Halftitle Page; Title Page; Copyright Page; Contents; Preface; Notes on Transcriptions and Analyses; 1. The Melodic Tradition of Ireland; Historical Background; Language; Sean-nós; Learning; Where the Music Lives; Musical Elements; Instruments; 2. "Putting It Over"; Decorating a Song; The Pulse; The Nea; "Say a Song"; 3. Portrait of a Tune: "The Blackbird"; Preliminary Sketch; Transcribed Examples; Summary; 4. "The Whole of It"; Development of the Tune-Family Concept; Three Principles; 5. Two Outlining Families: "Ballylee" and "Rakish Paddy"; "Ballylee"; "Rakish Paddy."
6. Conjoining: "The Boyne Water"7. Recombining: "The Blackbird"; "The Beauty of Innuendoes"; Appendixes; Notes; References Cited; Index
