Acceptable Tunes in the “Reel Category” – An Aid for Novice Competitors
This is a list of acceptable reels and hornpipes that can be used at contests. This list was very difficult to make up – not because of the titles but because there is a lot of controversy over exactly what is what in the area of “reels”.
The tunes here are not tunes that must be used nor even ones that are “recommended”. Rather it is a list of tunes that a novice or entry level competitor can use with reasonable assurance that the piece will be acceptable to the judges at a contest. Judges are drawn from all over and from all backgrounds and there may be pieces in this list that a particular judge “hates”, and that may influence his judgment, that cannot be helped.
If a competitor has a tune they would like to use in competition that is not on this list by all means do so – it would be a good idea to consult with a knowledgeable expert in your own area it there is some doubt.
As a point of interest a good definition of a reel is one that a square dance can be called to.
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Title
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Key
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Book Where the Tune Can Be Found for Reference*
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St. Anne’s Reel
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D |
The Fiddler’s Fakebook
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Big John MacNeil
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A
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Messer Anthology
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Schryer’s Breakdown
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G
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Canadian Fiddle Music Vol 1
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Swamplake Breakdown
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G
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Messer Anthology
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Soldier’s Joy
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D
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The Fiddler’s Fakebook
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Whalen’s Breakdown
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C
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Messer Anthology
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Victory Breakdown
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D
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Messer Anthology
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Durang’s Hornpipe
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D & A
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The Fiddler’s Fakebook
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Woodchopper Breakdown
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D
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Messer Anthology
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Devil’s Dream
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A
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The Fiddler’s Fakebook
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Blind Man’s Reel
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F
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Messer Anthology
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Kiley’s Reel
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A
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Messer Anthology
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Operator Reel
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D
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Messer Anthology
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Pictou Island Reel
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D
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Messer Anthology
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The Old Man and the Old Woman
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G or D
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Messer Anthology
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Angus Cambell
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A
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Messer Anthology
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Johnny Hamlin’s Breakdown
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D
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Messer Anthology
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Patronella
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D
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Messer Anthology
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Don Messer’s Breakdown
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C
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Messer Anthology
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Uncle Henry’s Reel
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A
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Traditional American Fiddle Tunes Vol 1
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Sir Wilfred Laurier Reel
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A
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Graham Townsend
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Rambler’s Hornpipe
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D and A
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Canadian Old Time Fiddle Hits
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Lamplighter’s Hornpipe
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D
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300 Fiddle Tunes
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Blue Mountain Hornpipe
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A
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Messer Anthology
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*Please note that the number of book references has been kept to a minimum. There are numerous other transcriptions for these pieces.