Annotation:Pretty Betty's Reel

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PRETTY BETTY'S REEL. AKA – “Betty Brown’s Reel,” "Pretty Betty," "Pretty Betty Brown," “Pretty Brown’s Reel.” Canadian, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AA'BB. Composed by Ontario fiddler biography:Ward Allen, who won contest after contest in the 1950’s and who carved out a career for himself as a radio fiddler. This tune is related to the "Off to California (1)" family of tunes.

Ward Allen (1924-1965)



Source for notated version: Stuart Williams and Don Gish [Phillips]; Carthy Sisco [Silberberg].

Printed sources: Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes vol. 1), 1994; p. 189. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; p. 120 (as "Pretty Betty Brown"). Ward Allen's Canadian Fiddle Tunes vol. 2, 1961; p. 19. Ward Allen & King Ganam's Canadian Fiddle Tunes, 1992.

Recorded sources: GRT Records 9230-1031, “The Best of Ward Allen” (1973). Point Records PS-328, Graham Townsend - "Old Time Fiddle Favourites of Ward Allen." Sparton Records SP 213, “Ward Allen Presents Maple Leaf Hoedown, vol. 3” (1962). WRC8-6844, April Verch - "Fiddle Talk" (1995).

See also listing at:
Hear Ward Allen's recording on youtube.com [1]




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