Donald Blue reel

I’m really surprised this tune had not been posted here yet.
Donald Blue is a lovely Shetland Reel (traditional, I think). According to my teacher, it was named after the man called Donald Beu.

Michael McGoldrick and John McSherry recorded a slightly different version.

This tune gets along with O’ost Be Est Da Vong, another Shetland Reel. And also it is a good idea to play this tune before polkas.

This fantastic tune is actually a song, sng by the folk king’s Cappercaile.

The best version I’ve heard of this tune is on John Creaven’s album. Check it out at Cdbaby.com, great flute player.

This tune is also on “kitty lie over” with Mick O’Brian and Caoimhín O Raghallaigh. They play it after the hornpipe An Londubh (track 11), but they don’t list the name. It’s one of my favorite tunes off this recording.

At our session this tune is played in more of an Irish style and the B-part becomes more like Rolling In The Ryegrass. My personal preference is for the original Shetland setting that Yamadasan posted. I like it for its swingy simplicity.

X: 1
T: Johnny Henry’s Favourite
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Dmaj
|:dBAF A2FA|dBAF EFDd|dBAF A2FA|1 ~B3A BABc:|2 ~B3A BAdB||
|:ABde ~f3a|g2fg edBd|ABde fedA|1 ~B3A BAFB:|2 ~B3A BABc||

This is a version (or vice-versa) of “The Kilt is My Delight”.

does anyone know the version mick mcgoldrick and jon mcsherry play ???

john****

My Version

| dBAF A3B | dBAF E2D2 | dBAF A2FA | BcBB AFA :|
| Abde f3d | g3e fedB | Abde fded | B2dB BAFA :|

If my memory is correct, John Creaven’s flute version goes like this:

K: Dmaj
|:dBAF A2FA|dBAF EFD2|dBAF A2FA|1 B2BA B2AB:|2 B2BA B2dB||
|:ABde fddf|gefd edBd|ABde fded|1 B2BA B2dB:|2 B2BA B2AB||

On track 11 “An Londubh”. The second tune seems very close to this one.

Somebody already told that! Sorry! Next time I’ll read all the comments before 🙂

X: 1
T: Donald Blue
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Dmaj
|:dBAF A2 FA|dBAF E2 DF|dBAF A2 FA|ABBA B2 AB|
dBAF A2 FA|dBAF E2 DF|dBAF A2 FA|ABBA B2 dB||
|:ABde fa a2|g2 fg ed (3Bcd|Abce f2 ed|ABBA B2 dB|
ABde fa a2|g2 fg ed (3Bcd|Abce f2 ed|ABBA B2 AB||

Sorry made a mistake above in 2nd part
X: 1
T: Donald Blue
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Dmaj
|:dBAF A2 FA|dBAF E2 DF|dBAF A2 FA|ABBA B2 AB|
dBAF A2 FA|dBAF E2 DF|dBAF A2 FA|ABBA B2 dB||
|:ABde fa a2|g2 fg ed (3Bcd|ABde f2 ed|ABBA B2 dB|
ABde fa a2|g2 fg ed (3Bcd|ABde f2 ed|ABBA B2 AB||

Listen to the Irish version of the tune played by Harry Bradley on the flute: http://www.itma.ie/digitallibrary/sound/swallows-tail-bradley

A minor correction to setting #4, to move the Bs in the second section into the right octave.

Version heard from the playing of Fergal Scahill

Hello Jeff. Thanks for submitting the tune; however… It’s a good idea to check to see if the tune is already here and, if it is, you can add yours as an alternative setting on the same page. “Donald Blue” entered the database 15 years ago here: https://thesession.org/tunes/1175

Heard from the playing of Irish fiddler Fergal Scahill

This tune appears on Drop the Floor’s latest album ‘Fairly Cookin’ - following an adapted version of David Francie’s ‘Annies House. I can’t comment on other versions or settings of the tune but, as far as I’m concerned, it continues to have resonance and will, I suspect, also continue to feature to in many Trad repertoires for a long time to come.
The DTF version is worth a listen though I confess to being 100% biased about this album as anyone checking it out will see! What I have learnt from this site is that there is a song to the tune too - so that is my next project.

Listen and enjoy - or complain!

From a hand written tune book from the Inverness Fiddlers’ Society 1977 shared by Gavin Duncan on Facebook. These notes were attached: “Traditional. As played by Fraser Hughson. Transcribed by Tom Anderson”

Yet another setting but without extraneous “variety notes” thus allowing the musician to exercise one’s own imagination.