Chaisson Reel, The

Kind of Tune
reel
Alternate Titles
Northside Reel
Kennedy's Reel
Pronunciation Guide
CHAY-son
Place of Origin
Local Variant of Scottish tune

"Old Peter" Chaisson tells us that when Islanders requested this tune, they would often refer to it as "the Chaisson Reel." Players from South and Central Kings County – associating the tune with fiddlers from the County's north shore– often called it the Northside Reel.

Although this tune is played mostly in the Eastern half of the Island, I did occasionally encounter it farther west (see for example, the version by Edward P Arsenault).

In essence, The Chaisson Reel is a variant of the popular 18th century Scottish tune Mrs. McLeod of Rasay, in which most of the original diatonic and arpeggiated passages are rendered in pentatonic (five-tone scale) format. For example, a phrase might change from G-A-B-C-D to G-A-B-D-E.

Notation for this tune as played by "Old Peter" Chaisson is in Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island.

Tune Selections

Chaisson Reel, The Musician: Joe Kearney, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Gerard Murphy, gtr; Ken Perlman, bjo South Kings info
Chaisson Reel, The Musician: Edward P Arsenault, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Marie Gallant Arsenault, pno; Ken Perlman, bjo Evangeline Coast / East Prince info
Chaisson Reel, The Musician: Johnny Joe Chaisson, Musician: Phonsey Chaisson, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Mary Chaisson, pno Northeast Kings info
Munlochy Bridge / Lord MacDonald's Reel / Chaisson Reel / Women of Pisquid / West Mabou Reel Musician: "Old Peter" Chaisson, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Ken Perlman, bjo Northeast Kings info