Reel (dance)
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The reel is a
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Jig_shoe_3.jpg/220px-Jig_shoe_3.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/Irish_Dance_Soft_Shoes.jpg/220px-Irish_Dance_Soft_Shoes.jpg)
In Irish dance, a reel is any dance danced to music in reel time (see below). In Irish stepdance, the reel is danced in soft shoes and is one of the first dances taught to students. There is also a treble reel, danced in hard shoes to reel music.
History
The reel is indigenous to Scotland. The earliest reference was in a trial of 1590, where the accused was reported to have "daunced this reill or short dance."
After being introduced to Ireland in the late eighteenth century it thrived.
Reel music
Reel music is notated in simple metre, most commonly either in 2
2 or 4
4. For example, the same reel Rakish Paddy is notated in a 2
2 time signature in O'Neill's Music of Ireland, New & Revisited,[5] but in 4
4 time in English, Welsh, Scottish & Irish Fiddle Tunes,[6] with no change to the note lengths.
All reels consist largely of
2 time signature. Like most dance music originating in the British Isles, reels are usually composed in binary form, meaning they have two parts (A and B); in most reels each part is repeated (AABB), but in others it is not (ABAB). Each part (A and B) typically has eight bars, which in turn are divisible into four-bar and two-bar phrases. (An exception is the "auld reel" of Shetland which tends to irregular structure and may have been influenced by the Norwegian halling
Reels are popular in the
References
- ^ a b Haigh, Chris (2013). Exploring Folk Fiddle. London: Schott. p. 11.
- ^ Newes from Scotland. Declaring the damnable life of Doctor Fian a notable sorcerer, who was burned at Edenbrough in Ianuarie last. London 1591. (Glasgow University Library: Sp Coll Ferguson Al-a.36)
- ^ ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0.
- ^ Haigh, Chris (2009). The Fiddle Handbook. Hal Leonard.
- ^ Krassen, Miles (1976). O'Neill's Music of Ireland, New & Revisited. p. 158.
- ^ Williamson, Robin (1976). English, Welsh, Scottish & Irish Fiddle Tunes. p. 69.
External links
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