Building a Traditional Tune Repertoire

by Wendy Anthony

Wendy playing Washburn Mandolin


St. Anne's Reel / Reel de Ste. Anne

Key of D

The Tune:

This traditional French-Canadian tune was first made popular in the early 1930's by a recording of Québec fiddler Joseph Allard, spreading later to English Canada and Eastern USA. Saint Anne, a cultural and religious icon in Québec, was the Christian mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus, was believed to have accomplished many healing miracles, and was the patron-saint of the water-travelling, fur-trading voyageurs, including many fiddlers who carried tunes with them across the continent! Eastern Canadian provinces have a rich musical heritage of families and communities playing music and dancing together to tunes such as this reel. Though most often played in Bluegrass, Fiddle and Old-Time jams, some Celtic sessions also include this tune in their repertoire.


St. Anne's Reel music transcript


Techniques:

  • Overview of Tune: A Reel is a dance tune and should be played at a lively tempo. This version is a mix of 1/4 notes, paired 1/8 notes in short scale runs or arpeggio segments & an opportunity to use the 4th finger on the 7th fret. Note that in Part B there is a choice between 2 chords. Though the melody will remain the same, the sound will be very different, depending on the chords chosen: Major chords are used traditionally in Québec, while Minor chords (in brackets) are often played in Celtic & Bluegrass.

  • Chords: In Part A, chords alternate between D(I) and G(IV), then quickly through A(V) near the end. In Part B, chords change each measure: Major Version: D(I) - G(IV) - A(V) - D(I); or Minor Version: use the relative minor of G=Em (& sometimes, D=Bm). Ask/Announce which chord-version to use when playing with others.

  • Pick Strokes: All 1/4 notes are played using a Downstroke. Paired 1/8 notes are played Down/Up/Down/Up, although the first measure's 3 lead-in notes start UP/Down/Up. Keep a loose right wrist when crossing/changing strings to pick on the Upstroke, (between last two 1/8 notes in measures 1, 5, 8, 9, 13, 15 & 17) making sure to pick both strings in the set on the way back up.

Variations:

Tunes are traditionally learned by listening to other musicians, and playing what is heard. Players from different regions often add their own rhythms and variations, and, like the game of passing a comment around a circle, where the results are often quite different from the beginnings, many versions of a tune are eventually created! St. Anne's Reel is an example of a tune that has changed with time and place. The melody essentially remains the same, but the chords will differ between players and cultures.

  1. Different Cultural Style: The choice of chords used in Part B, will reflect the flavour of a different cultural style. Québecois players prefer using major chords: G & D. Celtic-influenced players prefer using minor chords: Em (& Bm). Rhythmic differences also exist.

  2. Substitute Another Note or Phrase: The 1/4 notes offer an opportunity for variety. Use something different each time: hammer-on/pull-off 1/16 notes, substitute two 1/8 notes, slide up to the 1/4 note, substitute three 1/8 note triplets, use arpeggios, etc.

    Substitution Variation

  3. Chord-Melody: Playing open strings (or double-stops) will create a richer sound by adding chord notes to the melody.

    Chord-Melody Variation

  4. Ending Lick: Try closing with an arpeggio: D-F#-A-D (I, III & V notes), throwing in a bluesy B(VI), just for fun!

    End Lick Variation



Comments or Suggestions?

Keepin' tuned ...
Wendy Anthony

o2b.pickin@gmail.com





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