John Ryan’s Polka ✧

A bright two-part polka with quick turns and a ringing upper melody.

Traditional Irish polka·D major·2/4 time

ReadyPress space to play or pause

Playback settings 120 BPM

Tempo 120 BPMQuarter-note pulse

Count-inMetronome

Whistle 65%Metronome 80%

Metronome volume also controls the count-in

Sound Loading recordings…

Sheet music

Tap a staff note or finger tab to hear it.

A · first ending

A · second ending

B · first ending

B · second ending

D whistle · D major · 2/4 · 120 BPM · + upper octave

Closed holeOpen holeHalf holeUpper octave

A · first ending

A · second ending

B · first ending

B · second ending

About this tune

John Ryan’s Polka is a two-part Irish dance tune also known as the Armagh Polka. Repeated upper notes and short turning figures give it a bright, insistent lift.

Planxty recorded the tune on Cold Blow and the Rainy Night in 1974. Its later appearance in Titanic introduced it to another wide audience.