Annotation:Rap Halfpenny Reel (The)
X:1 T:Rap Halfpenny Reel M:2/4 L:1/8 R:Reel S:Howe – 1000 Jigs and Reels (c. 1867) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:G d/c/ | B/G/F/G/ D/G/F/G/ | B/d/e/f/ g/e/d/c/ | B/G/A/G/ D/G/G | (3e/f/g/ d/B/ Ad/c/ | B/G/F/G/ D/G/F/G/ | B/d/e/f/ ga/b/ | b/g/a/f/ g/e/f/d/ | (3e/f/g/ d/B/ A :: (3B/c/d | Tee/d/ e/d/B/A/ | B/d/e/f/ g/e/d/c/ | B/G/F/G/ (D/F/G/B/) | (3e/f/g/ d/B/ AB/d/ | ee/^d/ e/=d/B/A/ | B/d/e/f/ gg/a/ | b/g/a/f/ g/e/f/d/ | (3e/f/g/ d/B/ A :|
RAP HALFPENNY REEL, THE. American, Irish; Reel. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. A version of the "Honeymoon Reel (2) (The)" family of Irish tunes that includes "Ha'Penny Reel," "Pure Drop (1) (The)," "Windy Gap (The)," "Maid Who Left the County (1) (The)." The first strain is shared also with New York publisher Harding’s “Old Crow (The).”
Regarding the title, Eric Partridge remarks, "The coin was an Irish counterfeit halfpenny current about 1700-1750; apparently from a German penny on which was engraved an eagle so crude that the bird was called 'Rabe,' a raven; presumably introduced from Germany by Irish soldiers of fortune" (1963) 282.
