Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Petronella

reel

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on October 27th 2002 by SPeak.

This tune has been added to 52 tunebooks.

Also known as Patronella.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

A Celtic Heritage by Marcille Wallis
Another Measure: Scottish Country Dance Music From The 1950's, Volume 2 by Adam Rennie And His Scottish Country Dance Quartet
King Of The Melodeon Men by Jimmy Shand
New England Chestnuts Vol. 2 by Rodney Miller, Randy Miller And Friends
New England Chestnuts Volumes 1 and 2: Classic New England Contra Music by Various Artists
The Fair Hills Of Ireland by Boys Of The Lough
The Orkney Sessions From The Ayre Hotel by Various Artists
Traditions by Maggie Sansone

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

A reel that is played in many traditions. There is also a dance that accompanies this tune.

# Posted on October 27th 2002 by SPeak

Hmm

Looks more like a polka than a reel to me.

# Posted on October 28th 2002 by glauber

What looks and what is is rarely the same.

# Posted on October 28th 2002 by SPeak

In Scotland it's a reel, In Donegal it's a highland. Could be a polka, hornpipe, barndace ...

# Posted on October 28th 2002 by granama

Thanks David. What i meant is this is not or doesn't seem to be the kind of music that is called a "reel" in the Irish tradition, so calling it a reel didn't give me any clue as to how to play this tune.

# Posted on October 28th 2002 by glauber

Truth be told, you could turn any tune into any type of tune you wanted. I find it amusing how David only sites the Celtic traditions. This tune is most commonly played in Tex-Mex, Old-time, and Americana traditions.

# Posted on October 28th 2002 by SPeak

Yes, but since this is kind of an Irish music site, when you posted this as a reel it took me off balance. Next week i'll post a couple of Bossa Novas and a Tango.

# Posted on October 28th 2002 by glauber

Let go of your inhibitions. And don't strike the last correct word.

# Posted on October 29th 2002 by SPeak

"kind of" an Irish site, Glauber? You've really mastered understatement, quite the accomplishment in a second language!

# Posted on October 29th 2002 by Zina Lee

Petronella

I'vbe only heard this done as an American/old timey tune -- never heard it as an Irish tune (which I play)

# Posted on October 22nd 2003 by Jmbu

Petronella

Definitely a polka type tune. When playing for Scottish dancers we always had to play this one for a special dance where they emphasised the 3 "D"s in the second bar - stacatto style - as part of the dance rhythm.

# Posted on October 22nd 2003 by Bannerman

"Petronella" ~ evolution in Nelson, New Hampshire, U.S.A.

~ recollection by Dudley Laufman:

Homepage first - http://www.monadnockfolk.org/

http://www.monadnockfolk.org/Petronella.html

~ author of article (the link given is no longer active) ~
Dudley Laufman - http://www.laufman.org/

# Posted on July 8th 2005 by ceolachan

The Scottish way with it ~ "lepin' about": around 115 bpm

Early Scottish transcription of the dance:

Homepage : University of Aberdeen
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/

Homepage: "The Music of James Scott Skinner The 'Strathspey King'
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/scottskinner/

Manuscript: Mackenzie's description of the country dance, Petronella.
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/scottskinner/display.php?ID=JSS0394

J. Scott Skinner, editor of "The People's Ball Room Guide", 1905 - Petronella
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/scottskinner/display.php?ID=JSS0922

Video clip:
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/scottskinner/videoclip.php?ID=vc14
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/scottskinner/300k/clip.php?id=vc14

# Posted on July 8th 2005 by ceolachan

"Petronella" ~ 2/4 transcription:

~ from the band "Wild Dismay", Shelby, Ohio in the U.S.A.:

http://www.blackflute.com/music/default.html
http://www.blackflute.com/music/tunes/reels/petro.html

# Posted on July 8th 2005 by ceolachan

"Petronella" / "Cirtonella" ~ English dancing it in 'American' fashion?:

http://www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/
http://www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra/dances/index.html
http://www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra/dances/petronella.html

# Posted on July 8th 2005 by ceolachan

"Aloha Oye!" - "Petronella" in Hawai'i ~ ~ ~ ~

The links following are from The Department of Second Language Studies at the University of Hawai'i ~ careful here, it starts playing right away and there are three recordings that start automatically and overlap. Turn them all off, including the one at the bottom, then you can listen to them individually. This includes suggested other tunes & sets, though I've known nicer versions of "The Green Mountain Petronella"...:

http://www.hawaii.edu/sls/index.html
http://www.sls.hawaii.edu/contra/dances/petronella.html

If you click on the bottom recording the tune will play and the calls for the dance will also show.

