Annotation:Reel of Bogie (1) (The)

Back to Reel of Bogie (1) (The)

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REEL OF BOGIE [1], THE ("Seisd Bogac" or "Cor an Bogaig"). AKA and see "Cuffe Street," "Cuffstreet Lasses (The)," “Highlander's Kneebuckle (3) (The),” "Holly Bush (The)," "Long Chase (The)," "Maun's Fancy," "Mulcahy's," “New Year's Night,” “Style of Ballylanders,” "Tramps (The)," Irish, English; Reel. England, Northumberland. E Dorian (Mulvihill, O’Neill): A Dorian (Howe). Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. As "Real o' Bogee," it is one of the "missing tunes" from William Vickers' 1770 Northumbrian dance tune manuscript. Brian Conway plays a Sligo setting of the reel. In liner notes to his album, says the tune is sometimes known as “The Tramps,” and was recorded in New York by Paddy Killoran and by Michael Coleman, both originally from County Sligo. Coleman called it “Maun's Fancy” on an unreleased side from his last recording session in 1944. “Mountain Rose,” “New Year’s Night," "Castlebar Traveller (The),” "Gossan that Beat His Father (The)," "Humors of Loughrea," "Laurel Bush (The)," "Showman's Reel (The)," "Spence's Reel (1)," "Tuehey's Reel," "West Gale (The)," "Yeoman's Reel (The)" are related, primarily in the first strain. See also the first strain of Scottish variants in the "Lochiel's Rant" tune family.

The name "Reel of Bogie" is the last line in each stanza of a song attributed to the Duke of Gordon (Alexander, 4th Duke). Poet Robert Burns wrote that he was "charmed" by the Duke's song, which he believed was one of the few 'modern' songs to contain "true Scottish memory." The first two stanzas go:

There's cauld kail in Aberdeen,
And castocks in Stra'bogie;
Gin I but hae a bonny lass,
Ye're welcome to your coggie:
And ye may sit up a' the night,
And drink till it be braid day-light;
Give me a lass baith clean and tight,
To dance the Reel of Bogie.

In cotillons the French excel;
John Bull loves contra-dances:
The Spaniards dance fandangos well;
Mynheer an allemande prances:
In foursome reels the Scotch delight,
The threesome maist dance wond'rous light;
But twasome ding a' out o' sight,
Danc'd to the Reel of Bogie.

Source for notated version: Chicago police patrolman, piper and flute player John Ennis, originally from County Kildare [O’Neill].

Printed sources: Howe (1000 Jigs and Reels), c. 1867; p. 63 (appears as “Reel of Boggie”). Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 215, p. 58. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; p. 141. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 1449, p. 268. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 683, p. 121.

Recorded sources: Philo 2005, John McGreevy & Seamus Cooley - "McGreevy & Cooley" (1974). Shanachie 29006, John Vesey & Paul Brady - "First Month of Spring" (1977. Appears as "Tramp"). Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD 40481, Brian Conway – “First Through the Gate” (2002). Talcon Records KG240, Paddy Cronin – “The House in the Glen” (197?).

See also listing at:
Alan Ng's Irishtune.info [1]
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [2]

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