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The Ale Is Dear reel

Also known as Elisa Dear, Elsie Dear, Lady Margaret Stewart, Lady Margaret Stewart’s.

There are 35 recordings of this tune.

This tune has been recorded together with

The Ale Is Dear appears in 2 other tune collections.

The Ale Is Dear has been added to 27 tune sets.

The Ale Is Dear has been added to 350 tunebooks.

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Four settings

1
X: 1
T: The Ale Is Dear
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Bmin
|:f2ef B2fe | faea cA Ae |f2 ef B2 fe | fa ec B2 Bc :|
|:BB Bc d2 cB | AA AB AB cA |BB Bc d2 cB | ff ec B2 B2 :|
2
X: 2
T: The Ale Is Dear
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Bmin
e|f2ef B2fe|faef cAec|f2ef B2fe|faec B3:|
A|~B3c d2cB|~A3B ABcA|~B3c d2cB|faec B3A|
~B3c d2cB|~A3B ABcA|d2fd c2ec|faec B3||
3
X: 3
T: The Ale Is Dear
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Bdor
f2 ef B2 fe | faef ceAe | f2 ef B2 fe | faec B4 :|
BABc d2 cB | A2 AB ABcA | BABc d2 cB | efec B4 |
BABc d2 cB |A2 AB ABcA | d2 fd c2 ec | efec B4 |
# Added by Rosin .
4
X: 4
T: The Ale Is Dear
R: reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Bdor
e |: {a} f2 ef Bf{a}fe | (3 fga ec ABce | {a} f2 ef Bf{a}fe |1 (3 fga ec Bcde:|2 (3 fga ec {d}BAFA ||
|: ~B3 c d2cB | ~A3 B ABcA |1 ~B3 c d2cB | cfec {d}BAFA :|2 dfed cdec | (3 fga ec Bcde ||

Seventeen comments

I was surprised this one wasn’t on The Session yet.
In the last 4 bars, where the first note is repeated, you can play "B2 Bc" instead of "BB Bc", it makes it a bit easier.

Bs

Or, maybe ~Bc (use a roll to do the 3 Bs)?

‘the ale is dear’

no, i don’t want to talk about drinking … maybe another time, eh?

instead, i’m posting about the less exalted task of building a set of tunes around ‘the ale is dear’

what i have right now is: the ale is dear / mortgage burn (in B min & A maj respectively).

i’m looking for tunes to stick at either end, or maybe even between the two i have now. any suggestions?

sarah in portland

"Pipey" Setting

K: Bmin
e|f2ef B2fe|faef cAec|f2ef B2fe|faec B3:|
A|~B3c d2cB|~A3B ABcA|~B3c d2cB|faec B3A|
~B3c d2cB|~A3B ABcA|d2fd c2ec|faec B3||

Scots piper Hamish Moore plays it with Tail Toddle in a set. When played properly, this kind of simple tunes could turn into very exciting pieces.

The ale is dear

Nice tune. Anyone know where it’s from?

The Ale Is Dear

As far as I know it’s a traditional Scottish bagpipe reel. I have never seen any composer’s name attached to it.

The Ale Is Dear

We learnt it from the playing of Ossian in the Seventies. Our flute player Christian turned it into a slow air and a strathspey. All three made a nice set.

Posted by .

I like this one slow

Gan Anim Pipe Reel

A simple pipe tune in Bm dorian that has a nice feel. Probably known by another name. This is fun to play with the fiddle tuned up to Bb and played with Highland pipes as long as you don’t stand too close and you’re amplified. We did it in the Highland Storm show at the College of Piping in Summerside, PEI.

Posted by .

Same Tune?

I have a setting of the reel "Lady Margaret Stewart" in Donald MacDonald’s "A Collection of Quicksteps, Strathspeys, Reels, & Jigs Arranged for the highland Bagpipe" from the mid-19th Century and I don’t believe that it is the same tune.

Probably the Original Tune

Robert L. Pekaar’s "An Encyclopedia of Tunes for The Great Highland Bagpipe" lists two settings of "The Ale Is Dear" with "(Tha Leann Daor Aig Na Gillean)". No other alternative names is given. The Gadhlig name is likely the original tune .

Re: The Ale Is Dear

I LOVE this set, with Little Donald in the Pigsty and Mary’s Fancy (great tune, not enough attention paid). Finished with Ale is Dear. All the tunes are played here in Cape Breton. This set has Andrea Beaton, Fin Moore and a couple of friends. Drivin’ her.

http://celtic-colours.com/videos/youtube/