
This month's featured artist is Donegal fiddle player and composer, Seamus Gibson. Seamus has contributed 22 tunes to the project, but has composed many more.
The tunes are presented in video format below. If you can't see the videos please check your cookie preferences.
All compositions are copyright Seamus Gibson and may not be used for commerical purposes without permission.
Compositions
Watch: 16 videos featuring all 22 compositions from Seamus Gibson
Learn: Notated scores of all 22 compositions
Download: PDF of all notated scores
The humours of codeine [comp. Seamus Gibson], hornpipe
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
The vaxecution [comp. Seamus Gibson], reel
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
Yvonne's reel [comp. Seamus Gibson] ; Seamus' reel [comp. Seamus Gibson]
Yvonne's reel [comp. Seamus Gibson]
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
Seamus' reel [comp. Seamus Gibson]
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
The jackdaw [comp. Seamus Gibson], slip jig
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
My good friend Frank [comp. Seamus Gibson], reel
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
The Magherness [comp. Seamus Gibson], mazurka ; The tailwalker [comp. Seamus Gibson], mazurka ; Ernan's mazurka [comp. Seamus Gibson]
The Magherness [comp. Seamus Gibson], mazurka
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
The tailwalker [comp. Seamus Gibson], mazurka
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
Ernan's mazurka [comp. Seamus Gibson]
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
The alacrity [comp. Seamus Gibson], hornpipe
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
DVD (Dave Eadie) [comp. Seamus Gibson], reel
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
The fighting 69th [comp. Seamus Gibson], reel ; The rout of the rifles [comp. Seamus Gibson], reel
The fighting 69th [comp. Seamus Gibson], reel
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
The rout of the rifles [comp. Seamus Gibson], reel
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
Battered blue [comp. Seamus Gibson], reel; Baton happy [comp. Seamus Gibson], reel
Battered blue [comp. Seamus Gibson], reel
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
Baton happy [comp. Seamus Gibson], reel
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
The oul dog for the hard road [comp. Seamus Gibson], hornpipe ; The high king of the lower Drum [comp. Seamus Gibson], hornpipe
The oul dog for the hard road [comp. Seamus Gibson], hornpipe
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
The high king of the lower Drum [comp. Seamus Gibson], hornpipe
The mill dam [comp. Seamus Gibson], jig
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
The crown of stars [comp. Seamus Gibson], waltz
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
Blackears' hornpipe [comp. Seamus Gibson]
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
Adrift in the boat, in the storm, in the night, in the shed [comp. Seamus Gibson], slip jig
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
Dermot's hornpipe (Dermot Toland) [comp. Seamus Gibson] / Seamus Gibson, fiddle ; Dermot Toland, guitar
The video features photographs of Seamus playing with his good friend Dermot Toland, along with original artwork featuring both musicians by Mary Toland.
Interactive score
Tune transcription (PDF)
About Seamus Gibson

An original painting of Seamus Gibson playing fiddle by the artist Mary Toland
I come from St. Johnston, a small rural village on the banks of the river Foyle in Co. Donegal, an area steeped in music and with a very rich musical history. I began playing at a very early age, being taught at various times by my father Eddie, Joe Cassidy, Tony McGranaghan and Patsy Molloy.
I have been greatly influenced by these people and indeed heavily by my uncle Tommy Peoples. People from the surrounding area like George Peoples, Paddy Douglas, John Douglas, Kathleen McGinley, Barney Martin, John Martin, Barney McAuley and Canon Cunnea. The place was absolutely full of musicians, playing all manner of musical genres and almost everyone was capable of reading and writing music.
I began composing music at the age of 17 when my first two tunes were written: the reels "George Peoples" and "Ciaran's reel" - sometimes called "Joe Cassidy" and "George Peoples" respectively - long story!
Many other tunes followed. I don't know exactly how many but probably more than 100 of varying quality and appeal. I've been very lucky to have composed some good tunes. Indeed, l know exactly how lucky I am in this regard and I thank God for that gift.
Some of these tunes were written many years ago and some as young as a few weeks old. Most of them I've only ever played for close friends and family and a lot of them are difficult to play and/or accompany. However, I do enjoy playing them myself and having played many of them over the years with the expert accompaniment provided by my great friend Dermot Toland, that enjoyment has been greatly amplified.
To those encountering these tunes on the ITMA website I hope you find some tunes you like and I wish you much enjoyment in the playing of them.
Seamus Gibson, December 2021
Presented by Treasa Harkin, December 2021, with thanks to Seamus Gibson and Brian Doyle.