The Virginia reel

Also known as Virginia, The Virginian.

There are 37 recordings of a tune by this name.

The Virginia has been added to 383 tunebooks.

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Two settings

X: 1
T: The Virginia
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
DBBA ~B3A | BAdB AFEF | DF~F2 ~A3B | AFBF AFEF |
DBBA ~B3A | BAdB ABde | ~f3e defe | dBAF BE~E2 :|
|:defe d3A | BAFA dAFA | dffe defg | afbf afeg |
~f3d efdB | AF~F2 ABcd | ~f3e defe | dBAF BE~E2 :|
X: 2
T: The Virginia
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
DBBA ~B3A | BAdB AFEF | DF~F2 ~A3B | AFdB AFEF |
DBBA ~B3A | BAdB ABde | ~f3e defe | dBAF BE~E2 :|
|:defe d3A | BAFA BAFA | defe defg | afbf afeg |
fgfe dedB | AF~F2 ABde | ~f3e defe | dBAF BE~E2 :|

Ten comments

Here’s the tune JMH was after. It’s an organic synthesis of various versions I’ve heard around in sessions, after being left to mature in my head for a few months.

Virginia reel

This is a great reel—-one of my favourites…..We play it right after the Holly Bush at our session in Canada——I just got back from a great 2 week trip to Northern ireland, and heard it played there as well!

# Posted by aoife .

I always liked this one, it’s got a sweet sound, always reminded me of a "major" version of "joe cooley’s reel" although this tune is probably older.

Error?

I’m guessing that in bar six of the second part you would want de instead of cd. As in the first part.

Yeah. I guess it’s so obvious that nobody has mentioned it.

Origin

What is the origin of this tune? Is it named after the U.S. state?

Origin

Kheelch: Food for thought — there is a "Virginia" in County Monaghan. Whether or not the tune is associated with that "Virginia" rather than the U.S. state of "Virginia" (or neither) would be up to someone more knowledgeable than I to say.