The Fiddler’s Companion

© 1996-2008 Andrew Kuntz

_______________________________

HOME        ALPHABETICAL FILES        REFERENCES

 

REE - RH

 

 

Notation Note: The tunes below are recorded in what is called “abc notation.” They can easily be converted to standard musical notation via highlighting with your cursor starting at “X:1” through to the end of the abc’s, then “cutting-and-pasting” the highlighted notation into one of the many abc conversion programs available, or at concertina.net’s incredibly handy “ABC Convert-A-Matic” at

http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html 

 

**Please note that the abc’s in the Fiddler’s Companion work fine in most abc conversion programs. For example, I use abc2win and abcNavigator 2 with no problems whatsoever with direct cut-and-pasting. However, due to an anomaly of the html, pasting the abc’s into the concertina.net converter results in double-spacing. For concertina.net’s conversion program to work you must remove the spaces between all the lines of abc notation after pasting, so that they are single-spaced, with no intervening blank lines. This being done, the F/C abc’s will convert to standard notation nicely. Or, get a copy of abcNavigator 2 – its well worth it.   [AK]

 

 

 

REE RAW. AKA and see “The Butcher’s March [1],” “Rub the Bag.” Irish, Jig or March. G Major. Standard tuning. AABBCC. The title is an Anglicized version of the Irish name Rí an Rátha (King of the Rath i.e. a fairy rath, or fort). Note the uneven length of the respective parts. The melody also appears in vol. 1 of the Petrie Collection (1855), and was one of those included in a manuscript sent to him by one James Fogarty.  The latter had emigrated from Tibroghney, Kilkenny, to America in 1852, in the aftermath of the Great Famine, and reported that the tune was peculiar to his native locale, based on a war march air sung by those on their way to the once popular May festivals in Fiddown. After the melody was sung, its tempo would be increased to the jig below, until collapsing on itself; thus the once-a-time meaning of ‘ree raw’ as uproar, confusion or boisterous merriment. Petrie’s suggestion is that the tune was of some antiquity, perhaps harkening back to when chieftains led clans in Ireland. Levey (Dance Music of Ireland, 2nd Collection), 1873; No. 41, pg. 18.

X:1

T:Ree Raw

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:Jig or March

S:Levey – Dance Music of Ireland, 2nd Collection (1883)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A

c2e edc | BcB dcB | ABA A2e | edc dBG | c2e edc | BcB dcB | ABA A2e | edc dBG ||

c2c c2e | d2d d2f | e2e e2f | =g2g g3 | e2e e2f | d2d d2e | c2e (edc) | (BcB) (dcB) |

ccc c2e | ddd d2f | eee e2f | =g2g g3 | ccc c2e | (edc) (dBG) | ABA A2e | (edc) (dBG) ||

 

REED HOUSE. AKA – “Read House Rant,” “Reed House Rant.” AKA and see “Old Lancashire Hornpipe.” English, “Old” or Triple Hornpipe (3/2 time). England, Northumberland. D Major. Standard tuning. AABBCC (Vickers): AABBCCDDEEFFGGHH (Callaghan). The first two parts of the tune appear in the 1770 music manuscript of Northumbrian musician William Vickers, about whom unfortunately nothing is known. A similar title is the "Reed House Rant," also in Vickers; as “Read House Rant” it appears in the 1694 music manuscript book of Henry Atkinson (Morpeth, Northumberland), where it includes six variation sets. Playford also printed a version of the tune in Apollo’s Banquet. “Reed House Rant” is a related tune to “Old Lancashire Hornpipe.” Source for notated version: Henry Atkinson’s 1694 ms. (Morpeth, Northumberland) [Callaghan]. Callaghan (Hardcore English), 2007; pg. 78.

X:1

T:Reed House Rant

M:6/8

L:1/8

R:”Old” or Triple Hornpipe

N:Vickers sets the tune in 6/8 time, although Triple Hornpipes are

N:usually in 3/2 time.

