|
"Billy in the Lowland (1)", also known as "Billy in the Low Land" or "Old Time Billy in the
Low Ground" is an American reel.
There are many variations played in C Major. This version in G major is one of the
most familiar. Alan Jabbour collected
another version
in G Major from Henry Reed in Glen Lyn, Virginia.
Some versions of the tune are related to a much older tune known in Scotland as "The Braes of Auchtertyre" which was first published in Stewart’s Collection about 1761. In Ireland the tune is known as "The Belles of Tipperary" and "The Beaux of Albany" and another tune, "Miss Monaghan's Reel" is related. It was printed in Knauff's Virginia Reels, vol. 3 (1839) (as "Billy in the Low Grounds: A Virginia Reel", Person's Collection of Popular Airs (1889), Brody's Fiddler's Fakebook (1983), Bayard's Hill Country Tunes (1944) (appears as "Reel") and Bayard's Dance to the Fiddle (1981). It has been recorded by Alan Jabbour and Ken Perlman, Grey Larsen, Andy McGann And Paddy Reynolds, Clark Kessinger, Doc Watson, Tony Rice and many others. |