Peter Street reel

from a New England collection.

This tune appears to be originally Scottish. It is also known as “Timour the Tartar”.

As a Northumbrian I know this one as “The Blanchland Races”. Blanchland is a lovely little village in South Northumberland with lots of old sandstone buildings, and for such a little place, there are quite a lot of tourists in summer who all head for the tea rooms. I’m not sure of the true origins of the tune - some people have said that it is English, but I would probably agree with you on this one, Trevor. It sounds more Scottish than Northumbrian, but there are a lot of Borders tunes that appear to have been passed back and forth between both sides of the border to the extent that the tune’s origins get lost along the way. I would guess that since the tune has been around for a long time in Northumberland under a different name, if it is Scottish, it will be a Scottish Borders tune.
Mark

Transpose this tune to its “proper” key (wink-wink), D major, and you’ve got a great pipe tune. Robbie Hannan recorded it on “The Drones and Chanters, Vol II”.

John McGann has this tune in his Book “Octave Mandolin & Bouzouki” which plays very nicely in A, and I have transposed it to G for ease of playing. I haven’t heard it in a session before, anyone care to venture why? It’s an excellent reel with a tricky part in B, where you have to make sure the timing doesn’t get hung up.

by Randy Miller and Jack Perron, first published in 1983.

Page 153: “Peter Street Reel”

In a book I have, it says this tune (Timour the Tartar) was recorded in 1910 by the Scottish fiddler J. Scott Skinner, “The Strathspey King”.

… though the version I have has “fewer” notes and is a Strathspey.

For example, in the second and fourth bars, there are no alternating low A’s or low E’s (respectively). The bars are simply written as quarter notes. A few other bars have quite a few differences. The tune posted here seems to be a slightly Irished-ized version. (I know, that’s not a word….)

I take that back, it IS written as a reel in my version as well….

I don’t remember the name on the vinyl but this tune was played by Dave Swarbrick on one of this solo album in 197xxx …with some little differences
May be “The Nightingale ?” but I’m really not sure
(sorry for my bad english, I’am french…)

Key signature: A Major
Submitted on January 23rd 2008 by D.J.F..
~ /tunes/8175

X: 2
T: Babes In The Wood
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: A Major
|: E2 |\
A3 c ecAc | e2 a2 g2 f2 | e3 c ecAc | B2 d2 c2 B2 |
A3 c ecAc | e2 a2 g2 f2 | e3 c a2 c2 | B4 A2 :|
|: E2 |\
E3 G BGEG | B2 d2 c2 B2 | A3 c ecAc | e2 a2 g2 f2 |
e3 c a3 f | e3 c a3 f | e2 c2 a2 c2 | B4 A2 :|

This very simple yet effective reel is, I’m guessing, from Scotland. I first heard it whilst playing with the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra about five years ago. My first traditional music experience I think!

Here is a link for you to hear the reel…you just catch it at the end of the thirty second long sample:

http://www.amazon.com/Legendary-Scottish-Fiddle-Orchestra/dp/B00000IM4N

Click on sample no. 6

# Posted on January 23rd 2008 by D.J.F.

X: 1
T: Peter Street in G
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
G2 (3BAG dG (3BAG|dGgG fGeG|dG (3BAG dGeG|ADcD BDAD|
G2 (3BAG dG (3BAG|dGgG fGeG|dedB dgdB|AGAB G4:|
|:D2 (3FED AD (3FED|ADcD BDAD|G2 (3BAG dG (3BAG|dGgG fGeG|
d^cdB gfge|d^cdB gfge|dBgf edcB|AGFE DEFD:||

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm_tS0CHBug

play video

Seán McCarthy from Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, All-Ireland Under-18 Champion on uileann pipes for 2005, plays a selection of reels - “Strawberry Blossom” and “Peter St.”. Recorded at Fleadh Nua, Ennis, Co. Clare in May 2005.

http://comhaltas.ie/music/detail/comhaltaslive_326_6_sean_mccarthy_on_uileann_pipes/

Anyone have the transcription of Peter Street recorded in Flook’s “Heavn” ?

The above transcription points to an totally different tune.

This version from boxplayer Thomas Sheridan of Boston. It was also recorded by Boston bandleader Dan Sullivan on keyboard as one of several tunes in a medley titled, “Nano’s Favorites” here: https://youtu.be/vCQORrS63EY?t=1m18s

play video

For Piping

Setting in A Major with chords and no ornamentation.