Edinburgh Shetland Fiddlers Repertoire.

Introduction.

In 2004 the Committee realised that the Repertoire list on the website had grown to a point where it was no longer a useful resource for a newcomer.

A music subcommittee was set up, which met on 8 September 2004, to refine the list, and to try and find a way to introduce new repertoire. The current members are Helen Brown, Terry Moug, Donald Gorman and Peter Budd.

The list divides the repertoire into four categories

CORE

CORE needing practice

ARCHIVE

RECENT SUGGESTIONS

For a newcomer, the most important category is the CORE repertoire, the sets that everybody knows, and that are played regularly.

In the second category, ‘CORE needing practice’, the committee identified other sets that were almost CORE, but needed to be played more regularly. This category also contains some new sets made by moving tunes between existing sets, which we felt were not being played very much, because the existing sets were too short, or contained tunes that did not seem to go together very well. No completely new tunes were introduced.

As an experiment we intend to pick about four of these sets at a time and ensure that we play them at every meeting for about three months, and then move on and work on another four. Written music will be available at the meetings for the sets we are working on.

Many tunes were simply removed from the old list. Some of the others that are no longer played regularly, but have been so in the past, or because of associations with particular individuals, are in the ARCHIVE List. The Archive list is intended as a reminder for longstanding members, not for newcomers.

RECENT SUGGESTIONS contains tunes that individuals have suggested since mid 2004, and will be added to as suggestions arrive

Sources. See end of document.

Keys are indicated for most tunes.

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CORE sets.

Da Ferrie Reel D

Lay Dee at Dee D

Miss Spence’s Reel D

Jack Broke the Prison Door G

Donald Blue D

Sleep Soond ida Morning Am

Lasses Trust in Providence G

Bonnie Isle of Whalsay G

Da Peerie Hoose Ahint da Burn G

Da Merry Boys of Greenland G

Wallafjord D

Da Tushkar A Ronnie Cooper

Miss Susan Cooper D Ronnie Cooper

Mill Brae A Ronnie Cooper

Faroe Rum D

Aandowing at the Bow G

Da Forefit of the Ship D

John Spence of Uyeasound A

Hurlicks Reel A Tom Anderson

Robertson’s Reel A

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Garster’s Dream G

Da Brig D

Da Shaalds of Foula G

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The Headlands A Ronnie Cooper

Mangister Voe A Tom Anderson

Caledonian March D

The Lovat Scouts A J Scott Skinner

The Duke of Fife’s Farewell to Deeside A J Scott Skinner

The Barren Rocks of Aden D PM A.MacKellar

The 79ths Farewell to Gibraltar A PM J.MacDonald

Ronald Cooper (Shetland two-step) (A/D/A/G/A) (2a,2b,1a,2c,2a) Frank Jamieson

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The Orkney Polkas

Norwegian Polka D Known as The Bergen Polka in Norway

The Old Polka D

(sometimes) Peter Pratt’s Polka D

The Shetland Polkas

Da Boannie Polka D

Seven Step Polka G

Sister Jean D

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The Full Rigged Ship Am

The New rigged ship A

Da Auld Resting Chair G Tom Anderson

Hamnavoe Polka G Tom Anderson

Da Rodd Ta Houll D Tom Anderson

Da Slockit Light D Tom Anderson

Hakki’s Polka D Tom Anderson

Spootiskerry G Ian Burns

Swedish Ganglat D

Danish Hoppsa No.1 G/D

Danish Hoppsa No.2 D “Hoy” tune

Twa’ Fiddles at Da Fireside G Tom Anderson

A tune introduced by Cameron Gaskell, before his obligations to North Sea Gas from around 2003 stopped him coming quite so often.

