The transcription of the William Killey Flutebook has been added in both ABC format and the pdf of the notation with additional notes.
First edition of the the William Killey Flutebook with notes and sources (April 2024)
The tunes in the William Killey Flutebook in ABC format (as at May 2022).
Much of the Manx traditional music repetoire is now accessible in printed form on the island. For those of you wishing to dip in or take a closer look, the five files below contains a significant body of the music collected on the island primarily by W.H. Gill, J.F. Gill and Dr J. Clague, as compiled by Colin Jerry in the book 'Kiaull Vannin'. The tunes are arranged alphabetically in the five PDF's, but retain the original order in the abc file.
In the PDF's there are a few errors to be resolved, and a few tunes have been interpreted slightly differently, but these shoud not detract from you enjoyment. The complete set in abc format reflect the original transcriptions.
The tunes are also available in ABC format as a single file, most of the original conversions were done by Tony Hopson who added details such as the tempo. For more information about ABC notation see Chris Walshaw's ABC notation site.
Click here for all (but the six modern tunes) in ABC format
Manx music part 0. A beautiful... - Chyndaa... Manx music part 1. Clean... - I am a...
Manx music part 2. I lay my... - Oh my graih Manx music part 3. Oie as laa - Three...
Manx music part 4. Three... - Young...
Click here for the all the music in ABC format (as received - not checked and is incomplete)
Individual tunes are also available as single abc files below. A little of the finer detail found in a few tunes has been omitted so you may wish to refer to the original book.
The titles are those as listed in the book Kiaull Vannin as either the title as collected or as a suggested alternative. As a result some tunes are given with Manx and an English title, while others are given in only one, and a few are listed more than once if given names are significantly different. In a few instances Manx titles have also been translated in to English and listed. The number indicates the numbering used by Colin Jerry in Kiaull Vannin. Multiple numbers indicated a number of sources, and in many cases these are variations, a few may be different tunes by the same name.
There are many untitled tunes (gyn enynm) which are listed as a group, sorted only by time signature.
As work progressed on Kiaull Vannin, Colin revised a small number of tunes. It has been assumed that the revisions are a result of reflecting on the tunes when played and then revisiting the manuscripts (which are difficult to interpret in places). The revised forms have been used.
A beautiful fair maid from Honiton Town 232
A country lad of low degree 196
A sailors life 216
A virgin unspotted 28
A vision of things to come 211
Adieu my lovely Nancy 195
Admiral Benbow 126
All the forepart of the night 183
A11 ye who are to mirth inclined 14,267,269,275
And the world it went well with me then 152
The Arbory cradle song 420
Are you ready for a fight 148
As I walked out one morning 182
As I went out one morning clear 22
As Lord Laban 185
At first when my true love I seen 172
Banks of Italy 26
Barbara Allen 3, 9, 361
Betsy Baker 132
Biddy of Sligo 369
The Boaldyn (Baldwin) song 363
Bonny bunch of roses 204
Breeches 23
Brig Lily 13
The brown Betty 299
Bulgham sea-song 362
Can't you love? 160
Cart going to Douglas with buttermilk and spilt 241
Christ he sits on Zion's hill 169
The cobbler 162
Colin and phoebe 24
Come all ye wandering pilgrims dear 235
