The Boys of Bluehill
August 2021
The Boys of Bluehill (Traditional Irish Hornpipe)
This lively Irish hornpipe is known by many names including The Beaux Of Oak Hill, The Lad Of Bluehill, The Lads Of North Tyne and Na Buacaillide Ua Cnoc-gorm, as well as American variants such as The Two Sisters and Silver Lake. Interestingly in America, it is often played as a reel rather than with the lilting, syncopated rhythm of a hornpipe.
The tune is included in The Slow Session Tunebook (available in our online shop) and an audio file is included below as an example of how it can be played.
The melody is a traditional 2-part tune in the key of D. Each part of the tune is repeated and the whole tune is often played through twice. For those wanting a challenge, it can be comfortably followed by the Harvest Home, another traditional hornpipe in the key of D (also in the Slow Session Tunebook).
Simon Ireson has recorded a version of this tune for you to play along with.