The Hens March to the Midden

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Louis Waltz D French Canadian From playing of Louis

Beaudoin

Margaret’s Waltz A Pat Shuldham Shaw)

Farewell to Devon A Pat Shuldham Shaw

Margaret’s Waltz

Starry Nights D

Isle of Gletness G

Rona’s Voe G Ronnie Cooper

Sunset over Foula D Ronnie Cooper

Country Waltz Key? American from Graham Dolan

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CORE needing practice

At the meeting on 8 September 2004 we came up with 17 sets to work on. We intend that the first four, (Fort Charlotte, Auld Noost, Shingly Beach, Da Sooth End) will be played at every meeting from October 2004 to January 2005. By this time, we hope it will be possible to move some or all of the four into the CORE section, and then choose another four to work on. Written music for these work in progress sets will be available at the meetings

Fort Charlotte D Gideon Stove New set

Da Guisers Song D Gideon Stove

The Auld Noost G Ronald Jamieson New set

Da Alamootie G Tom Anderson

Shingly Beach G Tom Anderson Brush up

Harmony part Abby Newton;

work on arrangements

Da Sooth End A Willie Hunter Junior New Set

Peter’s Peerie Boat D Tom Anderson

Da Aald Hill Grindd G Traditional from playing of J.J.Stickle

Fram Upon Him D Traditional from playing of J.J.Stickle

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Airthrey Castle D Tom Anderson New set

Da Sixereen D Tom Anderson

Mickie Ainsworth D Ronnie Cooper

Da Rodd Tae Holigarth D Peter Scollay Brush up

Magnie’s Matchless D Peter Scollay

Da Laird O’ Gulberwick G Tom Anderson

Leaving Lerwick Harbour Bb Willie Hunter New set

(Willie) Pottingers Reel F Tom Anderson

Margaret Ann Robertson A Frank Jamieson New set

The Sands of Murness A Frank Jamieson

Saandie Burn Reel A Frank Jamieson

The Joy of It D Catriona MacDonald Brush up

Are there harmony parts to this, if so does anyone have written music for them?

Leveneep Head A Frank Jamieson Brush up

Saint Anne’s Reel D Traditional

Calum Donaldson A Ronnie Cooper

Michael’s Mazurka G, Gm, G Michael Ferrie Brush up

Work on harmony parts and arrangement

Orkney Waltzes

The Stronsay Waltz A J. Chalmers Brush up

The Rope Waltz D Traditional?

The Shetland Fiddler D Traditional? Brush up

The Hamilton Rant (Dr Bob Smith) D J.Stanley Hamilton

Rosedale D Traditional?, from playing of Willie Johnson

Da Lerwick Lasses G Trad. from playing of J.C.Smith Brush up

Da Scallowa Lasses Am Trad. from playing of Peter Fraser

Underhill G Trad. from playing of Peter Fraser

Da Galley Watch D Trad. from Mirrie Dancers

Signature Tune of the Orkney- Brush up

-Reel and Strathspey Society D Traditional

Gairsay D W.R.Aim

Svensk Maskerade G ?Traditional Brush up

If I Get a Boannie Lass G Trad. from playing of Henry Thomson Brush up

Jeannie Shock Da Bairn G Trad. from playing of Henry Thomson

Oot be Est da Vong D Trad. from playing of Henry Thomson

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Archive Tunes and Historical Associations

This is Peter Budd’s very subjective list of tunes we don’t regularly play anymore. The enormous ESF repertoire list which was on the website up to January 2005, was an unwieldy amalgam of a list I made in 1991 of repertoire the fiddlers had been playing from 1981, when I first went to Zetland Hall in Pilrig Street, to which tunes had been added year by year. Many of these additions may have only been played once, but made a big impression, or perhaps someone provided written music in the hope we would learn the tunes. These strays have been removed.

In editing the list for this 2005 Archive section I have selected tunes that had strong specific connections with individual players or used to be CORE tunes for the whole group. The Archive list is intended as a reminder for longstanding members of the group, not for newcomers.

Peter Budd January 2005.

