Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Pirrie Wirrie

reel

Key signature: Gmajor

Submitted on November 22nd 2004 by errik.

This tune has been added to 22 tunebooks.

Also known as Peerie Werrie, Perrie Werrie.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

X: 1
T: Pirrie Wirrie
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Gmaj
|:BG~G2 BGcA|BG (3Bcd gded|BGcA BGGB|A=FAB cBAG|
BG~G2 BGcA|BG (3Bcd gded|BGcA BGGB|A=FAB c3 A:|
|:Bdd^c dedc|(3Bcd de gded|Bdd^c dedB|A=FAB c3 A|
Bdd^c dedc|Bdde g2 de|gbeg dgdB|A=FAB cBAG:|

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments
Pirrie Wirrie sheetmusic
Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

From Altan

# Posted on November 22nd 2004 by errik

Perrie Werrie

From Scotland.

# Posted on November 22nd 2004 by Kenny

Also played as a 16 bar Highland Fling

- with that classic skip/swing...

# Posted on November 22nd 2004 by ceolachan

It can be found in the Athole Collection - a collection of fiddle tunes from Perthshire. It bears a family resemblance to The Flogging Reel - perhaps an ancestor thereof. Frankie Kennedy did it great justice on the Altan recording.

# Posted on November 22nd 2004 by ragaman

Accidental accidental?

Do people play the second c in the first and fifth measures of the B part sharp? My ear wants it to be natural.

# Posted on March 19th 2007 by muspc

I agree - I think it might have been a typo.

# Posted on March 19th 2007 by Dow

Peerie Werrie (Scots Reel)

This is the original reel from Scotland. Fs can also be played as sharp:

X: 1
T:The Peerie Werrie
M:4/4
L:1/8
C:Trad.
S:Arr. Barra MacNeils
R:Reel
K:G
c|:BGGD G3c|BGBd gdec|BGGD G3 B|A=FAB c2 BA:||!
|:BddB dedc|1Bdef gfed|BddB dedB|A=FAB c2 BA:|!
|2Bdef g2 de|gbeg dgBd|A=FAB c BA||

# Posted on August 20th 2008 by javivr

Peerie Werrie

Peerie is Shetland for little (not sure about werri/weeri/wirri).
... and for language lovers, Peedie is the Orkney version.

# Posted on August 20th 2008 by spindizzy

Peerie Werrie

The word "peerie/peedie" for small was at one time used as far south as Fife, but now restricted to the far north of Scotland and Orkney and Shetland. As for the whole title, there is some confusion. There was a phrase in the 19th century "peerie weerie" meaning simply "a tiny creature". Alternatively, a "wherry" was a light boat - take your pick.

The tune can be found in Gow's Complete Repository, with no C sharps at all.

# Posted on August 20th 2008 by nigelg

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