Annotation:Smith's Reel (1)
X:3 T:Smith’s Reel [1] M:2/4 L:1/8 B:George Saunders - New and Scientific Self-Instructing B:School for the Violin (Providence, R.I., 1847, No. 39) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:D {g}(f/e/)|dB/d/ AF/A/|{c}(B/A/) (F/A/) D {F}(E/D/)|B,/D/A,/D/ (D/F/)(B/F)|A/A/ D/F/ E {g}(f/e/)| dB/d/ AF/A/|{c}(B/A/) (F/A/) D {F}(E/D/)|B,/D/A,/D/ (D/F/)(B/A/)|F/A/E/A/ D:| |:(f/g/)|a/f/e/d/ b/a/f/d/|A/d/f/d/ .e/(d/B/d/)|D/F/A/d/ F/A/d/e/|f/a/d/f/ e(f/g/)| a/f/e/d/ b/a/f/d/|A/d/f/d/ .e/(d/B/d/)|D/F/A/d/ F/A/d/f/|.(e/A/c/.e/) d:||
SMITH'S REEL. AKA and see "Belle of Lexington," "Belle Election" (John Patterson’s title), “Hauling Home (The),” "Kitty's Wedding (1)," “Mrs. Smith’s Reel,” "Smith's Delight." American, Canadian; Breakdown or Reel (cut or 2/4 time). USA, New England. Canada, Prince Edward Island. USA; Texas, Nebraska, New England. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. A widely disseminated tune in North America, probably originating from it's printing in Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (1883). It is heard in a variety of styles from swing to Maritime. It is well-known among Irish musicians as the hornpipe “Kitty's Wedding (1),” one of the most popular in the repertoire, however, an Irish provenance is doubtful. Irish versions date only back to O’Neill’s Music of Ireland (1903), and there are several melodies in the O’Neill collections that derive from American printed sources. Seattle musician Vivian Williams discovered “Smith’s Reel” in George Saunders’ New and Scientific Self-Instructing School for the Violin, a tutor first published in Providence, R.I., in 1847 (reprinted by Oliver Ditson in the 1850’s). Saunders claimed to be a “Professor of Music and Dancing” on the frontspiece. In that volume Saunders claims to have composed it himself. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (1883), from Boston publisher Elias Howe’s company, includes the melody under the title “Smith's Delight.” It is not known whether the title refers to a person named Smith, or if it instead refers to a blacksmith (however, Saunder’s title is simply “Smith’s Reel”, without an article in front).
