25 Irish Polkas Every Session Musician Should Learn

Playing & Styling Tips:

Focus on clear rhythmic articulation and steady tempo. Keep finger movement light through the scalar passages in the second strain.

Landmark Recordings:

Denis Murphy & Julia Clifford – The Star Above the Garter (1969); Planxty – Cold Blow and the Rainy Night (1974)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Denis Murphy's (104 sets), Forty-Two Pound Cheque, The (75 sets), Britches Full Of Stitches, The (72 sets)
• Played before: Denis Murphy's (48 sets), Bill Sullivan's (27 sets), Egan's (26 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Maintain a steady lift on the primary beats. Use light finger cuts on repeated notes to define the phrasing.

Landmark Recordings:

Traditional session repertoire

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Britches Full Of Stitches, The (63 sets), John Ryan's (26 sets), Maggie In The Woods (22 sets)
• Played before: Britches Full Of Stitches, The (69 sets), John Ryan's (60 sets), Maggie In The Woods (30 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Pay attention to the G natural in the A dorian scale. Keep finger cuts clean without disrupting the underlying 2/4 pulse.

Landmark Recordings:

Denis Murphy & Julia Clifford – The Star Above the Garter (1969); Sliabh Notes – Sliabh Notes (1995)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Ballydesmond, The (98 sets), Ballydesmond, The (50 sets), Egan's (19 sets)
• Played before: Ballydesmond, The (245 sets), Ballydesmond, The (30 sets), Ballydesmond, The (22 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Highlight the rhythmic phrasing in the second strain. Fiddlers often employ open-string drones to reinforce the modal center.

Landmark Recordings:

Denis Murphy & Julia Clifford – The Star Above the Garter (1969); Patrick Street – Cornerboys (1993)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Ballydesmond, The (245 sets), Ballydesmond, The (19 sets), Murroe, The (11 sets)
• Played before: Ballydesmond, The (50 sets), Ballydesmond, The (43 sets), John Ryan's (27 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Focus on clear note separation on repeated D notes. Keep the tempo steady and avoid accelerating through the second strain.

Landmark Recordings:

Denis Murphy & Julia Clifford – The Star Above the Garter (1969); The Bothy Band – Out of the Wind Into the Sun (1977)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: John Ryan's (48 sets), Egan's (19 sets), Maggie In The Woods (11 sets)
• Played before: John Ryan's (104 sets), Forty-Two Pound Cheque, The (77 sets), Bill Sullivan's (17 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Use light articulation on whistle or short bow strokes on fiddle to outline the 2/4 dance pulse.

Landmark Recordings:

The Chieftains – The Chieftains 9: Boil the Breakfast Early (1979); Sharon Shannon – Sharon Shannon (1991)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Egan's (30 sets), John Ryan's (18 sets), Denis Murphy's (14 sets)
• Played before: John Ryan's (32 sets), Britches Full Of Stitches, The (30 sets), Egan's (22 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Keep ornaments concise to preserve the clarity of the melodic line.

Landmark Recordings:

Paddy Cronin – The House on the Hill (1975); Jackie Daly & Kevin Burke – Eavesdrop (1981)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Egan's (69 sets), Bill Sullivan's (45 sets), Maggie In The Woods (30 sets)
• Played before: John Ryan's (72 sets), Egan's (63 sets), Bill Sullivan's (61 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Maintain accurate intonation on C# and G# in the upper octave. Keep bass accents steady on accordion or concertina.

Landmark Recordings:

Kevin Burke – In Concert (1999); Sliabh Notes – Along the Blackwater (2002)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Britches Full Of Stitches, The (61 sets), John Ryan's (27 sets), Egan's (18 sets)
• Played before: Britches Full Of Stitches, The (45 sets), John Ryan's (14 sets), Maggie In The Woods (10 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Focus on smooth finger transitions between C# and G natural to maintain intonation and modal clarity.

Landmark Recordings:

Jackie Daly – Many a Happy Hour (1995); De Dannan – Star-Spangled Molly (1981)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Murroe, The (47 sets), Toormore, The (43 sets), Egan's (12 sets)
• Played before: Bill Sullivan's (13 sets), Denis Murphy's (7 sets), Britches Full Of Stitches, The (6 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Maintain even scalar fingerings and clear rhythmic separation on the opening G-B passages.

Landmark Recordings:

The Chieftains – The Chieftains 3 (1971)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Egan's (26 sets), Maggie In The Woods (19 sets), Rose Tree, The (8 sets)
• Played before: John Ryan's (12 sets), Rose Tree, The (10 sets), Dark Island, The (7 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Maintain strict tempo control in B minor. Use concise articulation on lower register notes.

Landmark Recordings:

Kevin Crawford – Carrying the Tune (2012)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Charlie Harris's (36 sets), Bill Sullivan's (8 sets), Britches Full Of Stitches, The (8 sets)
• Played before: Jessica's (45 sets), Egan's (10 sets), Britches Full Of Stitches, The (8 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Maintain smooth transitions between the first and second strains, keeping the rhythmic emphasis grounded.

