Annotation:Smith's Reel (1)

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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).

Additional notes

Source for notated version: - Wikipedia:Bob_Walters (1889-1960, Burt County, Nebraska) [Christeson]; Peter Chaisson, Jr. (b. 1942, Bear River, North-east Kings County, Prince Edward Island) [Perlman].

Printed sources : - Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; p. 260. R.P. Christeson (Old Time Fiddlers Repertory, vol. 1), 1973; No. 79, p. 59. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; p. 46. Howe (Musician's Omnibus), 1864. Miller & Perron (New England Fiddler’s Repertoire), 1983; No. 91. Perlman (The Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island), 1996; p. 71. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1), 1994; p. 224. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; p. 73. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; p. 145.

Recorded sources: -County 707, Norman Solomon "Texas Fiddle Favorites." Flying Fish FF 247, "Fiddle Fever" (1981). Mag 3901, Sumner and McReynolds "Old Friends." Rounder 1027, Johnnie Lee Wills, "Tulsa Swing." Recorded by Bob Wills (Texas) in 1935.

See also listing at:
Hear northeast Ky. fiddler Alfred Bailey's (1918-1996) version at Berea Sound Archives [1]

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