Annotation:Grondeuse (1) (La)
Tune properties and standard notation
GRONDEUSE [1], LA (The Grumbling Woman). AKA and see "Bennett's Favorite," "Great Eastern Reel," "John Brennan's Reel," "Silver Spire (The)." New England, French Canadian; Reel. D Major. Standard or ADae tunings (fiddle). AB (Laufman): AABB (Millet & Perron): The title is associated not with one particular tune, but with the 'G' string which is tuned up to 'A' in the Québecois tradition. "La Grondeuse" is universally played in the Québec fiddle tradition, though versions and parts can differ greatly, and it is often the vehicle for step-dancing. A variety of tunes are played as "La Grondeuse," with each fiddler seeming to have his or her own version. One "La Grondeuse" is AKA "Bennet's Favorite"/"Great Eastern"/"Silver Spire" but there are other, unrelated Grondeuses as well.
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: Laufman (Okay, Let's Try a Contra, Men on the Right, Ladies on the Left, Up and Down the Hall), 1973; p. 17. Miller & Perron (New England Fiddlers Repertoire), 1983; No. 156.
Recorded sources: Great Meadow Music, Nightengale - "Sometimes When the Moon is High" (1996). Midnight Music CD001, Nightengale. Wild Asparagus WA 003, Wild Asparagus - "Tone Roads" (1990).