February reel

I first heard this tune on the Magic Square “Traditional Irish Music from Boston” - as played by Dave Cory. I believe it was written by a wonderful fiddle player named Dale Russ although I don’t know the dates. I’ve only heard the tune played on the banjo.

The tune was indeed written by Dale Russ and is the first of a pair of the February Reels. Dale’s composition is slightly different from Dave’s interpretation. I’ll leave it up to Dale to post his versions. I don’t think he wanted anyone to post them on here.

I recognize that this tune went through the brilliant filter of Mr Dave Cory, but I thought I’d offer my own setting, composed on the fiddle.

Only problem is, I don’t know ABC and can’t figure out how to post the sheet music!

DR - go to abcnotation.com for a lesson, it isn’t that complicated and I found it not hard to learn (started posting
tunes last year in ABC and quickly picked up the basics and went on to learn about ornaments, triplets etc).
Quite enjoyed getting into it, kept hard copies of some of it for reference. Try? You can’t post sheet music on
The Session, just ABC.

Thank you, Susan. But how is it possible to download sheet music, as offered, if it can’t be posted? There has to be a way…

You “post” the sheet music by entering it in abc code.

DR : The tune you post in ABC is converted digitally into “sheet music” which you can download as per
DonaldK.

Thanks guys! Might be a while…

One of a pair of striking reels in F# minor (key signature of A) by Dale Russ. Transcendant and evocative of the winter blues, played together as they are on the disc Jody’s heaven (1996) . Play them today to dispel the virus at the door.

Thanks, Steve, for your transcriptions - this one and Feb #2. I’m glad you are enjoying them. I originally recorded them on a solo recording from 1995, inspiringly titled “Irish Fiddle”, backed by guitarist Mike Saunders. It was published by Randal Bays’ Foxglove Records but is long out of print. Best wishes -

This tune sounds very much like the Dunmore Lasses, https://thesession.org/tunes/462 , taken up from E minor to F# minor.

These two tunes February # 1 & 2 are incredibly beautiful , as is the playing of them by Dale Russ. A re-issue of the cd would be a wonderful thing.

From the man himself (and Junji Shirota). Lovely, graceful playing as always! And you get February #2 to follow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUsxnTu3lpA

play video