Traditional reel · D major
The Sailor's Bonnet
Also known as Bairéad An Mháirnéalaigh, Caiḋp An Ṁairnéalaċ, The Sailor's Bonn, The Sailors Bonnet, The Seller's Bonnet.
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ABC notation
X:1 T:The Sailor's Bonnet R:reel M:4/4 L:1/8 K:D |:A2 FA d~f3|dfef d~B3|A2 FA dfef|1 dBAF ADDB:|2 dBAF ADD2|| |:~a3 a afef|afef d~B3|fb (3bbb bafa|bfaf feef| b~f3 afed|afef d~B3|(3ABA FA dfef|1 dBAF ADD2:|2 dBAF ADDB||
Copy this into any ABC tool, or open the setting on The Session (transcribed by b.maloney). The Session lists 10 settings of this tune and 2 recordings.
Playing it on a wind instrument
Traditional reels are dance music — lift and rhythm matter more than speed. Learn the tune slowly by ear first, then add ornaments (cuts, taps, rolls). Clarinet and sax players: use the transposition menu above so the part matches the fiddle and flute players.