Annotation:Reel of Tulloch (The)

Back to Reel of Tulloch (The)

---

REEL O'/OF TULLOCH, THE ("Ridhle Thulichun" or "Ruighle Thulaichean"). AKA and see “Cumming's Rant," "Hamilton House," "Hullichan Reel.” Scottish; Pipe Reel and Strathspey. A Major/A Mixolydian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Athole, Kennedy, Martin): AAB (Hunter, Köhler, Martin/2002, Neil, Skinner, Skye): AABB (Bremner, Emmerson, Kerr): AABB’ (Gow): AABBC (Gunn): ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO (Johnson): AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJKK (Cumming): AABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTU (McKercher). The tune was originally a very popular 17th century bagpipe piece, probably by an unknown composer, known among pipers as “Righ na m Porst,” or ‘king of airs’ (according to James Logan, 1831). Logan says the “It is stated by MacDonald that this reel was composed at Tulloch, in Aberdeenshire, a tradition that I have often heard repeated, detailing the particular circumstances connected with its production.” However, in MacGregor's collection of poems it is confidently stated that the tune was composed by John Dubh Gear, a MacGregor of Glen Lyon [Logan, p. 260]. J. Scott Skinner as well, in Harp and Claymore (1904), remarks: “There is a tradition that this wild effusion was composed and danced by John Macgregor, Castle Grant, about 1640.” MacDonald once remarked that this reel was composed at Tulloch in Aberdeenshire, and this assertion has survived in tradition. Legend has it, remarks Nigel Gatherer, that the reel was improvised on the spot by a MacGregor who had just emerged victorious from a fight with a Robertson for the hand of the Laird o’ Tulloch’s daughter. O’Neill (1922) declined to print stories of the tunes origins as “too unreliable,” and remarks that they include “A wild orgy of dancing under improbable circumstances in one case, and a desperate encounter with swords in another, are given as the inspiration of what has been termed ‘the maddest of all Highland reels’". Its earliest appearance is in David Young's 1734 Duke of Perth Manuscript (AKA the Drummond Castle Manuscript, where it appears as "Tullich Reel" with 160 bars of variations) and it was later reprinted in his 1740 MacFarlane Manuscript (volume 2, No. 115). Purser (1992) states that it was adapted for the violin “with superb rhythmic pointing and syncopations, mostly composed by David Young in 1740.” The piece subsequently appears in Robert Bremner's 1757 collection (Curious Collection of Scots Tunes), the Gillespie Manuscript of Perth (1768), Angus Cumming’s Collection of Strathspey and Old Highland Reels (1780), and Davie's 1829 Caledonain Repository (with some pizzicato variations). It also appears on p. 6 of the music 1770 manuscript collection of Northumbrian musician William Vickers [1], about whom unfortunately nothing is known. Johnson (1984) is of the opinion that Young probably composed the three finest sections of the version given in the former’s 1984 volume (parts 'F', 'L', and 'O'). This important melody, which at one time was known as 'Righ na' m Port,' or 'King of Airs', has retained its popularity through the ages and is still part of the pipe repertory today.

“The Reel of Tulloch” has for several centuries been used in Scotland for a specific dance for males which is always performed to the tune, and it has been quite dominant at Highland dances for several centuries. Instructions for the popular dance, but not the melody, appear in the Menzies Manuscript (contained in the Atholl Collection of the Sandeman Library, Perth), 1749, which carries the alternate title "Mighty Pretty Valley (The).” J. Scott Skinner, the celebrated violinist who was also dancing master, routinely taught the dance to his students throughout the latter 19th century. He states in Harp and Claymore (1904): “The ‘Reel of Tulloch’ is practically the same tune (as “Reel o’ Thuilleachan’), but requires two different sets of steps. First the four kilted Highlanders, by whom it is properly danced, go through the Figure 8, after the usual style of a reel, and dancing Highland Fling and Strathspey steps; then they break into the quick time of the Hoolichan.” Another "Reel of Tulloch" (Ruidhleadh Thulachain), a country dance for two mixed couples, was composed around 1800, and appears in dance literature in 1844 (in The Ballroom Annual), though it was mentioned in accounts of dances from the year 1819 onward. Flett & Flett conclude the dance was originally a 'society' dance which was developed at the Breadalbane Balls, although Christine Martin (2002) says the dance is also said to have been composed by parishioners waiting for their minister who was late. Some exercise helped to pass the time, the story goes, and lead to the formation of the dance. Martin says that “it was originally a popular dance in its own right, but by the late 19th century it was almost always danced immediately after the Foursome Reel.” It was a particular favorite of Queen Victoria, states Hunter (1979), who first witnessed its performance at a ball at Taywouth Castle given by the Marquis of Breadalbane (the dancers on the occasion were the Marquis of Abercorn, the Hon. Fox Maule, Cluny Macpherson and Davidson of Tulloch). In most parts of Scotland the dance was performed to the tune "The Reel of Tulloch" but in Roxburghshire and Berwickshire, where the dance was often known as "The Hullachan Jig," a double jig such as "The Irish Washerwoman" was played. For an extensive discussion of the dance and its origins see Flett & Flett (Traditional Dancing in Scotland), 1964, pp. 132–155.

