Annotation:Duchess of Devonshire's Reel (1) (The)
X:1 T:Duchess of Devonshire's Reel [1], The M:C L:1/8 S:William Mackie manuscript collection (Aberdeen, early 19th cent.) Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:D c|d2 fd ecBA|B/c/d AFGE E2|d2 fd ecBA|B/c/d AG FD D2:| |:fdad fdac|dBed cA A2|BGdG AFdF|GEAG FD D2| fada eaca|dBed cA A2|BdGd AdFd|Gbag|fdd:||
DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE'S REEL [1], THE. English, Scottish; Reel. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The melody appears in the music manuscript collection of Aberdeen musician William Mackie, early 19th century. Mackie was a Highland piper and Scots small-piper, although parts of his ms. seem to be for flute and/or fiddle. The tune and title can also be found in the music manuscripts of the Browne Family, Lake District, Cumbria.
There is a "Dutchess of Devonshire's Reel" in Ignatius Sancho's Twelve Country Dances for the Year 1779 (London, published by Samuel and Anne Thompson), but it is a different tune than Mackie's (see "Duchess of Devonshire's Reel (2)").