The Humours of Tulla

Reel, D, Traditional Irish
Also know as The Tulla Reel

This is a very simple tune, but its simplicity invites you to be inventive with variations.

Recordings

• Video – Martin Hayes: The Humours of Tulla/Last Night’s Fun – Martin Hayes from the album Songs for Shelter
• Audio – Comhaltas: Tulla Reel – from the album Foinn Seisiún Volume 1
• Video – Dulahan Ireland: The Humours Of Tulla Reel – played on tenor banjo by Joe Greene of the duo Dulahan.

Dots (Music Notation)

As always for traditional tunes, the musical notation and chords do not indicate the “right” way to play the tune, but are a useful reference. This simplified version of the tune leaves out the triplets that are typically played in the tune.

Sets

Examples of sets that include this tune.

• Rolling in the Ryegrass / Humors of Tulla
• The Humours of Tulla / Last Night’s Fun
• The Mason’s Apron / The Humours of Tulla / The Reconciliation Reel

References and Resources

For those who want to dig deeper, here are some other resources.

• Video – The Tulla Ceili Band: The Humours Of Tulla (Reels) – from the album The Tulla Ceili Band, 60th Anniversary Celebration
• Video – Enda Scahill: The Humours of Tulla – Irish Tenor Banjo – demonstrating variations on the tune.
• Book – Foinn Seisiún, Volume 1 — Published by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
• Book – 100 Essential Irish Session Tunes, by Dave Mallinson (Mally Productions)
• Book – Enda Scahill’s Irish Banjo Tutor, Volume 1