Big John McNeil

by

Key: A

Form: Reel

ABC:

I:abc-charset utf-8

X:2277
T:Big John McNeil
C:Peter Milne (1824-1908)
N:I often play the alternate chords listed for emphasis.
M:2/4
L:1/16
R:Reel
K:A
   "A"  A,2CE FECE  |  "A"  AECE     FECE |\
   "A" A,2CE "F#m;A" FECE  | "B7;D" FAGF "E7" EDCB, |  
   "A"  A,2CE  FECE | "A" AECE     FECE   |  "A"  A,CB,D "D" CEDF |1\
   "E7" EGBd "A"  cAA2    :|2 "E7" EGBd   "A" cAcd  ||
|: "A"  eAfA  eAcd  | "A" eAfA  e2((3agf) |\
   "A"  eAfA "F#m;A" eece  |  "B7;E7" daca    B2cd  |
   "A" eAfA eAcd    | "A" eAfA e2ce       |  "A"  agfe   "D" fedc |1\
   "E7" defg "A" a2cd     :|2 "E7" defg   "A" a2z2  |]

MP3:

Download this MP3  If it plays, right-click on the page and “Save as”. (Detailed instructions)

Sheet Music: Click image to enlarge. To download, right-click in enlarged image and "Save as...".

Link (Midi or Youtube):
(Played wonderfully by the great New Brunswick Fiddler, Don Messer, but way too fast in my opinion. -AJ)

Plus this wonderful video of Métis  (? “Oji-Cree”) dancers in which the second tune is Big John, starting at approximately 1:18:

Source (if known): Peter Milne (1824-1908)

Other Tunes in Set:

Region: Scotland/Cape Breton

Notes: This tune is often played more “dotted” than the MP3 example above.

fave