|
"Da Foula Reel" also known as "Da Auld Foula Reel", "Da Shaalds O' Foula" or
"The Aald Reel" is not a reel at all but a Shetland jig in 6/8 time.
Some sources call it E Minor and some call it G Major. The tune is circular but seems to
come to rest on G as I have noted it here.
The parts are played AABB. Hunter (1979) states the tune popularly used for country dances is known today as "Da Shaalds O' Foula" or "Da Foula Shaalds" but "The Foula Reel" is another tune altogether whose dance has been lost. Anderson & Georgeson (1970) assert that there are many variations of both melody and dance (though most versions are in jig time, with only a few in reel time) that go by all four titles mentioned above. John Purser says the "Foula Reel" is still danced as a country dance in jig time. He thinks the tune had its origins on the Scottish mainland. A note in Old-lore Miscellany of Orkney, Shetland, Caithness and Sutherland (1913) explains: "Da Shaalds o' Foula" is also named from a fishing bank near Foula. "Da Shaalds" simply means the shallow water. The music is known as "The Foula Reel". The fishing ground known as the "Shaalds" was very productive and furnished the chief source of income of the hardy islanders.The tune was printed in Anderson & Georgeson's Da Mirrie Dancers (1970), Barnes' English Country Dance Tunes, vol. 2 (2005) and Hunter's Fiddle Music of Scotland (1988). It was recorded by Abby Newton on Castles, Kirks and Caves (2001) and Aly Bain & Ale Möller on Fully Rigged. |