Annotation:Lerwick Lasses (Da)

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LERWICK LASSES, DA. Shetland, Shetland Reel. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB (Brody): AABB' (Anderson & Georgeson): AA'BB' (Bain). Lerwick is the capital of the Shetland Islands, and lies on the main island. It's name is Norse, stemming from the time of the Vikings, and means 'muddy bay'. The tune, originally collected on the island of Unst under the auspices of the Shetland Folk Society, is in the repertory of the Shetland Fiddle Band, and therefore has been disseminated throughout the islands. Anderson & Georgeson note that the second turning (measures 2 and 4) of this tune should have a "stop-go" effect, called a 'lag' in Vidlin, which practice stemmed from the fiddler's following of the dancer's steps in the old days, which were sometimes erratic in rhythm.

Source for notated version: J.C. Smith (Shetland) [Anderson & Georgeson].

Printed sources: Anderson & Georgeson (Da Mirrie Dancers), 1970; p. 20. Bain (50 Fiddle Solos), 1989; p. 35. Brody (Fiddler's Fake Book), 1983; p. 167.

Recorded sources: Rounder 3006, Boys of the Lough – "Second Album" (1974).

See also listing at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]
Hear the tune played by Tom Anderson at Tobar an Dualchais [2] [3] (paired with "Scallowa' Lasses' (Da)").

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