"The 'Reel of Tulloch' should be played first as a Strathspey and then as a Reel followed by 'Stumpie' and 'The Deil Among the Tailors,' a welcome combination to enthusiastic dancers,” notes MacDonald in his Skye Collection. Paul Stewart Cranford (1995) remarks that versions of this reel vary in late 20th century Cape Breton, from a simple reel setting to J. Scott Skinner’s elaborate strathspey variations. Emmerson (1971) finds that the tune on close examination reveals itself to be a rant. Peter Kennedy gives “Hullichan Reel” as an alternate title.

Sources for notated versions: Bremner's Scots Tunes, p. 4 (Bremner clearly meant that parts were only to be repeated once, stated Johnson) [Johnson, Moffat]; fiddler Mike MacDougall (Ingonish, Cape Breton, 1928-1982), whose style was greatly influences by the highland pipes [Cranford];A bagpipe set of the tune composed by James Logan appears in The Scottish Gael (1831) [Emmerson].

Printed sources: Aird (Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. 4), 1796; No. 172, p. 65. Anonymous (A Companion to the Reticule), 1833; p. 5. Bremner (Scots Reels), c. 1757; p. 84. Cranford (Jerry Holland's Collection of Fiddle Tunes), 1995; No. 3, p. 2. Cumming (A Collection of Strathspey or Old Highland Reels), 1780; No. 41, pp. 13–14 (as “Cumming’s Rant or Reell of Tulloch”). Emmerson (Rantin' Pipe and Tremblin' String), 1971; No. 42, p. 136. Gow (Complete Repository, Part 1), 1799; p. 25. William Gunn (The Caledonian Repository of Music Adapted for the Bagpipes), Glasgow, 1848, p. 50. Hunter (The Fiddle Music of Scotland), 1988; No. 250. Johnson (Scottish Fiddle Music in the 18th Century), 1984; No. 30, pp. 82–83. Kennedy (Fiddler's Tune-Book: Reels & Rants, Flings & Fancies), 1997; No. 169, p. 40. Kerr (Merry Melodies, vol. 1), c. 1880; Set 5, No. 4, p. 5. Laybourn (Köhler's Violin Repository, vol. 1), 1881; p. 23. MacDonald (The Skye Collection), 1887; p. 3. Martin (Ceol na Fidhle, vol. 3), 1988; p. 40. Martin (Traditional Scottish Fiddling), 2002; pp. 49 & 55. Duncan McKercher (A Collection of Original Stathspeys and Reels), Edinburgh, 1824; pp. 13-17. Moffat (Dance Music of the North), 1908; No. 37, p. 16. Neil (The Scots Fiddle), 1991; No. 132, p. 171. O’Neill (Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody), 1922; No. 101. Purser (Scotland's Music), 1992; Ex. 2, p. 174. Robert Ross (Choice Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances & Strathspeys), Edinburgh, 1780; p. 30. William Ross (Collection [of] Pipe Music), 1869; No. 223, p. 131. Skinner (The Scottish Violinist), 1900; pp. 24–25 (with seven variations by the author). Skinner (Harp and Claymore), 1904; pp. 116–117 (with numerous variation sets). Stewart-Robertson (The Athole Collection), 1884; p. 6.

Recorded sources: Cranford Publications CP-R2, “Jerry Holland Solo” (1988). Green Linnet GLDC 1108, The Tannahill Weavers – “Cullen Bay.” Maggies Music MM220, Hesperus – “Celtic Roots.” “The Caledonian Companion” (1975).

See also listings at:
Alan Snyder’s Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index [2]
Jane Keefer’s Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [3]
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [4]

---