Wednesday afternoons in room 110 of Price Music Center, a group of friends can be heard playing riveting songs — such as “I Buried My Wife and Danced On Her Grave” and “Murder of the Spoons Player.”

No, they aren’t musicians in a new grunge band. With instruments such as the fiddle and penny whistle joining in, they are playing traditional Irish music.

“A traditional Irish session is a gathering of musicians to play tunes together and enjoy each other’s company,” Alison Arnold, an adjunct assistant professor in music, said.

Arnold plays the wooden Irish flute and the tin whistle in the sessions as she leads the rest of the group in tunes — what traditional Irish instrumental songs are typically called.

“I’ve been playing the fiddle in sessions since I was out of high school,” Paul Fackler, associate professor in agricultural and resource economics, said.

Though this week’s session was attended mostly by professors, physics junior Chris Dimaio enjoys playing his guitar with them when he can find the time.

“The time just isn’t good for me this [semester],” Dimaio said.

A guitarist for nine years, Dimaio said he enjoys Irish music for the “stories and meanings” in many of the tunes.

“Players will take turns starting tunes, and others join in,” Arnold said. “The musicians usually sit in a circle so everyone can see everyone else.”

Beginners are welcome at the session, according to Arnold; however, it is recommended that musicians are very comfortable with their instruments and come prepared to do more than play them.

“Since the music is played without notation, they will have to memorize tunes,” Arnold said. “This is a lifelong process for Irish musicians. We are all still learning tunes.”

Fackler, who said he knows probably more than 1,000 tunes, said, “I’m getting to the point where if I learn a new tune, I’ll forget two more.”

Members of the session play traditional favorites such as “The Fox Hunter.”

As the fiddles are fiddling and the whistles are whistling, Fackler said he can picture the scene as he plays it.

“I can hear the chase and the horns,” Fackler said. “Tally ho!”

It takes a few sessions to get the music “in your ear,” according to Fackler.

“It’s an oral tradition, so if you read it, you won’t play it right,” he said.

As a fiddle student of Fackler, Christy Perrin from the agricultural and resource economics department enjoys attending sessions to learn tunes and make new friends.

“It’s a good community music scene,” Perrin said. “Friendly people and good music.”

Barrett Koster, a doctoral alumnus and professor in the computer science department at Meredith College, plays the penny whistle, low whistle and wooden Irish flute.

“These guys sit around during contra dancing,” Koster, who also dances traditional Irish styles, said. “It’s how I met them.”

Musicians at the weekly Irish sessions, which have been taking place for about a year, don’t have to be affiliated with the University, according to Arnold.

One of the fiddlers who attends regularly, Rob Womack, has played his instrument for five years and knows people in the session from previous musical experiences.

Sessions are frequently held at other Raleigh venues, such as Tir na nog and the Hibernian, according to Fackler.

“It’s nice to have a pint of Guinness next to you while playing tunes,” Fackler said.