Concertina Reel (The)

 CONCERTINA REEL, THE. AKA and see "The Old Concertina Reel [1]," "Ríl Liam." Irish, Reel. G Major (Mitchell): D Major (Breathnach, Mallinson, Tubridy). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB (Mallinson, Tubridy): AA'BB' (Breathnach, Mitchell). The concertina was invented by Sir Charles Wheatstone in 1829, a free-reed instrument whose reeds were made of brass and later steel. The English concertina gives the same note per button, push or pull, while the Anglo concertina plays a different note on the push and pull. Willie Clancy declared he had this tune from his mother, a concertina player and singer from Ennistymon (Mitchell). There is some confusion about the title "The Old Concertina Reel," which sometimes refers not only to "The Concertina Reel" but also to a different tune also known as "John Kelly's" and "The Kerry Reel." The "Concertina Reel" is therefore sometimes called "The New Concertina Reel." Some Scottish versions of the melody are set in the key of 'A' major, although Irish ones are usually in 'D'. Source for notated version: piper Willie Clancy (1918-1973, Miltown Malbay, west Clare) [Mitchell]. Printed sources: Breathnach (CRE II), 1976; No. 210 (appears as "Gan ainm/No title"). Breathnach (CRÉ II), 1976; Nos. 210, 220 & 275 (last appears as "Gan ainm/No title"). Mallinson (Essential), 1995; No. 43, p. 19. Mitchell (Dance Music of Willie Clancy), 1993; No. 72, p. 71. Tubridy (Irish Traditional Music, Book Two), 1999; p. 18. Recorded sources: Green Linnet GLCD 1071, Patrick Street - "Patrick Street" (1986). Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD 40126, Rodney Miller - "Choose Your Partners!: Contra Dance & Square Dance Music of New Hampshire" (1999). Chieftains - "Water from the Well" (appears as 2nd tune of Kilfenora set). X:1 T:Concertina Reel M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G g2fg g2fg | g2fg ed^cd| edfd edfd | edfd ed^cd| g2fg g2fg| g2fg edBA|Bdef g2ge|dBAB G4:| X:3 T:The Concertina M:4/4 L:1.8 B:Ho-Ro-Gheallaidh vol.2 K:A f|e2 ce fece|e2 ce fece|fege fege|fege fece| e2 ce fece|e2 ce fece|cefe a2 af|ecBc A3:|] f|ea (3aaa ea (3aaa|eaae fece|fege fege|fege fece| ea (3aaa ea (3aaa|eaa^g a3 f|e2 ce faaf|ecBc A3:|]
 * Bdd2 edd2|Bdd2 edd2| edfd edfd|edfd ed^cd
 * Bdd2 Bdd2|Bdd2 edBA|Bdef g2ge|dBAB G4:|

X:2 T:Concertina Reel L:1/8 M:C| K:D FG|A2 FA BAFA|A2 FA BAFA|B2 cA BAcA|BAcA BAFA| A2 FA BAFA|(3ABA FA BAFE|FABc d3B|AFEF D2:| Ad d2 Ad d2|Ad ~d2 BAFE|FABc d3B|AFEF D3:||
 * d|Ad d2 Ad d2|Ad ~d2 BAFA|B2 cA BAcA|BacA BAFA|