The 1980s. In 1981 at Zetland Halls in Pilrig Street, the group had a core of 20-30 older players, (over 60), probably all male and mostly from Shetland, and a leader, Willie Johnson, originally from Yell. The only names I know are those that kept coming in later years when the group moved to the West End hotel: and these included Bobby Tulloch, Sam Hepburn, Willie Smith, Dick Rutter, and Ronnie Watson. I remember the repertoire being roughly half Shetland – most of which are still being played in 2005, and half pipe tunes; all played very energetically, and a few mainland standards – what Kerr’s Merry Melodies classes as country dance tunes. There were few mainland sets, and no slow airs or other listening sets.

Willie Johnson was a great enthusiast for, and player of pipe tunes, especially the classic 2/4 and 6/8 marches that do not feature at all in the current ESF repertoire, and sadly I cannot remember many of the pipe sets, but examples were:

The Hills of Perth (2/4) A Traditional

The Athole and Breadalbane Gathering A W Ferguson

The Rhodesia Regiment Second Battalion Source unknown

Glengarry’s March (2/4) A

The Heights of Alma (2/4) A

Tam Bain’s Lum (hornpipe) D PM D.S.Ramsay

Mr and Mrs Alec Ross (6/8 March) D John MacGregor

Crossing the Minch (hornpipe) D Donald Macleod

Mair’s Hornpipe

Burning of the Pipers Hut (2/4) Bm 4 parts Traditional

Paddy’s Leather Breeches (6/8 jig) Bm Traditional

The Jig of Slurs (6/8 jig) D PM G.S.McLennan

The Atholl Highlanders Farewell to Loch Katrine A W. Rose

The Conundrum A Donald Macleod.

The Drunken Piper (March) A A. MacLeod

Country dance tunes in the 1980s included:

Bratach Banna D

The Hopeful Lover A

Title Unknown D

The Piper’s Cave D

The Breakdown A

Fairy Dance D

Mrs MacLeod A

Staten Island D

Davy Nick Nack G

Dancing Bear Em

Soldier’s Joy D

White Cockade G

Jenny Nettles Am

A set of tunes for the Eightsome Reel, from Elizabeth Peploe, which may reflect the Suzuki repertoire more than ESF.

Dan the Cobbler D

The Blackthorn Stick A

The Rakes of Kildare Am

Father O ‘Flynn D

Cherish the Ladies D

The New Rigged Ship D

Off she Goes D

The Mucking of Geordies Byre D

Teviot Brig A

Cumberland Reel D

Captain White D

Roaring Jelly D

In the mid 1980’s the Zetland Association sold the building in Pilrig Street, and the ESF moved to the West End Hotel. Arthritis forced Willie Johnson to stop playing and he moved back to Shetland. After his departure Bobby Tulloch took on the role of spokesman and liased with the Zetland association, but the group operated without a musical leader, and the repertoire changed overnight to reflect other players preferences. The pipe tunes disappeared, solo playing and group playing of slow airs, both Shetland and mainland like the Auld Resting Chair, Da Slockit Light, Sitting in the Stern of a Boat etc became common.

During the late 1980’s, in the upstairs room at the West End Hotel, Thursday nights would find Ronnie Watson occupying the same seat on the left of the fireplace and Sam Hepburn, an Orcadian, on the right. Ronnie had played cornet in a dance band and was very fond of Scottish Country Dance Band tunes with key changes like the two steps, The Six Twenty Two Step, Looking for a Partner, Maggie Watson’s Farewell to Blackhammer (J.Craigie) polka and Adam Rennie tunes like Caddam Woods.