# Posted on July 8th 2005 by ceolachan

"Petronella" / "Cirtonella" ~ one way with it:

Some chose to jokingly call this version, with eveyone getting involved in the 'turn and balance' in the A-part of the tune/dance, 'Citronella'...

Formation: Longways improper, couple facing couple, man to her left, woman to his right ~ "Take hands four from the top" ~
'top' being nearest the band/caller, 'bottom' usually the end of the hall/dance.

Active & Inactive couples: Those couples with their back to the band/caller are designated 'active', those facing are 'inactive', though not completely true... The 'call' is in the main directed to the 'active' couples. Some callers choose to count off from the top ~ 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2 ~ etc., or odd, even, odd, even, odd, even... Then designating all #1 or odd couples as 'active', and #2 couples, evens, as 'inactive'.
B
A ~ M1 - W2...M1 - W2...M2 - W2...M1 - W2...M1 - W2 ~
N ~W1 - M2...W1 - M2...W1 - M2...W1 - M2...W1 - M2 ~
D
Progression: At the end of each time through the dance the couples will have progressed one place in the direction they are facing, ready to start the dance again with a new couple below/above... When you reach the top or the bottom of the set you will wait one turn through the dance, but will need to 'cross over', making sure the man is on her left, the woman on his right. From the 'bottom' of the longways set you will now be 'inactive', from the top your responsibilities will change to 'active' as you come back into the swing of the dance.

CW = clockwise / ACW = anti-clockwise or counter-clockwise

The call / Music-Bars / The description

A/AA-PART OF MUSIC ~

W2 ~ M2

M1 ~ W1

"Actives turn to the right"
A: 1 - 2 = 4 steps turning CW and traveling ACW 1/4 of the way...
Woman 1 turning between and just beyond couple 2,
Man 1 turning to just in front of couple 2 ~
Woman 1 facing up the set toward the band, Man 1 facing down...
Couple 2s, partners facing across the set, move up slightly,
both couples take hands-four ~

......W1
W2......M2
......M1

"All balance"
A: 3 - 4 = All four, to the Right and then to the Left ~ variations exist...

"All turn to the right"
A: 5 - 6: = All four, 4 steps turnig CW and traveling ACW 1/4 of the way round...

......M2
W1......M1
......W2

"All balance" ~ A: 7 - 8

"All turn to the right" ~ AA: 1 - 2

......M1
M2......W2
......W1

"All balance" ~ AA: 3 - 4

"All turn to the right" ~ AA: 5 - 6

......W2
M1......W1
......M2

"All balance" ~ AA: 7 - 8

B/BB-PART OF MUSIC

B: 1 - 3: "Actives down the center"
= Couple 1 lead down the center of the set, 6 steps /
Couple 2 turn CW to return to places, 4 steps...

W2 M1~ W1 M2

"Turn"
B: 4: = Couple 1 turn in toward your partner, 2 steps...

"Come back - " ~ B: 5 - 6

W2-M1...W1-M2

B: 7 - 8: "- and cast off"
= M1 takes an open hold with W2 / W1 takes an open hold with M1,
All facing up, they turn 3/4 round, M1-W2 CW / W1-M2 ACW,
to face each other across the set...

M1...W1
.|........|
W2...M2

"Right and left across"
BB: 1 - 4: = give R-hands across, M1-W1 / W2-M2,
give L-hands to your opposite, M1-W2 / W1-M2,
the man places his free R-hand in the small of the woman's back,
side-by-side the couples then 'courtesy turn' ACW,
the man backing / the woman moving forward,
to end up facing each other across again...

M2...W2
.|........|
W1...M1

B-Part 13 - 16: "Right and left back"
BB: 5 - 8= Repeat 'R & L' back to your own side ~

The progression is complete,
with the next below/above ~ begin the dance,
there is a couple out at the 'head' (top) and the 'feet' (bottom) ~
"cross over at the head and the feet"...