S:William Vicker’s 1770 music manuscript book (Northumerland)

K:D

B|AGFE Dg|fd eEEB|AGFE Df|ecdDD:|

|:B|AGFA GB|FA cEEB|AGFA GB|FA dDD:|

|:g|fafe df|ed ceeg|fafe df|ec dDD:|

                       

REEDS, THE. Canadian, Reel. Canada, Cape Breton. C Major. Standard tuning. AB. Composed by Cape Breton fiddler and composer Dan R. MacDonald (1911-1976). Cameron (Trip to Windsor), 1994; pg. 17.

           

REED'S FAVORITE. American, Reel or hornpipe. C Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: Winston Fitzgerald (1914-1987, Cape Breton) [Cranford]. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 18. Cranford (Winston Fitzgerald), 1997; No. 119, pg. 49. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 42.

           

REEFER'S HORNPIPE. AKA and see "Ned Kendall's Hornpipe [2]." American, Hornpipe. D Major. Standard. AABB'. Source for notated version: Ken Campbell [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), Vol. 2, 1995; pg. 220.

           

REEL. A duple-meter dance form common to the British Isles and North America. Webster’s gives that the name ‘reel’ derives from the Middle-English word relent, although the Oxford English Dictionary says it is from the Gaelic righil or ruithil, probably from Lowland Scots. David Taylor (1992) says of the form "it is generally accepted that reels in the main originated in Scotland". The first mention of a dance called a reel in Scotland was in 1590, though Purser (1992) believes it was well-established in the beginning of the 16th century. In fact, the first mention of the dance form in print is in the 1591 publication Newes from Scotland, in which is related that one Agnes Thompson confessed that on All-hallow E'en that she, accompanied by two hundred other witches, "...daunced this reill or short dance..." The unfortunate Agnes was convicted of witchcraft, strangled and burnt. The movements of the dance involve a setting step and a travelling figure (in the shape of a figure eight) and have historically been performed by combinations of three, four, six or eight dancers. Musically it is generally characterised by two groups of eighth notes per measure. In Ireland one sometimes finds the term ‘single’ and ‘double’ reel, which means simply that in the former each part is played only once, while in the later the parts are repeated. Scottish reels are performed in the 216-240 beats per minute range. Although the range in Cape Breton can be from 195-250 bpm, reels are typically played in the 216-232 range. The reel in Ireland does not seem to have been established until around the 18th century.

 

REEL À BEDOU. AKA and see “Bedou’s Reel.”

 

REEL À BOUCHE (The Mouth Reel). French‑Canadian, Reel. Rounder 0216, John McCutcheon ‑ "Step by Step" (1986).

 

REEL À CEDULIE, LE. French-Canadian, Ree. F Major. Standard. AA’B. Composed by fiddler Louis ‘Pitou’ Boudreault. Source for notated version: Louis Boudrealut (Saguenay region, Québec) via Lisa Ornstein [Remon & Bouchard]. Remon & Bouchard (25 Crooked Tunes, Vol. 1: Québec Fiddle Tunes), 1996; No. 6. Sugar Hill SH CD 1156, André Marchand & Grey Larsen - “The Orange Tree.”

 

REEL À CÉLINA. AKA - “Gigue à Célina.” French-Canadian, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Source for notated version: Louis Beaudreault (1905-1988), who had the tune from his father, Didace (1880-1939), via Lisa Ornstein [Hart & Sandell]. Hart & Sandell (Dance ce Soir), 2001; No. 34, pg. 65. Voyager Records, Louis Boudreault: Old-Time Fiddler of Chicoutimi, Québec (1977. Appears as 2nd tune of medley called “Le Reel à Philibert”). Le Tamanoir Records, Louis Boudreault – “Musique traditionnelle du Québec: Violon” (1974/76). Fogarty’s Cove Records, Éritage – “La Ronde des Voyageurs” (1982). Raynald Ouellet & Daniel Poirier – “Québec Pure Laine” (1992). Manigance – “Album Souvenir, vol. 1” (1988). 