The Duke of Perth G

Lady Mackenzie of Coull D

Caddam Woods G once through

Caddam Woods A once through

The Bluebell Polka G /C Jimmy Shand

Sam held the fiddle vertically on his chest and had a wonderful dynamic and rhythmic style, moving the bow vertically up and down, at first glance appearing expressionless, but always with a twinkle in his eye. He knew a lot of old mainland tunes. One set that was always identified with him was:

‘Sam’s Jigs’

The Braes of Elchies? D

Pet of the Pipers A

The Banks of Allan D

The Hills of Glenorchy Em

The Drunken Parson G

In the Late 1980’s the group had regular visitors from Sweden, Lotta, Lena and ?Andras, who were interested in both Shetland and Swedish music, playing fiddles ,mandolin and nyckelharpa. This encouraged an interest in Swedish music in some members of the group, particularly Donald Ross and Elizabeth Peploe. A Shetland set that Lotta introduced us to was:

Da Sooth End A Willie Hunter Senior

Peter’s Peerie Boat D Tom Anderson

Mavis Grinnd A Source unknown

Jenny Slater D Tom Anderson

Dick Rutter has been a member of the group for at least twenty years, and is still coming regularly in 2004. His preferences are for the repertoire from the North East of Scotland, often in distant keys, including many beautiful Slow Airs and Slow Strathspeys. He seems to constantly learn new, often very technically demanding tunes, which he plays on fiddles he has made himself. Many of these tunes are solo pieces, but a few of his favourites like Ian Powrie’s Big Dougal (a tune written for a Clydesdale horse), Margaret Ann Robertson, and Mrs Helen Robertson have gone into the group repertoire.

Some of the CORE sets of tunes which used to played by everyone, but which we do not play regularly anymore include:

Fort Charlotte D Gideon Stove

Da Rodd ta Houll D Tom Anderson

The Hillswick Wedding D Tom Anderson

Up and Doon Da Harbour A

Da Cross Reel Am

Da Fashion o’ Da Delting Lasses D

Unst Bridal March G or A

Da Bride’s a Boannie Ting G or A

Da Greenland Man’s tune A

Christmas Day I’da Morning D

Millie Godger D

A speciality of Elizabeth Peploe, it contains some hard to follow extra beats.

Da Day Dawn A

Three Drunken Fiddlers Em

Oliver Jack G

Da Black Hat D

Three Drunken Fiddlers was a tune Catriona MacDonald taught the ESF in about 2000

Up Helly Aa Tunes

The Guizers song Key? Gideon Stove

The Galley March Key? Gideon Stove

Midnight on the Water D American Waltz, after Benny Thomasson

My Love is Like a Red, Red, Rose Key?

A Rosebud by my early walk Key?

Ye Banks and Braes G

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RECENT SUGGESTIONS since mid 2004

Rayburn Reel A/Am Stephen Spence

Gibbie Gray Am Stephen Spence

Pigs Reel C Stephen Spence

In the summer of 2004 Graham Dolan went up to Shetland for a guitar course. He came back and told us that in Shetland they don’t play any of “those old tunes” anymore……, and he gave us the music for these three that were very popular while he was there.

Ashokan Farewell D Jay Ungar

New Island Waltz D Blair Douglas

Come Back Paddy Reilly F or G or A. Traditional?

Isle of Vaila D Alan Gifford

In January 2005, Vaila Irvine, from the Zetland Association, put in a request for the set of three waltzes to be played by the ESF at the annual Sossermeat Supper in Leith Town Hall at the end of February. In the event it took us so long to find the music for the Blair Douglas tune that we didn’t have time to learn them. While searching, Peter Brown found the Isle of Vaila music that we think must have been a similar unfulfilled request on a previous occasion. Maybe we will do better next year.

The Orkney Hoy Set keys?

This came from Amy Westwell(fiddle) and her father Phil (low whistle) who came to meetings in 2004, and had spent time in Orkney. Does anyone know the names of the tunes?

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Sources, written and recorded.

Where known I have tried to include the composer’s name.

The pre 2005 repertoire list was annotated with written and recorded sources for each tune. I feel this is no longer useful. The original list was made in 1991, and an increasing number of the sources listed are no longer in print.

Instead I have listed the most important sources with an indication of which tunes they contain.

Recordings

The finest source for many of the Shetland tunes in the group’s repertoire is the CD resissue on TOPIC of the two CDs that Tom Anderson recorded with Aly Bain in the early 1980’s. This is currently available in January 2005.

