Charlie Harris’s polka

I was taught this tune recently as part of some intensive work on polka rhythm (basically, accent the 2nd and 4th 1/8 notes - not easy on the fiddle if you’ve been taught all your life to accent the 1st and 3rd beats!).
This version is based on Kevin Burke’s derivation from Charlie Harris’s Reel, on one of Kevin Burke’s cds.
In sessions in Bristol this tune is often linked with Jessica’s polka. When played properly, you realise that polkas are not really tunes for beginners - although the notes are easy enough, which is an excuse for teaching polkas to beginners. The internal accentuation of the rhythm needs a degree of bow control which is more applicable to the “improver”.
Trevor

I agree with you entirely.

Have heard that tune last week in Ireland played as a reel named John Blessings. It was followed by another interesting tune called The Pride of the Bronx. Does anybody know the sheetnotes of that tune?

craics90 - I saw that you’d requested “Pride Of The Bronx”. I have it “in the pipeline”. Unless someone else posts it before me, I will in the next few days.

Key signature: D Major
Submitted on March 22nd 2007 by gaitazampogna_32.

A few small differences for comparison ~

K: D Major
|: B | AF DF | EF DF | AF AB | e2 d>B |
AF DF | EF DF | AF AB | d2 d :|
|: A |d2 fd | ef dB | AF AB | e2 dA |
[1 d2 fd | ef dB | AF AB | d3 :|
[2 df f/e/f/g/ | af f>f| af ef | d3 ||

“From the playing of Kevin Burke. This is a polka version of
Charlie Harris’ Reel.” ~ Madison

# Posted on March 22nd 2007 by gaitazampogna_32

K: D Major
|: d>B | AF DF | EF DF | AF AB | e2 d>B |
AF DF | EF DF | AF AB | d2 :|
|: d>A |df f>d | ef dB | AF A/B/c/d/ | ef/e/ d>A |
[1 df fd | ef d>B | AF AB | d2 :|
[2 df f>g | af f/e/f/g/ | af ef/e/ | d2 ||

Here’s the link to the REEL Version: https://thesession.org/tunes/4620