Key signature: Cmajor
Submitted on August 27th 2007 by bdh.
This tune has been added to 17 tunebooks.
Also known as Harris Dance.
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: Skyedance
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Cmaj
|: cgge g3a | g2eg gede | cgge g3a |1 gede AGAB :|2 gede a4 ||
|: ~e2dc ~A2GA | ~e2dc ~A2GA | ~e2dc ~A2GA |1 cdcA GAcd :|2 cdcA g4 ||
McGoldrick
This is 'Skyedance' as I hear it on McGoldrick's "Wired." Since this is my first attempt at ABC notation I haven't included much by way of ornamentation.
Feedback will be much appreciated!
# Posted on August 27th 2007 by bdh
Skyedance
The Patrick McDonald Collection of Highland Vocal Airs, Country Dances or Reels of the North Highlands and Western Isles was first published in 1784 and contains a lot of untitled airs and dances. In the 'Western Isles' section there four untitled reels noted as "Skye dance" and a further two noted as "Harris dance". The tune posted here is in fact one of the Harris dances, and possibly now the best known of all six of these tunes.
X:878
T:Harris Dance
S:Patrick McDonald Collection, 1874
Z:Nigel Gatherer
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:C
c2 ge g2 a2 | g2 eg geed | c2 ge g2 a2 | gede AA A2 :|
e2 dc A2 GG | e2 dc AAAG | e2 dc A GG | cdcA GG G2 :|
Other tunes from the Patrick McDonald Collection:
Low Country Dance http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6222
North Country Highland Dance http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2365
Maraidh Bhan Og http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/2817
# Posted on August 27th 2007 by nigelg
A2...
in the second to last bar, I think.
# Posted on August 27th 2007 by muspc
... of nigelg's transcription...
in the comments, that is.
# Posted on August 27th 2007 by muspc
Skyedance
Quite right, Peter, the second last bar should read
| e2 dc A2 GG |
Sorry about that.
# Posted on August 27th 2007 by nigelg
The Harris Dance
This is one of the tunes that Iain MacDonald "The Whaler" taught at Sabhal Mor Ostaig this year. He taught it as the Harris Dance.
Since then Marc Duff played the 'piping' version with C sharps rather than C naturals. It certainly takes a lot to get used to it with the C sharps but give it a go - it is fun!
# Posted on August 27th 2007 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: The Harris Dance
"Fun". No its not....
...I suppose you where a cilice?!
Back 'tae the beggin' you go old boy!
# Posted on August 27th 2007 by Jamie
Sorry Jamie, your grasp of the English language seemed to slip up on that second line - no more than I would expect for a member of the medical profession!
It is great fun, in an arse-squirmy kind of a way!
And please don't bring that argument about The Periwig online. You will just make a right fool of yourself.
# Posted on August 27th 2007 by No Cause For Alarm
There is another tune called Skye Dance. I know this one only as Harris Dance. There is a bagpipe setting with (by necessity) C#s and F#s and a few dotted groupings in it. Here is an approximation of it, as learned from The Best of Ossian:
T:Harris Dance
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Amix
c2 g<e f<g a2 | g2 eg geed | c2 g<e f<g a2 | gede AA A2 :|
|: e2dc A2G2 | e2 dc AAAG | e2 dc A2G2 | cdcA GG G2 :|
# Posted on August 31st 2007 by granama
Well, Skye isn't very far from Harris, and this might be the reason for the confusion. Just 100-min. journey on the ferry though the departure is sometimes delayed.
# Posted on August 31st 2007 by slainte
But it is still not "Skye Dance" - not originally anyway. Of course now it is on McGoldrick's album as this that is now the new name and everyone will just have to get used to that.
# Posted on September 1st 2007 by No Cause For Alarm