Bride's Reel (2) (A)
BRIDE'S REEL [2], A. Shetland, Slow Air (9/8 time). D Dorian. Standard tuning. ABB. The second strain is 'crooked' or asymmetrical. "...It is interesting that so many of the Shetland and Scottish wedding tunes are in slow jig time. One could hazard the guess that such tunes derive from old Scottish dance-songs used for circle dancers (or possibly dances of the Faroese chain type) and that, as in the case of bride's reels today, their close attachment to the wedding rite ensured their survival into the present century" (Cooke, 1986).
Source for notated version: John Fraser (Papa Stour {Island}, Shetlands) [Cooke] {Fraser learned the tune from his father, but did not know the name. Friends in Lerwick later told him it could have been a bride's reel}.
Printed source: Cooke (The Fiddle Tradition of the Shetland Isles), 1986; Ex. 35, p. 88.
X:1 T:Bride's Reel, A M:9/8 L:1/8 K:Ador e2d [Dd]BG [Dd]BG|[A2e2]d dBG [D3A3]|[A2e2]d dBG dBG|[C2^c2]A [DB]AG [D3A3]|| |:[G,2D2][Af]|[A2^g2]e [Ae]^c[Ae] [Ae]^ce|{ge}g2e edB d3[D2d2][DB]|^g2e [Ae]^c[Ae] [A3]^c[Ae]|{ge}g2e edB [D3A3]:||
© 1996-2010 Andrew Kuntz. All Rights Reserved.
Engraver Valerio M. Pelliccioni