Category Archives: Reel
Monaghan Twig (Amix)
The name of the reel “Monaghan Twig” probably refers to a switch or something similar, and as the name “O’Manacháin” means “descendants of monks” it might be a euphemism that downplays the severity of corporal punishment. It could also be a meiosis, and reference a Monaghan shillelagh. As for the tune, there are many versions of “Monaghan Twig,” […]
Humours of Tulla (D)
The melody was popularized by B/C button accordion player Joe Cooley (1924 – 1973), who played it as the first tune in a set, followed by “The Skylark” and “Roaring Mary.” His is the earliest recording of “Humours of Tulla” that I know of, and the recording is of himself playing in a session. The album it is […]
Cup of Tea (D)
The “Cup of Tea” reel was once called “The Unfortunate Cup of Tea,” which is pretty mysterious. Speculatively, I would suggest that it refers to a well-prepared, and sweetly anticipated cup of tea that has been subsequently squandered in transportation. That name was used by the early Irish rock band Horslips for the name of […]
Sligo Maid (Ador)
Sligo Maid (Ador) is a very popular session tune today, and according to Maddy Prior was always played during the many sessions in Irish pubs in London during the 1980s. It used to be called “The Sligo Maid’s Lament,” but has since been shortened to just “The Sligo Maid.” One can only lament for so […]
Bucks of Oranmore (D)
“The Bucks of Oranmore” is often is just called “the Bucks,” and there’s an oft-repeated statement in county Clare, concerning changing things that should not be changed: “the bucks should not be interfered with” — this statement is attributed to John Kelly (1921-1988) commenting on someone’s unfamiliar setting of the bucks during a session. If this tune […]
Willafjord (D)
Willafjord is the Shetland reel often played in Scottish sessions with Spootiskerry. This tune is in Tom Anderson’s Haand me doon da fiddle (1981) tune book, where he writes (in dialect): If du imagines some een gaen wij wan fit ida stank an de idder een on a broo an gaein a lunk as dey go alang, […]
Spootiskerry (G)
Spootiskerry (G) is a Shetland reel, and an early composition of Samuel Ian Rothmar Burns, known as Ian Burns (1932-1995). It was written in the early 1960s, and published along with many other tunes he wrote on a self-recorded cassette entitled “Spootiskerry” (1980). Ian Burns lived in Tingwall, but the title of this tune is the […]
Far From Home (G)
There is some confusion about the reel “Far From Home” (G). Some say it was written in 1998, some say it is much older. The latter are correct. I know because the tune is #1261 in O’Neill’s 1850 (1903). Some say the tune is from Shetland, while others deny it. It does seem odd that […]
Da Rodd ta Houll (D)
“Da Rodd ta Houll” is a Shetland reel in D, also called “Da Road to Hull.” It was written by Shetland fiddler Tom Anderson (1910-1991) who once stated (in dialect): “Dis tun was written in 1936 whin I came up to Unst to visit a schoolmaister friend o’ mine. It happened ‘t dat moarnin wis […]
Merry Blacksmith (D)
The reel “Merry Blacksmith” is a lively, popular tune in both the Irish tradition and in American old-time. Though once known as “The Peeler’s Jacket,” it is not any more — unless one calls it “Peeler’s Jacket #1” and one is a supreme fan of the Fiddler’s Companion, which I am. The tune is often […]