.|........|
M1...W1

M2...W2

# Posted on July 8th 2005 by ceolachan

"Petronella ~ Richard Robinson's notation:

http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/Info/RRTuneBk/tunebook.html
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/Info/RRTuneBk/gettune/00000870.html

# Posted on July 8th 2005 by ceolachan

I like your little diagrams. They make nice patterns on the screen :-)

# Posted on July 8th 2005 by Dow

"Petronella" ~ taking it in your ease: 95 - 125 bpm

# Posted on July 8th 2005 by ceolachan

Is this related to the English tune "Ironlegs"?

# Posted on July 8th 2005 by Dow

Sorry I was lazy - I just checked and it is.

# Posted on July 8th 2005 by Dow

? ~ Put a sock in it ~ ?

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# Posted on July 8th 2005 by ceolachan

Why can't it come out as it appeared before 'post'? I think 'THE WIZARD' designed it this way. That sock puppet is in desperate need of darning...

# Posted on July 8th 2005 by ceolachan

That's what I need - a sock puppet... for when I'm in a bad mood and happen to be online.

# Posted on July 8th 2005 by Dow

Hey at least I read your comments. I might not be able to dance (too busy sitting in the corner getting fat on beer), but I can always imagine. There's a lot of research gone into your posts. It's nice to know there's someone geekier and verbal diarrhoeaier than me on thesession.org!

# Posted on July 8th 2005 by Dow

Geekier than you? Yeah, and my Aunt Sally is Queen of Rhodesia... ~ and, on that other point ~ I eat loads of healthy fiberous information don't you know, my s**t is brick hard, solid stuff, you could build houses with it...

# Posted on July 8th 2005 by ceolachan

Link to Ironlegs: http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/4693.

# Posted on July 8th 2005 by Dow

"The Phillips Colection of Traditional American Fiddle Tunes
Volume One: Hoedowns, Breakdowns, & Reels"
Stacy Phillips
Mel Bay Publications, 1994 - #MB94711
ISBN 1-56222-582-0

Page 183 "Petronella"

Page 105 "Green Mountain Petronella"
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/4695

These two pair up well for the dance...

# Posted on July 8th 2005 by ceolachan

"Petronella" ~ England & the U.S.A. ~ D Major & 2/4

"The Fiddler's Tune-Book:
A classic Collection of 200 tunes essential for every traditional musician"

Hornpipes - Reels - Schottisches - Polkas - Waltzes - Jigs

Compiled and edited by Peter Kennedy
ISBN: 1-899512-14-4
Dave Mallinson Publications
http://www.mally.com/
West Yorkshire, 1994

page 29, tune #114

~ | gg/f/ e/d/c/B/ | Ae/c/ a/g/e/c/ | d2- d :|

"The Ruffwater Fakebook:
The Growing Library of Dance Tunes Played by
The Olde Michigan RUFFWATER STRINGBAND,
Ruff-Draft v.3.5"

Edited by Judi Morningstar
White Lake,Michigan, U.S.A. 1991

page 41 & listed as "Scottish"

# Posted on July 9th 2005 by ceolachan

"Whitehaven Volunteers" ~ another tune that fits the dance nicely

Key signature: G Major
Submitted on November 6th 2006 by ceolachan.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6333

# Posted on November 6th 2006 by ceolachan

"Petronella" ~ more

Introduced by Nathaniel Gow at his Annual Ball in Edinburgh, 1820, & described in "The Ballroom", 1827...

# Posted on May 15th 2007 by ceolachan

Another tune used for this dance ~ "The Persian Dance" / "The Gallopede" AABC

Key signature: G Major
Submitted on May 14th 2007 by ceolachan.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7205

# Posted on May 15th 2007 by ceolachan

"Petronella" ~ via the bow of the bearded and multi-talented David Kaynor

"Introduction to Fiddle Playing: Beginner Lesson"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDrMIWodGq8&mode=related&search=

http://www.davidkaynor.com/

# Posted on May 25th 2007 by ceolachan

"The Teelin Petronella" ~ a great Donegal take on it from the bow of Con Cassidy

Key signature: G Major
Submitted on July 16th 2007 by ceolachan.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7498

# Posted on July 16th 2007 by ceolachan

Type of tune debat:

I've seen it referred to as a Scottish Country Dance.

# Posted on April 20th 2008 by mactcampbell