Annotation:Reel of Barm

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REEL OF BARM. Scotland, Reel. Scotland, Orkney. C Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). One part. A modal air with an uncertain tonic. It was used in parts of Orkney in the 19th century as the last tune of an evening. Johnston's Old-Lore Miscellany of Orkney, Shetland, Caithness and Sutherland vol. III (1910, p. 195) records that the source's wife, Mrs. Balfour, said that "the Reel of Barm was used as the winding up of the evening. There is not the least melody in it, but I understood it began with one couple and went on till everyone in the room was on the floor." "Babbity Bowster" was used in other areas a the last dance at a country wedding.

Source for notated version: "The late Mrs. David Balfour, of Balfour, sent me in 1893 the following version of the "Reel of Barm." It was taken down by the late Lady Burroughs from the late Colonel David Balfour some years before that." [Johnston].

Printed sources: Johnston (Old-Lore Miscellany of Orkney, Shetland, Caithness and Sutherland, vol. III), 1910; pp. 195-196.

Recorded sources:

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