Annotation:Aandowin at da Bow(e)

A good example of an indigenous Shetland reel, states Peter Cooke (1986), widely known in the islands. Tom Anderson & Tom Georgeson (Da Mirrie Dancers, 1970) relate that it is supposed to have been composed by a fiddler from Muckle Row, Shetland. Anderson also explains the title refers to the action of keeping a fishing boat steady in one place by means of "iddling" with the oars while the lines are out. The 'bowe' referred to in the title is a marker buoy attached to a fishing line. Cooke (1986) prints the following text sung with this dance tune, of more recent composition than the tune and in oral tradition in the Shetlands in the 1970's:

No gaen forward, no gaen trow Bidin aboot ae place, Aandowin at da bow.

Source for notated version: A. Peterson (Shetland) [Anderson & Georgeson]. Anderson & Georgeson (Da Mirrie Dancers), 1991; pg. 24. Anderson & Swing, (Hand Me Doon Da Fiddle); No. 25. Cooke (The Fiddle Tradition of the Shetland Isles), 1986; Ex. 15, pg. 65. Hunter (Fiddle Music of Scotland), 1988; No. 194. Martin (Traditional Scottish Fiddling), 2002; pg. 94. Martin & Hughes (Ho-ro-gheallaidh), 1990; pg. 29.

Topic 12TS379, Aly Bain & Tom Anderson - "Shetland Folk Fiddling, vol. 2" (1978).

X:1 T:Aandowin at da bow R:Reel M:4/4 K:G A|\BGAG E2D2|BGAG BGAd|BGAG E2D2|GABA G3:|\ g|\egdB AGE2|egdg egdg|egdB AGE2|g2gg afg2|\ egdg egdg|egdB AGED|GABG E2D2|GABA G3||