Farmer's Reel

Kind of Tune
reel
Alternate Titles
Golden Wedding Reel
Place of Origin
Canadian Maritimes

Farmer's Reel is one of those rare tunes that seems to perfectly suit the playing styles of fiddlers across the Island. Whether they hale from Kings, Queens, or Prince Counties, fiddlers' versions seem to be extremely lively, resonant, and replete with interesting twists. To get a good sense of their varied and contrasting styles, listen in particular to the following versions:

Kings County: Francis MacDonald and "Young Peter" Chaisson

Prince County: Edward P. Arsenault, Victor Doucette, and Dennis Pitre

Queens County: Leonard McDonald and Stephen Toole

According to living memory, Farmer's Reel began circulating on PEI in the 1930s. It seems to have originated in New Brunswick, and indeed I have encountered several conflicting claims among New Brunswick fiddlers regarding authorship. Most recordings of the tune made before the 1990s, including those by Don Messer and Québecois fiddler Jean Carigan went by the title Golden Wedding. Consequently, this is the name that most non-Islanders associate with the tune.

Notation for this tune as played by Stephen Toole is in Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island.

Tune Selections

Farmer's Reel / Princess Reel Musician: Francis MacDonald, Recordist: Ken Perlman Unaccompanied Northeast Kings info
Lassie with the Yellow Coatie / Donald Cameron's Reel / Farmer's Reel / Princess Reel / Flowers of Edingburgh / Turkey in the Straw / Stack of Barley Musician: "Young Peter" Chaisson, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Kevin Chaisson, gtr Northeast Kings info
Farmer's Reel / Princess Reel Musician: Leonard McDonald, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Margaret Ross MacKinnon, pno; Claire McDonald, gtr Western Queens info
Farmer's Reel Musician: Victor Doucette, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Vincent Doucette, gtr; Cathy Doucette, bass West Prince info
Heather on the Hill / Farmer's Reel Musician: West Prince Fiddlers, Recordist: Ken Perlman, Musician: Ken Matthews, Musician: Frank O'Connor, Musician: George O'Connor, Musician: Elmer Robinson Accompanied by: Dorothy Dalton Rogers or Cyrus Gallant, pno; Jack Arbing, mand info
Arsenault, Albin & Jaddus Gallant - Farmers Reel Musician: Albin Arsenault, Musician: Jaddus Gallant Accompanied by: BĂ©atrice Gallant pump organ Evangeline Coast / East Prince info
Farmer's Reel Musician: Edward P Arsenault, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Marie Gallant Arsenault, pno; Ken Perlman, bjo Evangeline Coast / East Prince info
Theresa MacLellan Reel / Farmer's Reel Musician: Louise Gallant Arsenault, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Zelma Gallant Arsenault, pno Evangeline Coast / East Prince info
Farmer's Reel Musician: Tony Smith, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Alfred Gallant, gtr Western Queens info
Farmer's Reel Musician: ZĂ©lie-Anne Arsenault Poirier, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Jacques Arsenault, gtr; Ken Perlman, bjo Evangeline Coast / East Prince info
Farmer's Reel Musician: Peter Arsenault, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Helene Arsenault Bergeron, pno Evangeline Coast / East Prince info
Dragger's Reel / Farmer's Reel Musician: Keelin Wedge, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Glen Maceachern, pno; Rodney Savindon, gtr; Norma Arsenault, gtr New Wave info
Farmer's Reel Musician: Jim MacDougall, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Darlene Harding, pno; Peter Robinson, bass West Prince info
Farmer's Reel Musician: Stephen Toole, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Margaret Ross MacKinnon, pno Western Queens info
Farmer's Reel Musician: Dennis Pitre, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Vincent Doucette, gtr; Ken Perlman, bjo West Prince info
Ottawa Valley Reel / Princess Reel / Farmer's Reel Musician: Francis MacDonald, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Ken Perlman, bjo Northeast Kings info
Flowers of Edinburgh / Farmer's Reel Musician: Angus McPhee, Recordist: Ken Perlman Accompanied by: Cynthia Jay Crane, pno Central Kings info
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