Traditional reel · D major
The Silver Spear
Also known as An tSleá Airgid, Joe Mhaire Mhicilin, The Old Silver Spear, The Silver Tip, Sliabh Bána, The Top Of The Cliff.
Loading notation…
ABC notation
X:1 T:The Silver Spear R:reel M:4/4 L:1/8 K:D A|:FA (3AAA BAFA|dfed BddA|FA (3AAA BAFA|dfed (3BdB AG| FA (3AAA BAFA|dfed Bdef|gage fgfe|1 dfed (3BdB AG:|2 dfed BdAd|| |:fa (3aaa bfaf|gfed Bdde|fa (3aaa bfaf|gfed (3BdB A2| fa (3aaa bfaf|gfed Bdef|~g3 e ~f3 e|1 dfed BdAd:|2 dfed B2 AG||
Copy this into any ABC tool, or open the setting on The Session (transcribed by Will Harmon). The Session lists 21 settings of this tune and 3 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.