Come friends and relations 302
Corteen's Mylecharaine 302
Courting song 383
Cow calling song 344
The crabfish 131
Cradle song 94, 265, 421
The crocodile 129
Curiosity born a native of Erin 180
The curragh of Kildare 243
Dance tune 341
Dear little Isle of Man 395
December is fairer than May 254
The demon lover 384
Down by the green bushes 51
Drinking song 139
Fairy music 229
Fare you well Enniskillen 189
Farewell and adieu to you Spanish ladies 171
The farmer's boy 261
The farmer's daughter 264
The Fathaby jig 369
Galbally farmer 174
A gentleman of Exeter 385
George Riley 136
The girls of Balladoole 82
Glashtyn's song 50
The golden glove 202
The good old way 159
The green gown 138
The green Linnet 180
Greenlands icy mountains 58
Harvest dance tune 311
Haste to the west / wedding 37
Here comes Tom Dukes a riding 146
Here's a health to all true lovers 239
The herring fleet 224, 244, 284
Hunt the wren 158, 308, 365, 402
Hush! My babe lie sti1l and slumber 6
I am a youthful lady, my troubles they are great 192
I am the lad 199
I am now lamenting 398
I lay my body down to sleep 88
I stepped up towards her and fell upon my knees 179
If I had my love on Phoenix island 43
If young men could swim 36
In London streets I went astray 201
In Scotland 181
Jacob's ladder 246, 248, 277
Jenny is all the go 16
'Jig' 17, 285
Katherine's hen is dead 303, 380
Keep the old Petticoat warm 174
Lady I have gold and silver 205
Let Christians all 76
Let Christians all with one accord rejoice 214, 237
Lewin's total hymn 67
Little Alexander sitting in the sand 149
Little Dick Weldon 186
Lord Bateman 72
The Lord my pasture 236
The loss of the herring-boats 391, 392
The loss of the herring fleet 259, 274
Love if you can 160
Love of my heart 396
Lullaby 381
Mannanan song 358
Manx Harvest Dance Tune 311
Marienbourn 143
Milking song 321
The mill hopper 141
Mollag band song 324
Molly Borden 336
Mona's delight 161, 367
Mona's Isle quickstep 2
Monk's march 12
Moravian chorale 143
Morpeth rant 370
Mummer's song 405
My ancient father 203
My little brown girl 297
My love is as/like the sun 27, 243
My Saviour says to satan 188
My true love once he courted me 216
Mylecharane's march 373
Mylrea's version (of kirree fo niaghtey) 301
Nancy Dawson 144
O Kathleen You are going to leave me 193
Oh hush thee my baby 265
Oh what if the fowler my blackbird has taken 79
The old country farmer 137, 360
The old red petticoat 422
One fine sabbath morn 246
One moonlight night 427
Oranges and lemons 170
Our ship did sail 233
The pick on my shoulder 135
The ploughboy's song 10
Polly dear 127
Polly Oliver 190
Poor old horse 130
The prodigal (son) 65, 213, 242
The rakes of Kildare 174
Red top-knots 304, 408
Return of the boats 326
The rose upon the briar 29
The rover's bride 133
Rowing song 328
Saint Patrick's day in the morning 178
The sea invocation 351
She answered me quite modestly 18
The sheep under the snow 223, 300, 301, 337, 407
Shepherd the weather is misty and changing 197
Silly old woman was left alone 147
The son of God they did betray 215
Song of the falcon chief 426
The speckled heifer 61, 228
The speckled heifer tethered 283
Spinning song 55, 98
Star of County Down 188
Step dance 41, 118
The storm is up 297
The streams (of lovely Nancy) 78
Sweet water in the common 382
There was a lady from the north 173
There was a lady in the garden 198
There was an old woman who lived alone 147
There were two ships in the north country 194
Three little boats went out to sea 4, 163, 399
Three times I kissed her ruby lips 238
Thurot 37, 38, 63, 286
The 'Tiger' 291
To the East Indies we were bound 127
Toast song 428
'Twas once 73
