When I was learning the Hammered Dulcimer it was explained to me that the Hornpipe in North America is played two ways. Both as a Hornpipe and as Reel. This is because of a homoginization of the music by fiddlers who found the lift in Hornpipe not as easy to play as the straight reel.

The trick as I recall was explained to me is in the dotted notes that give the horn pipe the lilt.

Don