Annotation:Lady Washington's Reel
X:1 T:Lady Washington Reel N:From a 1926 recording of Uncle John Wilder (b. 1846) with the N:Plymouth Vermont Old Time Barn Dance Orchestra M:C| L:1/8 Q:"Quick" D:https://www.slippery-hill.com/content/lady-washington-reel D:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU9Ddapqo3w D:OKeh 45073 (78 RPM), Plymouth Vermont Old Time Barn Dance Orchestra (1926) Z:Andrew Kuntz K:G G2 GA B2 BA|GBde d2Bd| cGcd edBG|cBAG FGAF| G2 GA B2 BA|GBde d2Bd| cGcd edBG|A2G2G3z:| |:E2ED E2ED|E2EF G2GA|B2BA B2BA|BAGB d4| dedB d2 dd|efgf e2d2 |BAGB AGAc |B2G2[B,4G4]:|
LADY WASHINGTON'S REEL. American, Reel. "Lady Washington's Reel" is a dance first appearing at the end of the 18th century. It was retained in dance repertoire and was a staple New England contra dance of the 19th century. Dance instructions were published in J. Trumbull's Gentleman's and Lady's Companion; Containing, the Newest Cotillions and Country Dances, to Which is Added, Instances of Ill Manners; to be carefully avoided by Youth of both sexes (1798) and Nathan Allen's Select Country Dances (New Hampshire, 1799). Trumbull suggests using "York Fusileers (The)" as the vehicle for the dance. Ralph Page notes that in Vermont in the early 20th century the dance "Lady Washington's Reel" was the same figure as "Lady Walpole Reel (1)" (see Annotation:Lady Walpole Reel (1)), however, the melody that the Plymouth Vermont Orchestra played is different than either "York Fusiliers" or "Lady Walpole Reel." The Plymouth, Vermont, orchestra recorded "Lady Washington's Reel" in New York, NY, on Monday, October 25, 1926, at which time the 'orchestra' consisted of fiddlers Uncle John Wilder (1846-1931) and Lewis Carpenter, clarinet player Clarence Blanchard, pianist Cassie Cady, and drummer Linn Cady, with Herbert L. Moore calling the figures.
