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Annotation:Dandy Reel (2) (The)
X:1 T:Dandy Reel [2], The M:C L:1/8 R:Reel S:Rev. Luke Donnellan – “Oriel Songs and Dances", S:Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society (vol. II, No. 2, 1909; No. 22) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:Emin d2|BGEF G2 BG|G2 BG FDDc|BGEF G2 ef|gfed Beef:| gfga bgeg|fdad fddf| gfga bgef|gfed Beef| gfga bgeg|fdad fddf|gbaf (3fga gf|gfed Be e2||
DANDY REEL [2], THE. AKA and see "Reel (84)." Irish, Reel. E Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. Collected in the Slieve Gullion region of south County Armagh by the biography:Rev. Luke Donnellan, a rector at Dromintee, who published a collection of over 100 tunes, mostly reels, in 1909 in The Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society (vol. II, No. 2)[1]. Donnellan was enthusiastic about P.W. Joyce's recently published Old Irish Music and Songs (1909), but found Irish music rather rare in his area.
The old people of Dromintee will tell you of the number and the skill of musicians who used to come to [nearby] Forkhill fair. I was told there used to be as many as thirty playing at it. They display an extensive knowledge of the names of songs and dance tunes, but cannot sing them. The reel known as “Black-haired Lass (The)” No. 66 inf., seems to have been a great favourite with everyone. These facts point to a vanishing and disappearing musical culture.
Forkhill Fair, held on Michaelmas Day (Sept. 29th) was once the great horse and cattle fair, and festival of the area (St. Michael is the patron saint of horsemen).
A close variant of the reel (see "Reel (84)"). was entered as an untitled tune into Book 2 of the large c. 1883 music manuscript collection of County Leitrim fiddler and piper biography:Stephen Grier (c. 1824-1894). Grier researchers Fr. John Quinn and Conor Ward find the tune related as well to "Big Pat," "Tie the Ribbons (1),” “Maids of Galway (The),” “Dublin Lasses (2),” “Piper’s Chanter (The),” “Murtough Molloy,” and “Virginia Reel”, among other titles.
- ↑ Donnellan researcher Gerry O'Connor came to believe the ms. is not the work of the curate but rather was originally compiled by an unknown but able fiddler over the course of a playing lifetime, probably in the late 19th century. The ms. later came into the possession of Donnellan, who was also a fiddler.
