The Great North Run barndance

A lively reel regularly played at my “Plume of Feathers” session, and led by a box player. Usually followed by “South Wind”
Trevor

Its full title is “Great North Run ’86” and it’s by Northumbrian accordionist Robert Whitehead.

I came across this tune some years ago and quite liked it. Nice to hear that it is played at a session and I will certainly try it out myself

This works nicely in an Irish style as well if you fill it out a bit:

K: Gmaj
G2~G2 FGAF|GABc dGBd|e2ce dBAG|ABAG EGDE|
G2~G2 FGAF|GABc dGBd|e2ce dBGB|1 AGFA G3D:|2 AGFA G2ef||
|:g2eg fdBd|edce dGBd|e2ce dBAG|ABAG EGDE|
G2~G2 FGAF|GABc dGBd|e2ce dBGB|1 AGFA G2ef:|2 AGFA G3D||

A variation I like to do now in the 3rd bar of the 2nd part is |c2Ac B2G2|. This nicely continues the downward sequence of the previous two bars, and fits in harmonically with the version as first posted.

Trevor

I learned this reel as part of a set of three: The Great North Run, The Dinnington Rant and The Durham Rangers - these other two I’ve just uploaded here. Have fun

Key signature: G Major
Submitted on August 4th 2007 by spindizzy.
https://thesession.org/tunes/7577
https://thesession.org/tunes/7577/comments

“I got this one from a workshop and we play it with the ”Great North Run“ in our very mixed session.”

# Posted on August 4th 2007 by spindizzy

Check out the notes linked to above. This tune, the melody, if I’d seen it on it’s own without a category like ‘reel’, I would have immediately assumed it was a swung tune and a member of the barndance / schottische family, to be swung. The crotchets / quarter notes ( N2 ) spell out a schottische way with them, the placement of pairs ~ N2 N2 ~ for example ~
| G2 G2 FGAF | ~ and all those bars concluding the same ~ for example ~
| GABc d2 B2 |
That clearly calls out ‘schottische’ to me…

& having some fun with it that way ~ 😉

X: 2
T: The Great North Run ’86
C: Robert Whitehead
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: barndance / schottische
K: G Major
|: (3DEF |
G2 G2 F>GA>F | G>AB>c d2 G2 | e2 e2 d>B (3GAB | ABAG (3EFE D2 |
G2 G2 F>G (3AGF | G>AB>c d2 G2 | e2 ce dGDG | A2 D2 G2 :|
|: (3def |
g2 g2 f>d (3Bcd | e>d^c>e d2 G2 | e2 c>e d2 G>B | A2 (3BAG E2 D2 |
G2 G2 F2 (3FGA | G2 (3ABc d2 G2 | e>d (3cde d>GB>G | A>F (3DEF G2 :|

Yes, I know, it has an ‘author’, apologies Robert if this is taking it beyond your intention. Our creations do not always do as we will, or ~ maybe they do, all that subconscious stuff, your inner voice may have been screaming out “SCHOTTISCHE!” 😉

Heard it played a lot at Whitby Folk Week 2008. Nice tune,goes with Hornpipes and Scottisches

Setting as played at the Golden Guinea pub session, Bristol, UK.

I couple this with John Kirkpatrick’s “Pepper in the Brandy”, which shares the phrase in bar 4. They seem to enjoy each other’s company.

From the playing of Geckoes.