 


REEL A DOWN A MEREKEN. Scottish, Reel. Country dance directions to this tune have been recovered from the Holmain MS. (c. 1710‑50) from Dumfries‑shire. It is perhpas the same as "Reel don ne Marachan", or the Menzies' Rant, for which dance instructions, but not the melody, appear in the Menzies Manuscript of 1749 (contained in the Atholl Collection of the Sandeman Library, Perth).

 

REEL À JOE BIBIENNE. Canadian, Reel. Canada; Prince Edward Island, Quebec. C Major. Standard tuning. AABB. The tune is titled after Joe Bibienne Arsenault, a fiddler of the Evangeline region of Prince Edward Island, who fathered 15 children, most of whom were themselves well-known in the region (Perlman). Source for notated version: Louise Arsenault (b. 1956, Mont Carmel, East Prince County, Prince Edward Island; now resides in Wellington) [Perlman]. Perlman (The Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island), 1996; pg. 120.

 

REEL À NEUF, LE. AKA and see “(Les) Soeurs.” French-Canadian, Reel. A punning title: i.e. "real enough." The tune is quite common in the old repertoire of Québec fiddlers, though in widely different variants. Voyager 322, Louis Boudreault - "Old Time Fiddler of Chicoutimi, Québec" (1977, 1993).

           

REEL À PÉPÉ (Grand-pa’s Reel).  AKA and see “Grandpa’s Reel,” “Reel du granpère.” French-Canadian, Reel. D Major (‘A’ part) & G Major (‘B’ part). Standard tuning. AA’BB’. Source for notated version: fiddler Louis Beaudoin (1921-1980, Burlington, Vt.) via Lisa Ornstein (Me.) [Hart & Sandell]. Hart & Sandell (Dance ce Soir), 2001; No. 15, pg. 48.

                       

REEL À PHILIBERT, LE. French-Canadian, Reel. Voyager 322, Louis Boudreault - "Old Time Fiddler of Chicoutimi, Québec" (1977, 1993).

           

REEL À QUATRE, LE.  See note for “Reel McDonnell.”

 

REEL À RAYMOND.  French-Canadian, Reel. A Major. AEae tuning. AABB. See note for “Grondeuse [3].” Source for notated version: fiddler and storyteller Aimé Gagnon (1921-1997), from St-Louis-de –Lotbinière, Québec, via Lisa Ornstein [Hart & Sandell]. Hart & Sandell (Dance ce Soir), 2001; No. 49, pg. 83. Lisa Ornstein – “Les Danseries de Québec…de l’autre bord de l’eau” (1986). Nightingale – “The Coming Dawn” (1994).

 

REEL À/DE RÉMI. AKA and see “The Chamberlain,” “Reel de l’hôtelier.” French-Canadian, Reel. D Major. Standard. AABB. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; pg. 165. La Bottine Souriante – “Chic & Swell.”

                       

REEL À TI JEAN. French-Canadian, Reel. The title, Ti-Jean, or Little John, a term of affection, refers to the late great Montreal fiddler Jean Carignan. Voyager VRCD 342, Rodney Miller – “Rodney Miller’s All-Round Collection of Jigs, Reels and Country Airs” (learned from Aimé Gagnon). 

 

REEL ANTOINETTE. French-Canadian, Galope or Polka. D Major. Standard. AA'BB'A"A"'. Source for notated version: French-Canadian button accordion player Philippe Bruneau (Québec) [Begin]. Begin (Philippe Bruneau), 1993; No. 32, pg. 47.

           

REEL ARCÈNE. AKA and see “Marche des Raquetteurs [2].” French-Canadian, Reel. Philo Records, Jean-Marie Verret – “La famille Verret, vol. 2” (1975).