'Twas once I loved a lass 68
'Twas my father and my mother 324
Upon a Sunday morning when spring was in her prime 142
The wanderer / The wanderscope 229, 305
The wastrill 263
We happy herdsmen here 25
When I was young and in my prime 128
While shepherds 219
While some fair maids go to market 30
The white boys 249
The white wort 378, 379, 419
Willim and Mary 134
Willie Riley 38
The wind that shakes the barley 34
Winding song 208
Won't you love? 160
Wool winding song 40
Young men beware of jealousy 35
Untitled by time signature
2/4 time 279, 288, 341
4/4 time 1, 59, 64, 74, 175, 176,
230, 252, 270, 271, 281, 282,
316, 319, 334, 339, 343, 444
3/2 time 69, 217, 412
3/4 time 70, 75, 77, 170, 218, 253, 268,
284, 294, 295, 330, 346, 411, 431
3/8 time 84, 381
6/4 time 60, 293
6/8 time 17, 178, 234, 240, 285,
287, 340, 415, 425
Titles in Manx
Aarey Yacob 73
Abraham Juan 206
Arrane ben drogh hraghtalagh 310, 348
Arrane ben-vlieaun 355
Arrane Ghelby 328
Arrane meshtalagh 139, 140
Arrane ny clean 94
Arrane ny cloiedeyr-Viol 150
Arrane ny guilley hesheree 10
Arrane ny jinnyn 33
Arrane ny Mumneryn 405
Arrane ny niee 356
Arrane ny queyl neuiee 55
Arrane ny seyir 345
Arrane ny sheeaghyn troailtagh 374
Arrane ny skeddan 119
Arrane ny vluggan 40
Arrane saveenagh 96, 350
Arrane sooree 383
Arrane varree 315
Arrane y blieh 347, 376
Arrane y clean 94,98
Arrane y clean-lhiannoo 420
Arrane y cooag 333
Arrane y fee 309
Arrane y lhondhoo 375
Arrane y phelican 56, 213, 242, 410
Arrane y Vieaun 321
As yn mullin, mullin o, as yn skeilley, skeilley noa 81
Baase Chreest 266
Basse Illiam Dhone 293
Bannaght lhiat, Kirree veg my ghraih 195
Ben aeg bwaagh ayns mullin Sayle 49
Ben rein y voaldyn 371
Ben y phoosee 133
Berry dhoan 299
Bock Kilkenny 241
Bollan bane 245, 280, 378, 379, 419
Booil 20, 366
Booil backel / baccagh 258
Bwoaill baccagh 258, 372
C'raad tou's goll my chaillin veg dhoan 112
C'red ta shoh ta jannoo shiu 145
Caillin veg dhoan 297
Car Juan Nan 370
Car ny Rankee 332
Car y cooag 209
Car y phoosee 225, 283, 306, 388
Carval (untitled) 59
Carval ny drogh vane 21, 210, 264
Carval yn Nollick 57, 65, 211
Carval Yesebel 21
Carval Yoseph 26, 75, 77, 107
Cha nel eh liorish "duke" ny chiarn 102
Chaarjyn lhaih mee jeh dooinney aeg 45
Churnal jiu as churnal jea 359
Chyndaa yn bwoailley 20, 366
Clean suggane 335
Yn coayl jeh ny baatyn-skeddan 391, 392
Yn colbagh breck / colvagh vlearc 61, 228, 327
Yn colbagh breck er strap 283
Craig Willy Sill/(Syl) 260
Y cuccu 333
Cur as jig as cap as cloak 207
Cur uss jeed dty chap as chloack 207
Dan my chree 199
Daunse ny ferishyn 89
Deiney as vraane 66
Donal y shiaulteyr 429
Dooinney soyr v'ayns Exeter 385
Drough vraane 21, 210, 231, 264, 423
Dullan/ Dussan ny vleiney elley 184
Dy beagh y vummig aym 98
Eaisht oo as chlashtyn as mee singal oo arrane 11
Eaisht shiu as clasht shiu as kiaullyms shie arrane 100
Ec kiare bleayney jeih dy eash 122
Ec Noilick ball ny fiddleryn 290
Ec Norree Yn Fiddler 43
Yn eirey Cronk yn Ollee 226, 393
Eisht as nish 377
Er baase as beaynid 145
Er Ean bashtey 44, 46, 88, 268, 292
Er gennid hombaghey? 113
Eunyssagh Vona 161, 367
Faagmyd nyn mannaght ec kione Doolish 99
Fer dy clien click 310, 348
Fiddler y chiarn 12
The fidee fey 424
Fin as Oshin 317, 318
Fine as June 289
Flitter daunsey 325
Ghuillyn my cre neemayd nish 113
Gooyn geayney 138
Gouyn dy Linsey Winsey 187
Graih my chree 396
Y graihder ny sidoor 190
Graihder jouylagh 384
Yn guilley dy roie 32
Haink fer thie anmagh 108
Haink soureyder rish gys dorrys ven treoghe 120
Halligan halligan linky long 40
Harrish my sleityn Nalbin 103
Helg yn dreain 158, 308, 365, 402
