The Session >> Tunes >> Saint Anne's (reel)

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Saint Anne's

reel

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on May 25th 2001 by Jeremy.

This tune has been added to 632 tunebooks.

Also known as Saint Ann's, Sainte Agathe, Skylark, The Skylark, St Ann's, St Anne, St Anne's, St Annes, St. Ann's, St. Anne, St. Anne's, St. Anne’s, St. Annes.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

X: 1
T: Saint Anne's
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Dmaj
|:fedf edcB|A2FA DAFA|B2GB EBGB|A2FA DAFA|
fedf edcB|A2FA DAFA|BGed cABc|eddc d2 de:|
|:f2fg fedc|Bggf g2gf|edcB ABce|baa^g abag|
f2fg fedc|Bggf g2gf|edcB ABcd|eddc d2 de:|

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments
Saint Anne's sheetmusic
Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

The second part of this tune might be a bit tricky to play because of that high G sharp. Well, it doesn't have to be sharp. It sounds just as good played as a natural.

For a bit of variation in the first part, I like to open it with a long F instead of FE so that it's more like the start of the second part.

On the fiddle or any other stringed instrument, you can make some nice double stops in the second part. The opening F can be played with an open A string, the G with a B on the A string and of course the high A on the E string can be played together with an open A string.

# Posted on June 2nd 2001 by Jeremy

St. Anne's Reel

In John Walsh's collection, "Session Tunes", he says about for this one: "Originally French Canadian, now firmly adopted in Ireland."

I like the surprise of that G#.

# Posted on September 9th 2001 by glauber

Yes, but in the fourth measure of the B part, the second G should be marked "natural." I don't know what the rules are for ABC, but in the notation, the "sharp" lasts the measure unless you state otherwise.

# Posted on January 4th 2003 by cuchulain54

The Skylark?

I have issues with calling this tune "The Skylark" if this is referring to the commonly played Irish tune The Skylark. Yes, there are similarities between the two, but only in the first part. While it is possible that they are related, they are clearly no longer the same tune. I would examine the link between this tune and Time on our Hands by Siobhan Peoples and Murty Ryan, which links to this tune, especially considering there is already a Skylark in C major that is submitted on this site.

# Posted on February 16th 2004 by fiddlerpianist

Variation

Has anyone heard the version played by Don Messer? Its also the same version played on the Sons of Maxwell's version of the Ballad of St. Anne's Reel.

I like it a lot better than this version. Does anyone know the version I am talking about?

# Posted on April 22nd 2004 by natharious

Rhythm variations.

I like playing this tune with a bit of syncopation in the second and third bars, with the emphasis being like the beginning of "Willafjord" - that way the two tunes run together rather nicely, and it mkes the tune a bit more interesting than a stright reel..

# Posted on March 12th 2005 by gaiteirojack

I like to open it making a slide on the first F ant tongueing (is it how it must be written?) on the second F

# Posted on May 13th 2005 by eduard

Nice transcription

Nice job on the transcription Jermey, As usual, your work is the best.

--a fan,
ray

# Posted on November 28th 2005 by Rayzore

History?

Anyone know when St. Anne's Reel was written? which century it might hail from?

--ray

# Posted on November 28th 2005 by Rayzore

Variations?

I´ve herad it on Carlos Nuñez & friends "en casa" (at home) live CD. Great Cd+Dvd. He played this one whit Chieftains.

# Posted on January 13th 2006 by eduard

was there a hidden track on 'time on our hands' that i missed? don't ever remember hearing this on it

# Posted on September 21st 2006 by maryp

No hidden track

I can answer your query, Mary, without even having the CD. Someone has given this tune the alternative title of "The Skylark", which is on the Peoples/Ryan CD, so it's created an automatic link. See also the comments by "fiddlerpianist" above. They're 2 different reels as far as I'm concerned.

# Posted on September 21st 2006 by Kenny

Cape Breton version

Howie MacDonald plays this tune thus:
f3g fedB|A2FA DAFA|BG~G2 G3B|AGFG ~F2F2|
f3g fedB|A2FB AFA=C|BGBd cAce|d2e/d/c defg|
fdfa fdfg|aggf g2gf|eceg eceg|baa^g a2a=g|
fdfa fdfg|aggf g2gf|eceg eceg|fdec d2 A2|

# Posted on November 22nd 2006 by DonaldK

Go Canada

This is a Canadian tune which, rather than being common at sessions, is played at Old Time Fiddlers gatherings (thus Don Messer)

# Posted on August 13th 2007 by dubhghaill

History!

I'm also looking for the history of this tune. Any approximate dates, etc? I'm doing a senior project in high school on the fiddle. Please, does anyone know the dates of any of these old Irish tunes?

# Posted on December 17th 2007 by JamieNeal

A more French-Canadian version

:A2|f2fg fedB|A2FG AFAd|BGGG G2FG|BAAF A2D2|
f2fg fedB|A2FG AFAd|BGBd cdec|1d2f2 d2:ag|
fdfa fdfa|aggf g2gf|edcB ABce|baa^g a2a=g|
fdfa fdfa|aggf g2gf|edcB ABcd|fdec d2:

# Posted on December 21st 2007 by ACW

I also know it this way...

And so do the Leahy's. I heard this version from them. :)

X:1
T:St. Anne's
M:4/4
R:Reel
K:D
|:Ad|f2fg fedB|A2FA DAFA|B2GB EBGB|AGFE DFAd|
f2fg fedB|A2FA DAFA|BGBd cAce|fddc d2:|
|:Ad|f2fg fedf|aggf g2gf|edcB Acea|baab a2Ad|
f2fg fedf|aggf g2gf|edcB Aceg|fdec d2:|

# Posted on January 3rd 2008 by Jeffery

Dont know the tunes history

Id like to hear it too, but one things for sure though,its one deadly tune Im playing it as one of my works for my leaving cert you can put loads of ornamentation in it,and it sounds really cool.

# Posted on March 9th 2008 by Allissa

Recorded by Joseph Allard, 1930

This is the version most people know in Québec:

http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/m2/f7/12778.mp3

# Posted on March 31st 2008 by québécois

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