           


REEL BÉATRICE. AKA - "Beatrice." French-Canadian, Reel or Galope. A Minor {'A' and 'B' parts} & C Major {'C' part} (Begin, Hart & Sandell, Phillips). Standard. AABB'CC (Phillips): AA'BB'CC' (Begin, Hart & Sandell, Songer). “Reel Béatrice” was popularized among Québec musicians by fiddler Joseph Bouchard (to whom the tune is often attributed), who recorded it on a 78 RPM record for Bluebird in 1938. According to Paul M. MacDonald, the original reel began as a polka from the Ballo Liscio dance repertoire called “Oggi Nevica” (which means ‘today it snows’), played by Riccardo Tesi, an Italian accordion player. Begin (1993) points out that the structure of the tune is that of a reel, although the melody approaches one considered suitable for a Galop. However, it is in the style of the 19th century bal musette, and many of these polkas, waltzes and mazurkas were characteristically in three parts, two in minor keys, with a contrasting trio section in the major. The tune called “Beatrice” in the Omer Marcoux collection is not “Reel Béatrice” but apparently a tune entitled “Carnival,” although the tunes share somewhat similar structures and chord patterns. Sources for notated versions: French-Canadian button accordion player Philippe Bruneau (Québec) [Begin]; Ruthie Dornfeld (Seattle) [Phillips], La Bottine Souriante fiddler Martin Racine [Hart & Sandell]. Begin (Phillipe Bruneau), 1993; No. 38, pg. 57 (appears as "Piece de J. Bouchard"). Hart & Sandell (Dance ce Soir), 2001; No. 29, pg. 59. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), Vol. 1, 1994; pg. 21 (appears as "Beatrice"). Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; pg. 25. Green Linnet SIF 1092, Liz Carroll ‑ "Liz Carroll" (1988). Green Linnet 1101, Liz Carroll ‑ "Playing with Fire: the Celtic Fiddle Collection" (1989). Green Linnet GLCD 3127, Sharon Shannon – “The Best of Sharon Shannon: Spellbound” (1999. Learned from Liz Carroll). Lisa Ornstein & Denis Pepin - “Dansieries de la Belle Province.” Rounder RO7023, Natalie MacMaster - “No Boundaries” (1996. Learned from Baltimore fiddler Jesse Smith). Le Tamanoir Records, Joseph Bouchard – “Jos Bouchard, violoneux: Musique et dancse trandtionelle de Charlevoix” (1978). Andre Alain – “Viloneux de St-Basile de Portneuf” (1986). La Bottine Souriante – “Je voudrais changer d’chapeau” (1988). La Bottine Souriante – “En spectacle” (1996).  

X:1

T:Reel Béatrice

M:2/4

L:1/16

Q:100

K:A Minor

A,3B,|:[A2C2]A,C EA,CE|AEEC E2AB|ccAc eAce|ae (3eee aeab|!

c'bag fedc|Bdd^c d4|e^def e=dcB|1A3 A, A,3 B,:|2A3 A, A,2 z2||!

|:a2 fa bf (3fff|fe^de ae (3eee|e^def e=ddB|cdcB A2 a2|!

aafa bf (3fff|fe^de ae (3eee|e^def e=dcB|1A2 z A, A,3 z:|2A2 z4 G>B||!

|:cG (3GGG EGce|cG (3GGG EGce|dB (3BBB GBdB|cc'ba gfed|!

cG (3GGG EGce|cG (3GGG EGce|dB (3BBB GBdB|1cBcd c2 GB:|2cBcd c2 z2||!

           

REEL BEAULIEU.  French-Canadian, Reel. A Mixolydian. Standard tuning. AA’BB’.

X:1

T:Reel Beaulieu

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:Pascal Gemme

K:A Mixolydian

e/d/|:cB A/c/B/A/|F/B/A/F/ EE/A/|B/A/B/c/ d/B/B|A/B/c/d/ e/f/e/d/|

cB A/c/B/A/|F/B/A/F/ EE/A/|B/A/B/c/ d/B/B|1 A/c/e/c/ A/f/e/d/:|2 A/c/e/c/ A2||

|:a>b a/f/e/d/|c/A/c/e/ ae/f/|gg/a/ g/e/d/B/|G/G/B/d/ gf/g/|

aa/b/ a/f/e/d/|c/A/c/e/ ae/e/|e/f/e/c/ d/c/B/d/|1 c/A/(3A/A/A/ Af/g/:|2 c/A/(3A/A/A/ Ae/d/||

 

REEL BLANCHETTE. French-Canadain, Reel. From the repertoire of Louis Beaudoin. Part of this tune resembles the 'B' part of Omer Marcoux's "Haytime."

