Added from notes recalled and compiled by Ed Reavy Jr. and Pete Brett
This old set differs from most sets today in that the third part is laced with reels and marches. The first part is danced to reels and the second to jigs. However, unless the musicians know the correct number of musical measures to the third part, he or she cannot play for this set. Since no written history exists to determine its origin, we must consider the county immigrant makeup of the Philadelphia Irish community. The predominant immigrant is from Donegal, with Mayo a respectable second. However, Donegal was not set dance country whereas, Mayo was. I can only surmise that this is a Mayo set. Furthermore, Connie Ryan the great set dance teacher commented when the set was explained to him, “That smacks of Mayo”. Also, three part sets are common to Mayo, whereas most sets comprise four, five or six parts. When Ed Reavy arrived in Philadelphia from Cavan in 1912 with his fiddle under his arm, he was told by the old musicians at the house parties that the set had been played for dancing by the old musicians who taught them. This would indicaate that it could have been danced from the mid 1800’s. The last time this was danced was at Devine’s Pub in Upper Darby, just outside West Phildelphia fourteen years ago (1988). the last time it was taught was at Pete Brett’s classes in 1984. In the declining years, the last knowledgeable musicians to play the set were: Tommy Moffit, Kevin McGillian, Pat Collins, Pat Cambell and Mike Gallagher. No dance was more exhilarating than the set in our time. We are hoping that a revival will afford future dancers the same thrill.
These notes were originally found at the now defunct www.reavy.us. Additional notes in [].
Swings are done in elbow ceili hold.
The tunes for this set are:
Played three times: The Fermoy Lasses
Played four times: Rolling in the Ryegrass
Played three times but drop the last 8 bars: The Maid Behind the Bar
Played Once: The Scholar (the second part)
Played Once: Marching through Georgia
Played Once: The Scholar (the second part)
Played Once: The Scholar (the second part)
Played Once: God Save Ireland
Played Once: Turkey in the Straw
Played Once: Kelly of Killane
An example of the set being played is available here.