Annotation:Rock Reel (The)

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X:1 T:Rock Reel, The M:C L:1/8 R:Reel S:Rev. Luke Donnellan – “Oriel Songs and Dances", S:Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society (vol. II, No. 2, 1909; No. 80) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:Ador eA A/A/A eAef|gfgd BGGB|eA A/A/A eAef|gedB A2 AB| eA A/A/A eAef|gfgd BGGB|ABcd egfa|gedB A2 AB|| Beef gaba|gfgd BGGB|Beef gaba|gedB A2 AB| Beef gaba|gfgd BGGB|bgaf gefd|gedB egfa||

ROCK REEL, THE. Irish, Reel (cut or whole time). A Dorian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. "The Rock Reel" is contained in the late 19th/early 20th century music manuscript that was in the possession of curate Rev. Luke Donnellan, Oriel region, south Ulster^[1]. "Rock Reel" was also included in the tune list of piper Philip Goodman (c. 1831-1908), Carrickmacross, Ireland, who is variously described as "the last professional and traditional piper in Farney, Louth", and also recorded as having been from Donaghmoyne, County Monaghan (all of which are places from the same area, and contiguous to the Donnellan's Oriel region).

Donnellan set the tune in A minor, recast as A dorian by O'Connor.

Researchers Fr. John Quinn and Conor Ward link "Rock Reel" with the "Famous Ballymote (The)" tune family that includes "Marquis of Huntly's Reel (3)," "Pleasant Gardens (The)," "Roast Beef from London," "Pride of Ahamore, "Skibbereen Lasses (The)," and "Sporting Days of Easter (4) (The)."

Additional notes
Source for notated version : - Rev. Luke Donnellan music manuscript collection [O'Connor].

Printed sources : - Rev. Luke Donnellan, “Oriel Songs and Dances” (Journal of the County Louth Archeological Society, vol. II), No. 2, 1909; No. 80. Gerry O'Connor (The Rose in the Gap), 2018; No. 66, p. 51.

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↑ Donnellan researcher Gerry O'Connor came to believe the ms. is not the work of the curate but rather was originally compiled by an unknown but able fiddler over the course of a playing lifetime, probably in the late 19th century. The ms. later came into the possession of Donnellan, who was also a fiddler.

[1] Donnellan researcher Gerry O'Connor came to believe the ms. is not the work of the curate but rather was originally compiled by an unknown but able fiddler over the course of a playing lifetime, probably in the late 19th century. The ms. later came into the possession of Donnellan, who was also a fiddler.

[1]