TOPIC TSCD469 THE SILVER BOW

Tom Anderson MBE, fiddler, composer, folklorist and teacher, was a profoundly influential figure in Shetland music. He and Aly Bain, with Trevor Hunter and Davie Tulloch, spanning three generations of music-making in the islands, play fiddle duets and quartets in the distinctive Shetland idiom.

ALY BAIN & TOM ANDERSON THE SILVER BOW TSCD469

1 Jack Broke da Prison Door / Donald Blue / Sleep Soond ida

Mornin' / Lasses Trust in Providence / Bonnie Isle o' Whalsay

2 Da Day Dawn / Da Cross Reel

3 Shive Her Up / Ahint da Deakes o' Voe

4 Da Silver Bow

5 Auld Foula Reel / Wynadepla

6 Da Slockit Light / Smith o' Couster / Da Grocer

7 Da Auld Restin' Chair / Hamnavoe Polka / Maggie's Reel

8 Unst Bridal March / Da Bride's a Boannie Ting

9 Jack is Yel Alive / Auld Clettenroe

10 Da Mill / Doon da Rooth

11 Pit Hame da Borrowed Claes / Wha'll Dance wi' Wattie /Bush Below da Gairden

12 Soldier's Joy

13 Shetland Moods / De'il Stick da Minister / Taste da Green

14 Dean Brig / Banks

15 Ferrie Reel / Lay Dee at Dee / Spencie's Reel

16 Up an' Doon da Harbour / Lucky Can You Link Ony /

Da Trig Bag

17 The Silvery Voe / Mrs Babs Anderson / Pottinger's Reel

18 If I Get a Bonnie Lass / Jeannie Shoke da Bairn /

Oo't be Est da Vong

19 Auld Swaara

20 Faroe Rum / Aandowin' at da Bow / Da Forefit o' da Ship

21 Mrs Jamieson's Favourite / Lady Mary Ramsay / Mary Ramsay

22 All da Ships ir Sailin' / Sheldor Geo / Mak a Kishie Needle Dye

23 Freddie's Tune / Da Blue Yow

24 The Full Rigged Ship / The New Rigged Ship

25 Naanie an' Betty / A Yow Cam' to Wir Door Yarmin

26 Maggie O'Ham / Da Foula Shaalds

27 Com Agen Ye're Welcome / Da Corbie an' da Craw

28 Ian S. Robertson / Madam Vanoni

Tom Anderson fiddle

Aly Bain fiddle

Trevor Hunter fiddle

Davie Tulloch fiddle

Violet Tulloch piano

Willie Johnson guitar

Written Sources

The most important sources are three books from Tom Anderson, which are, sadly, no longer in print. Edinburgh Music Library used to have copies, they may still have them.

The Edinburgh Shetland Fiddlers has a small library, and Peter Brown, our librarian may be able to help with hard to locate items.

Hand me Doon Da Fiddle. Tom Anderson and Pam Swing. University of Stirling. Department of Continuing Education, 1979. Book and cassette.

Da Mirrie Dancers. Shetland Folk Society. 1970 and an extended edition in 1985.

Ringing Strings. Tom Anderson. Shetland Times Limited. 1983.

The tunes contained in these books are listed below

The other Tom Anderson collections that were published after this, contain almost exclusively his own compositions, and are not sources for the ESF repertoire.

There are a number of Shetland Tunes in books published by Christine Martin, which are readily available at present (2005).

Cruinn Comhla. The Well Travelled Fiddlers Collection.

Christine Martin and Anne Hughes. Taigh na Teud (Harpstring House) 1995

Ho Ro Gheallaidh. Volume 1. Session Tunes For Scottish Fiddlers.

Christine Martin and Anne Hughes. Taigh na Teud (Harpstring House) 1990

Ho Ro Gheallaidh. Volume 2. Session Tunes For Scottish Fiddlers.

Christine Martin and Anne Hughes. Taigh na Teud (Harpstring House) 1998

The Shetland Tunes in these three books are listed below.