           

REEL BOULE DE NEIGE. AKA and see "Bachelor's Reel." French-Canadian, Reel. G Major ('A' part) & D Major ('B' part). Standard tuning. AA'BB'. Cuillerier (Joseph Allard), 1992; pg. 13. Bluebird B-4882-a (78 RPM), Joseph Allard.

X:1

T:Reel Boule de Neige

C:Joseph Allard

M:2/4

L:1/16

Z:Transcribed by Bruce Osborne

K:G

Bc|d2B2 g2B2|d2c2 cBAB|c2A2 d2A2|c2B2 BAGB|!

d2B2 g2B2|f2e2 edef|e2c2 a2f2|g2b2 g2:|!

K:D

d2|ABAG F2A2|fefg f2d2|efed c2e2|a^gab a4|!

ABAG F2A2|fefg f2ed|c2e2 a2c2|e2d2 d2:|!

                       

REEL CAJUN, THE. Cajun, Reel. USA, Louisianna. Arhoolie C‑334, Michael Doucet ‑ "Masters of the Folk Violin" (1989).

                       

REEL COMO. French-Canadian, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AA’BB’. An irregular (‘crooked’) tune from Louis Blanchette (1905-1969), whom Hart & Sandell note was a harmonica player hailing from Rivière-du-Loup, Québec, but who moved to Montréal around 1930. Blanchette recorded the tune on a 78 RPM record in 1938. Hart & Sandell (Dance ce Soir), 2001; No. 20, pg. 51.  MCA Coral, Louis Blanchette - “Louis Blanchette: Héritage québécois” (1991 reissue). Lisa Ornstein & Denis Pépin - “Les Danseries de Quebec..de l’autre bord l’eau” (1986).

                       

REEL DE BERGERVILLE. French-Canadian, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning. AA’BB’.

X: 1

T:Reel de Bergerville

M:4/4

L:1/8

K:D

e3e edef | gfgab2B2 | e3e edef | gagfe2B2 | e3e edef | gfgab2B2 |

e3e edef |1 gagfe2B2 :||2 gagfe2d2 || d2edB2d2 | gfgab2d2 | d2edB2d2 |

gdBGA2d2 | d2edB2d2 | gfgab2d2 | d2ed B2d2 |1 agfag2d2 :||2 agfag4 ||

                       

REEL DE CABANO. French-Canadian, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AA'BB'. Both parts are in 'double-tonic' tonality. Cuillerier (Joseph Allard), 1992; pg. 14. Bluebird 55-5230-b (78 RPM), Joseph Allard.

X:1

T:Reel de Cabano

C:Joseph Allard

M:2/4

L:1/16

Z:Transcribed by Bruce Osborne

K:G

BGdG BGGd|BGdG BGGB|A=Fc=F A=F=Fc|A=Fc=F A=F=Fc|!

BGdG BGGd|BGdG A=F=F2|GFGA Bcde|fdAc BGG2:|!

|:gfga gede|=fe=fg a=fd=f|g=fga gede|fdAd BGG2|!

gfga gede|=fe=fg a=fde|=fge=f decd|BdcA BGG2:|!

 

REEL DE CHARNY.  French-Canadian, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AABB.