Landmark Recordings:

Denis Murphy & Julia Clifford – The Star Above the Garter (1969); Patrick Street – Cornerboys (1993)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Ballydesmond, The (22 sets), Ballydesmond, The (10 sets)
• Played before: Ballydesmond, The (98 sets), Ballydesmond, The (19 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Practice register shifts carefully to maintain fluid fingerwork through the high-register passages.

Landmark Recordings:

Mick, Louise & Michelle Mulcahy – Notes From the Heart (2005); Sharon Shannon – Out the Gap (1994)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Ievan Polkka (45 sets), I'll Buy Boots For Maggie (12 sets)
• Played before: None recorded in top transitions

Playing & Styling Tips:

Keep the dotted rhythms springy without rushing beat transitions.

Landmark Recordings:

Jimmy Shand – The Legendary Jimmy Shand (1960)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: None recorded in top transitions
• Played before: Spootiskerry (19 sets), Tripping On The Mountain (8 sets), Davy-Davy Knick-Knack (6 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Emphasize the primary downbeats with subtle bow pulse or bellows articulation to establish the dance rhythm.

Landmark Recordings:

Julia Clifford – The Humours of Ballydaly (1977); Matt Molloy & Sean Keane – Contentment Is Wealth (1985)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Denis Murphy's (77 sets)
• Played before: John Ryan's (75 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Ensure clean ornament execution in the second strain while maintaining a steady 2/4 pace.

Landmark Recordings:

Paddy Cronin – Kerry's Own Paddy Cronin (1977); Jackie Daly – Sliabh Luachra Accordion (1977)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Scartaglen, The (31 sets), Forde's (7 sets)
• Played before: None recorded in top transitions

Playing & Styling Tips:

Use subtle ornamentation and controlled finger rolls to highlight the modal cadences.

Landmark Recordings:

Boys of the Lough – In the Golden Vanity (1976); Jackie Daly & Kevin Burke – Eavesdrop (1981)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: O'Neill's (30 sets), Maggie In The Woods (7 sets), Britches Full Of Stitches, The (7 sets)
• Played before: After The Battle Of Aughrim (10 sets), Maggie In The Woods (8 sets), Rose Tree, The (7 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Maintain an even, relaxed pace to let the melodic arch of the phrase speak clearly.

Landmark Recordings:

The Chieftains – The Chieftains 2 (1969)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Rakes Of Mallow, The (10 sets), Tralee Gaol (7 sets)
• Played before: Rakes Of Mallow, The (8 sets), Rattlin' Bog, The (7 sets), Dark Girl Dressed In Blue (7 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Focus on clear 2/4 rhythm to support ensemble playing and sing-along settings.

Landmark Recordings:

The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem – In Person at Carnegie Hall (1963)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Mairi's Wedding (13 sets), Star Of The County Down, The (6 sets), Egan's (6 sets)
• Played before: None recorded in top transitions

Playing & Styling Tips:

Pay close attention to rhythmic precision and clean articulation through the chromatic turns in the second strain.

Landmark Recordings:

Planxty – The Woman I Loved So Well (1980); Patrick Street – Patrick Street (1986)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Denis Doody's (28 sets), Glen Cottage, The (8 sets), Little Diamond, The (7 sets)
• Played before: None recorded in top transitions

Playing & Styling Tips:

Maintain a driving, steady tempo so accompaniment instruments can maintain a solid 2/4 backing pulse.

Landmark Recordings:

The Dubliners – At Home with The Dubliners (1969)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Britches Full Of Stitches, The (13 sets), Maggie In The Woods (13 sets), Egan's (9 sets)
• Played before: Egan's (12 sets), Maggie In The Woods (7 sets), John Ryan's (6 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Focus on smooth phrasing and concise fingered cuts rather than aggressive bowing accents.

Landmark Recordings:

Fred Finn & Peter Horan – Music from Coleman Country (1972); Dervish – Harmony Hill (1993)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Rooskey, The (11 sets), Gurteen Cross, The (11 sets)
• Played before: Gurteen Cross, The (35 sets), Happy, The (9 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Practice triplet passages slowly to ensure finger independence before bringing up to full session speed.

Landmark Recordings:

Jackie Daly – Many a Happy Hour (1995)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Ballydesmond, The (6 sets)
• Played before: Murroe, The (43 sets), Tolka, The (7 sets), Ray's Classic (6 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Highlight the 2/4 lift of the Scartaglen style with short, well-articulated bow strokes.

Landmark Recordings:

Denis Murphy, Julia Clifford & Padraig O'Keeffe – Kerry Fiddles (1977); Sliabh Notes – Gleanntán (1999)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Top Of The Maol, The (11 sets)
• Played before: Knocknaboul, The (31 sets)

Playing & Styling Tips:

Shift smoothly into G major when transitioning from A dorian tunes, maintaining consistent tempo.

Landmark Recordings:

Denis Murphy & Julia Clifford – The Star Above the Garter (1969); Kevin Burke – Up Close (1984)

Common Session Pairings:

• Played after: Ballydesmond, The (43 sets), Ballydesmond, The (30 sets), John Ryan's (17 sets)
• Played before: Ballydesmond, The (10 sets), Glenside, The (8 sets), Ievan Polkka (6 sets)