An intermediate reel in the key of F played by Greg Boardman, introduced in 2015.
Play Surveyor’s Reel | Download Surveyor's Reel | View Sheet Music | Play Slow MP3
Surveyor’s Reel, Reel in Key of F played AABB. This tune was composed by Métis fiddling legend Andy De Jarlis. Andy was born in Woodbridge, Manitoba, and lived until 1975. In that time he recorded extensively and composed over 200 tunes. Here’s a little biographical info: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/bandmate-tells-story-of-fiddling-legend-132905078.html.
The Métis are one of the recognized Aboriginal peoples in Canada. They trace their descent from mixed ancestry of native people and Europeans. Métis was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but is today a distinct aboriginal group, with formal recognition equal to that of the Inuit and First Nations. Mothers were usually Cree, Ojibwe, Algonquin, Saulteaux, Menominee, Mi’kmaq or Maliseet, or of mixed descent from these people and Europeans. French Métis born were born of francophone voyageur fathers, mostly fur trappers. The Métis homeland includes regions scattered across Canada, as well as parts of the northern United States (specifically Montana, North Dakota, and northwest Minnesota). These were areas in which there was considerable intermarriage due to the fur trade.
The Métis fiddle style is a combination of European styles blended with aboriginal music with its percussive sounds, tapping of feet, clapping, etc.. Players use their feet extensively and choke up on the bow to enable a very sharp “bite”. Melodies are often complex, abandoning the 1, 4, 5 chord progressions of many European tunes. Andy came from a long line of Métis fiddlers. His father and grandfather were fiddlers. He played on Winnipeg radio accompanied by the musical group the Red River Mates. He moved to Vancouver and later to Montreal where he appeared on the television program Don Messer’s Jubilee as Andy De Jarlis and His Early Settlers. https://www.mainefiddlecamp.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/Surveyors-Reel.mp3 Camp recording by Greg Boardman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzljkIzIghg recording by Andy De Jarlis and his Early Settlers, “Backwoods Fiddle Tunes”