X:1

T:Reel de Charny

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:Fiddler Pascal Gemme (of the group Genticorum)

K:G

D/G,B,/D/ G,/D/B,/D/|C/D/E/G/ c/G/B/G/|A/D/F/A/ D/A/F/A/|G/A/B/c/ d/d/d|

D/G,B,/D/ G,/D/B,/D/|C/D/E/G/ c/G/B/G/|A/D/F/A/ D/A/F/A/|G/B/A/F/ G/G/G:|

|:g/f/g/a/ b/g/d/g/|d/g/d/g/ B/d/e/f/|g/f/g/a/ b/g/d/g/|d/e/f/g/ aa/b/|

ag/a/ b/g/d/g/|d/g/d/g/ B/d/e/f/|g/B/B/c/ d/e/d/c/|B/G/A/F/ GG:|

 

REEL DE CHÂTEAUGUAY (Châteauguay Reel). AKA and see "Chateauguay Reel."

 

REEL DE CHEZ-NOUS. AKA and see "Quadrille Francais," "Reel du Canada."

 

REEL DE CHICOUTIMI.  French Canadian, Reel. E Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Chicoutimi is a town in the Saguenay region of the Province of Québec. The tune was recorded by Québec accordion great Alfred Montmarquette in 1928. Carlin (Master Collection), 1984; pg. 44, No. 60.

X:1

T:Reel de Chicoutimi

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Reel

S:Pascal Gemme

K:A Mixolydian

z/f/|:e/c/c/c/ e/c/c/f/|e/c/c/c/ B/c/d/f/|e/c/(3c/c/c/ e/c/a/f/|1 e/c/B/d/ c/A/A/f/:|2 e/c/B/c/ AE/E/||

|:A/c/B/c/ A/E/E/E/|A/c/B/c/ AE/E/|A/E/A/B/ c(3/e/e/e/|1 e/c/B/c/ A/E/E/E/:|2 e/c/B/c/ A>f||

 

REEL DE COURVILLE. Cajun, Reel. Originally recorded by Cajun fiddler Dennis McGee in the 1920's, named for a Cajun musician (Sadie Courville?). Flying Fish FF‑275, "Blue Flame Stringband" (1982).

 

REEL DE EBOULEMENTS. See “Reel des eboulements.”

 

REEL DE GASPÉ. AKA and see "Gaspé Reel [1]."

 

REEL DE LA BAIE ST. PAUL. See "Set de la Baie St. Paul."

           

REEL DE LA BOURGEOISE (Townswoman’s Reel).  French-Canadian, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning. AA’BB’. Source for notated version: fiddler and storyteller Aimé Gagnon (1921-1997), from St-Louis-de –Lotbinière, Québec, via Lisa Ornstein [Hart & Sandell]. Hart & Sandell (Dance ce Soir), 2001; No. 50, pg. 84. Lisa Ornstein – “Les Danseries de Québec…de l’autre bord de l’eau” (1986).

           

REEL DE LA CASA. French-Canadian, Reel. C Major. Standard tuning. AABB.

X:1
T:Reel de la Casa
C:Trad Quebecois
M:4/4
L:1/8
Q:500
R:Reel
Z:Si Garbutt Feb 03
K:C
A3 B c2A2|B2 c2 B4|B2 cd e3 d|c2 B2 c2 A2|
A3 B c2A2|B2 c2 B4|B2 cd e3 d|c2 B2 A4:|
M:4/4
e2 fg a2 a2|g2 f2 e3 f|e2 d2 c2 B2|\
M:2/4
c2 A2|
M:4/4
e2 fg a3 a|g2 f2 e3 f|e2 d2 c2 B2|\
M:2/4
A4:|

                       


REEL DE LA CASERNE. AKA and see "Chateauguay Reel," "Reel de Chateauguay."

                       

REEL DE LA CATALOGNE. AKA and see "Reel Saint-Jean." French-Canadian, Reel. A Minor ('A' part) & C Major ('B' part). Standard tuning. AA'BB'. Joyal (Danses d'ici: Musique Traditionnelle du Quèbec), 1994; pgs. 43 & 99. Bluebird 55-5391-B (78 RPM), Joseph Bouchard.

                       

REEL DE LA MALBAIE, LE.  See note for “Big-Eyed Rabbit [2].”