Customer Reviews

Joy Of Irish Ballads (Joy Books)

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I am very pleased with this book. It includes a wonderful variety of good old fashioned Irish songs (such as "Irish Eyes are Smiling", "The Irish Washerwoman", "Danny Boy", "The Kerry Dance" and "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral" just to mention a few) and are arranged with the beginner in mind. 37 songs are contained in this 80 page book.

Any beginner interested in Irish music would appreciate this book. Though, I am no critic, I would suggest this to all interested.

For such a small book, it has a lot in it! Irish favorites with a pleasing (yet easy) piano arrangement.

Bonus: Some of the songs have lyrics!
Downside: They only include 1 verse, and not all songs that have words have lyrics in this book.
Bonus: You can find lyrics online!
Hint: The Barndoor Jig (the first song) is practically the same tune as 'Sorry the Day I Was Married', so you can get those lyrics and sing along. If you aren't working on playing it at hyperspeed (which is fun).
Kerry Dance has at least 2 verses I think. Erin's Green Shore has 2-3 more verses, and it's a pretty song to sing. Brennan on the Moor has I think 5 more verses, Irish Rover at least one more, etc. Beautiful Shannon is lovely too, it probably has more verses.
And of course Danny Boy (same tune as 'You Raise Me Up', and more), Irish Eyes Are Smiling, Take Me Home Again Kathleen and Irish Lullaby (toora-lura) -- these are well-known songs.

Without lyrics (that I know of), the fun songs are:
Washerwoman (the last song), Garryowen, Irish March, and the Irish Pavilion is very pretty (but a bit more complicated).

Well-known Irish songs, some that may be new to you (as they were for me), making a good compilation. The songs are all fun to play (except Irish Eyes, actually, I didn't like that arrangement), and you have the option to sing along to most of them. I left out at least 1/3 of the songs, too; for such a small book it sure includes a lot. Better deal than most soundtrack and Enya piano books.
Highly recommended!