Eightsome Reel choices

Subject: RE: Eightsome Reel choices
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 22 Sep 16 - 07:45 PM

We have 3 Eightsome Reel sets in one band I play in, and use the same system of repeats as Vic's. FWIW, someone told me the AABBAB sequence fits the pattern of the dance better.....? In the other one, we tend to do ABABAB for the tunes between the beginning and end tunes.

Set 1:
De'il Amang the Tailors in A - AABBB
Wind that Shakes the Barley in D x 3
Mrs Macleod of Raasay in A - AABBAB
Flowers of Edinburgh in G - AABBAB
Lass O' Patie's Mill in D - AABBAB
East Neuk of Fife in G - AABBAB
Bottom of the Punchbowl in D - AABBAB
New High Level in G - AABBAB
Soldier's Joy in D - AABBAB
De'il Amang the Tailors - AABBB

Set 2:
Duke of Perth in G - AABBB
Lass O' Patie's Mill in D - AABBAB
I'll Gang Nae Mair Tae Yon Toon in A - AABBAB
Barren Rocks of Aden in D - AABBAB
Rakes of Mallow in A modal - AABBAB (modal to accommodate our former piper!)
Teribus in D - AABBAB
Davy Nick Nack in G- AABBAB
Deveron in D - AABBAB
Willafjord in D - AABBAB
Duke of Perth in G - AABBB

Set 3:
Kate Dalrymple in A - AABBB
Reel of Tullochgorum (aka Jamie Allan) in A - AABBAB
Drunken Piper in Am - AABBAB
Old Grey Cat in Em - AABBAB
Fairy Dance in D x 3
Dornoch Links in A - AABBAB
Barrowburn Reel in D - AABBAB
Walking on the Moon in A - AABBAB
Staten Island in D - AABBAB
Kate Dalrymple in A - AABBB

Other band set:
Soldier's Joy in D - AABBB
Peat Fire Flame in Em - ABABAB
East Neuk of Fife in G - ABABAB
White Cockade in D - ABABAB
Dornoch Links in A - ABABAB
New High Level in G - ABABAB
Lass o' Patie's Mill in D - ABABAB
Jessie's Hornpipe (aka The Ton) in G - ABABAB
Breakdown in A - ABABAB
Soldier's Joy in D - AABBB

Subject: RE: Eightsome Reel choices
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Sep 16 - 09:33 AM

Many thanks Vic - yet more interesting variations on the 40 and 48 bar sequences.

Subject: RE: Eightsome Reel choices
From: Vic Smith
Date: 22 Sep 16 - 09:27 AM

SUSSEX PISTOLS' sequence for Eightsome Reel :-

EIGHTSOME REEL
Intro – The Fairy Dance (in D) played ABABB
First Woman – Jenny Lind Polka played AABBAB
Second Woman – The Girl With The Blue Dress on played AABBAB
Third Woman – Paddy Breen's Favourite played AABBAB
Fourth Woman – All The Way To Galway played AABBAB
First Man – A Trip To Brighton played AABBAB
Second Man – Brighton Camp played AABBAB
Third Man – Birds In the Wilderness played AABBAB
Fourth Man – La Russe played AABBAB
Outro – The Fairy Dance (in D) played ABABB

Subject: Eightsome Reel choices
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Sep 16 - 08:52 AM

We were rehearsing the tunes we play for the Eightsome Reel last night. There are not only many, many tunes to choose for the set but several ways of parcelling out the A and B parts. I'm curious as to the choices that other players make - hence the title of this thread.

We do:

Devil Among The Tailors (AA BBB) = 40 bars
Soldier's Joy (A BB ) x 2 = 48 bars
Fairy Dance (A BB ) x 2 = 48 bars
Staten Island (A BB ) x 2 = 48 bars
Morpeth Rant (A BB ) x 2 = 48 bars
Speed The Plough (A BB ) x 2 = 48 bars
Spoot O' Skerry (A BB ) x 2 = 48 bars
Miss McLeod's (A BB ) x 2 = 48 bars
Soldier's Joy (A BB ) x 2 = 48 bars
Devil Among The Tailors (AA BBB) = 40 bars

We experimented with the 48 bar sequences by playing (as some other bands do) with AB AB AB - and then AAA BBB - but the double A BB sequences seemed to stick in the brain more easily!