Learning to play by ear definitely has it's advantages! 

Cécile Corbel's music was a huge incentive for me to learn to play by ear.  Her songs have distinct melodies, inspired by traditional folk tunes, that are catchy enough to get stuck in my head - and most of her music can be heard with violin in it, even though she plays the harp.  Here's a couple of her CRITTER tunes - with melodies that are fun to try on the fiddle! 

Cécile Corbel - Le bal des chats (The Cat Ball)

Fireflies - Cécile Corbel

@ABitRusty -

This might be of interest to you. 

Les Poules Huppées (The Crested Hens) was composed by Gilles Chabenat - a French Hurdy Gurdy musician/composer.  I learned this tune from a old Winifred Horan video (can't find), but she did play with Solas - I had forgotten, so thanx! 

Anyway, here's a tutorial. 

Les Poules Huppées (Crested Hens) Tutorial - Katy Adelson

Mary Vanhoozer is a very talented, multi-instrumentalist here in the States, "especially passionate about 16th to early 18th century French dance music on the hurdy gurdy" (maryvanhoozer.com) 

Here's one of her original compositions, along with her take on "Crested Hens". 

The Whiskered Owl/Les Poules Huppées (The Crested Hens) - Mary Vanhoozer

Here's a totally different CRITTER tune, by the original composer of "Crested Hens"!

Le bel oiseau (The Beautiful Bird) - Gilles Chabenat

And, of course, I MUST mention the Classical Suite of 14 movements, by Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns!  Here's samplings of all of them and more info at Wikipedia.

Le Carnaval des animaux (The Carnival of The Animals) - Saint-Saëns (Wikipedia)

...I won't chicken out - using Google Translate. 

Might even learn some of the French language by the time I'm through here. (lol) 

- Emily