Hermayd kennip ayns Cronk ny Kishtey 101
Hi son hughee 250, 251
Hie ad veih cass y Lhen gys Bank y Ruy 104
Hie mee stiagh dys thie ben treoghe 15
Hie my ghraih shaghym 7
Hinkin Winkin 114, 335
Hop-tu-naa / Hop dy nai 157, 353, 390
Hug shin seose y shiaull mean 191
Hurr as thurr 421
Hyndaa yn bwoailley 366
Illiam boght 207
Illiam y Cain 357
Illiam y Thalhear 200
Inneen Kilkenny 241
Insh don c'red t'ad surranse ec y keayn 121
Isabel foalsey 296
Jemmy as Nancy 222, 368, 389, 394
Jenny hug eh 125
Jerrey yn Theihll 5, 418
Johny Polly 190
Juan Y jaggad keear 227, 300, 301, 337
Keayrt va mee aeg 377
Kiark Katreeney marroo 303, 380
Kiaulliaght kiune 334
Kirree fo niaghtey 223, 300, 301, 337, 407
Kirree wooar ny vreechyn 23
Kyndagh rish ny dangeryn jeh'n keayn 204
Lhaih mee jeh dooinney aeg 45
Lhig chaarjyn Chreest 76, 237
Lhig da'n slane seihll cur clashtyn 106
Lhig dooin ard voylley choyrt da'n chiarn 44, 46, 268
Lhigey, lhigey 322
Yn mac stroialtagh 56, 213, 263, 410
Mannanan beg mac y Leir 349
Mannin veg veen 395
Marish ny fiddleryn 400
Mheillea 116
Mie moghrey dhyts y gerjagh 116
Moghrey laa Boaldyn 42, 91
Moghrey mie as maynrys 416
Moirrey ny cainle 323
Moylley dys Jee my chaarjyn 188
Mraane Kilkenny 406
My chaarjyn deyr ta ayns shoh noght 211
My chaarjyn gow jee/shiu tastey 47, 413
My ghraih nagh share 257
My hene ghooinney mie 255
My hene whooinney shen 255
My shenn ayr 203
My veer y cloie Y larym 115
My walk mish magh maurey/moghrey 92, 289
Mylecharaine 247,294, 295, 302, 403, 404
Myr hie mee dys Sostyn 90
Myr hie mee magh dy 'aill 338
Myr hooyl mee magh morghrey laa boayldyn 92
Yn nastey phoosee 179
Noght t'an oie 157
Ny baarlaigh ec Juan dish Crowne 117
Ny kirree fo niaghtey 223, 300, 301, 337, 407
Ny/Nee shen my ghraih 54, 199
0 colann/colb ec shee 31,417
O cre ta dooinney 76, 214, 288
O quoi eh shoh ta ec my ghorrys? 206
O shenn dhoan 256
O ven aeg! Ven aalin aeg 87
O waley, waley 216
Yn oabbyr vwyllin 141
Oh my ghraih 143
Oie as laa 80, 364
Oikan ayns Bethlehem 268
Pa'ee Ned as Nelly 40
Padjer Columb Killey 314
Padjer son shee 313
Y partan 131
Peter O'Tavy 352
Po(a)ghey de reenaghyn 118
Quoifyn leein vooar 360
Ree ben Juan Tammy 307
Reeaghyn dy Vannin 354
Roie 307
Yn scollag aeg 361
Yn shagg 278, 279
Shannon rea 19, 238, 276
Shay donny sayre 275
She bosun dy row ayns Dover s'thie 53
She dooinney seyr 275
She ec ny fiddleryn ayns yn ollick 86
She lhong honnick me as ve shiauilley 95
She shoh yn laa 312
Shegin dooin 256
Shelg yn dreean 356, 402
Yn shenn dolphin 220, 221, 387
Y shenn eirinagt cheeraght 137
Shenn ven! 111
Shiaull ersooyl 430
Shiaull y cheayn 326
Shooyl ineenyn 92, 182, 338
Skeelley Vreeshey 298
Sooree 62, 71, 273
Yn speiy/speigh er (m)y g(h)eaylin 135, 320
Stroeyd ushtey 263
Stroiltagh 65
Ta billey beg glass ayn garey my yishag 83
Ta Cashen ersooyl dys yn 'aarkey 124
Ta chiarn 105
Ta mee nish keayney 398
T' eh mish ta yn biljey/biljyn rourey 106
Ta'n grein veg oarn 109
Ta tra goll thie 8
Tappaghyn jiargey 304, 408
Tar shiuish ghuillyn aegey tayrn shie er gerrey 93, 97
Three eeasteyryn boghtey 4, 163, 399
Thurot as Elliot 287, 386
Togher song 327
Tra ta mee gholl neeal sthie 153
Tra va mish my ghuilley beg as reeagh 126
Tra va mish roish nish my ghilley beg 96
Tra va ny assylyn laadit oc 107
Trooid shiu ooilley gethan (gys yn) vie 48
Yn unnysup 155, 156, 305
Ushag veg ruy / roie ny moaney dhoo 52, 401, 409
Ushtey millish 'sy gharee 382
Va ben-seyr ayns y gharey 198
Va(d) traue yn keadyn 151
Va Nancy ayns Lunnon 85
Va oie ayns Cronkalin Mooar 50
Vel shiuish ben aeg ny ben y phoosee 123
Yearree dhooys y lheiney 110
Yernagh keoie 329
Updated 18 April 2022