This
a popular traditional Cape Breton reel associated with
Angus Chisholm. It has its roots in a much older Irish
air.
Over the centuries
some tunes morph more dramatically than others. It
appears that the inspiration for this tune comes from
a 1721 composition attributed to the blind Irish
Harper Turlogh O'Carolan. Written in a minor mode, it
was published n 1730 as The New Princess Royal
in Daniel Wright's Collection. Later appeared in
Buntings, Gows, ONeill's etc. O'Carolan's title was
Miss MacDermot.
Comparing the above
Cape Breton reel to the others there is similarity -
if one ignores the minor key signature and tempo given
in Gow's
2nd repository
one can see many phrases in common - nevertheless the
significant differences made a new local title
essential.