Annotation:Old Polka (The)

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OLD POLKA, THE. Scottish, Polka. Scotland, Orkney Islands. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. A traditional tune from Orkney. Phillip Heath-Coleman [1] finds cognates in Beatrice Hill's "Three Hand Reel" (not the "Three Handed Reel (2)" printed by Lionel Bacon), Charles D'Albert's "Moldavian Schottische", Charlie Batchelor's "George Parkin's Schottische" (CS AFM 002) and Dennis Crowther's 'No.3' as collected by John Kirkpatrick. "It is referred to in Norfolk," notes Phillip, "as a "very old schottische" by Walter Geary, who nonetheless diddled it as a quick march (while stepping)."

Source for notated version: fiddler Tommy Mainland (b. 1938, Orkney) [Martin].

Printed sources: Martin (Traditional Scottish Fiddling), 2002; p. 102.

Recorded sources: Orkney Strathspey and Reel Society - "Orkney Fiddle Music" (1976). Attic Records, The Wrigley Sisters with David Campbell - "Orkney after Sunset" (2000). Folkways Records FW 8470, Hugh Inkster & Allie Windward - "Music from the Orkney Islands" (1979). Orkney Strathspey & Reel Society - "Itchy Fingers."

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