and duets with Peter O'Loughlin. The two pieces below were recorded live during a wedding at the Church of the Assumption in Collooney, County Sligo.
Related: Testimonial »

• Tune: Sí Beag Sí Mhór (waltz) – played on a Martin Doyle D flute made of cocus wood.

• Tune: Contentment is Wealth (jig) – played on a Martin Doyle D flute made of cocus wood.

Gerry O'Donnell

The passion Gerry O'Donnell exudes for Irish traditional music comes from an early family background in traditional music and dance. Originally from Belfast, he is regarded as one of the foremost exponents of the Northern style of traditional flute playing. The Erne Rising project he inspired was born of a recognition that the traditional music of County Fermanagh and the lakeland area was a rich and largely untapped musical source. Gerry is playing a Martin Doyle D flute made from African Blackwood.
Related: Testimonial »

• Tunes: Bessie the Beauty of Rossinare Hill (waltz) and unknown jigs.

Desi Wilkinson

Desi Wilkinson is a well known Irish traditional musician, educator and historian who is originally from Belfast and now lives in County Clare. The lovely piece below is the opening track from Desi's Shady Woods album that also features on Wooden Flute Obsession 2. Desi is also a member of CRAN. Recommended reading: Interview with Desi Wilkinson.
Related: Testimonial »

• Tune: My Lagan Love (air) – played on a Martin Doyle D flute made of Yew wood.

Cathal McConnell

Cathal McConnell is a renowned Irish traditional musician originally from County Fermanagh. A flute player, whistler and singer, Cathal is one of the founding members of Boys of the Lough. More: A Gift From Cathal McConnell.
Related: Testimonial »

• Tunes: The Fairy Strain (air) – played on a Martin Doyle C flute made from maple wood.

Mick Hand

Mick Hand is a renowned flute player and Irish traditional musician from Dublin. The track featured below is taken from the Wooden Flute Obsession 2 album and Mick is playing a Martin Doyle D flute made of African Blackwood.

• Tunes: Sliabh Gael Gua na Feile (air) and Tomeen O'Dea's (reel).

Eimear McGeown

Eimear McGeown is an accomplished musician from County Armagh in Northern Ireland who plays both classical and Irish flutes. A Northern Ireland Champion dancer at a young age, Eimear began playing whistle at the age of nine and progressed to the Irish flute a year later having lessons with Sligo born flautist Séamus Tansey. Eimear was the Ulster Champion on the whistle at eleven-years-old and went on to win two All Ireland Champion titles on the Irish flute both as a soloist and in a trio with her brother and sister. Both tracks below are played on a Martin Doyle D flute made of African Blackwood.
Related: Testimonial »

• Tune: The Dark Woman of the Glen (slow air).

• Tune: Fir A' Bhata (waltz) – produced by John Tonks.

Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh

Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh is the lead singer and flute player with the traditional Irish music group Danú, and a tutor at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick. Muireann hails from Dún Chaoin in County Kerry, Ireland. The track featured below is from the album Dual that Muireann recorded in 2008 with Julie Fowlis, Éamon Doorley and Ross Martin. She is playing a Martin Doyle keyed D flute made from African Blackwood.
Related: Testimonial »

• Tunes: Cailíní Deasa Mhuigheo, Eadar Alba is Éirinn, Mrs Ramsay of Barton and Tie the Bonnet Tight (reels)

Elizabeth Petcu

The following tracks are all played on a Martin Doyle keyless cocus wood D flute and are featured on Elizabeth Petcu's debut solo flute album, Just Me, which was produced in late 2008. The other eleven tracks that comprise the album are played on a Muramatsu concert flute with a wooden headjoint made by Martin Doyle.
Related: Testimonials to Martin Doyle's wooden headjoints for concert flutes »

• Tune: Telemann's Presto – from Fantasy in D major (classical)

• Tune: Telemann's Allegro – from Fantasy in G major (classical)

• Tune: My Lagan Love (air)

Shardul

Shardul teaches meditation in Nelson, New Zealand, and specialises in playing the meditative music of Sri Chinmoy.
Related: Testimonial » and Finding Your Instrument »

• Tune: Sunite Chahina by Sri Chinmoy – played on a Martin Doyle D flute made of cocus wood.

George Hoar

George Hoar is a jazz composer and multi-instrumentalist from North Carolina in the USA.
Related: Testimonial »

• Tune: The Tumbler – played on a Martin Doyle traditional style D flute made of African Blackwood.