Grumbling Old Man, Growling Old Woman - D Major / A MinorReeli
Tune Information
Author: Traditional
Origin: Canada - Quebec
This is a Québec reel popularized by Maritime radio and TV fiddler Don Messer. It was taken up by revival fiddlers in the early 1970's, became a staple of New England contra dance repertoire, and has since become widely disseminated. It is also known as Growling Old Man and Cackling Old Woman, La Marmotteuse, La Chicaneuse, La Disputeuse, and by other names.
This tune was written by Cambridge NY fiddler Stephan Deibel. It was originally titled "Seals and Sky" and was written September 2015 on Janvrin's Island, a place with many seals and much sky that is off Isle Madam in the southeast corner of Cape Breton. The tune was later retitled to better match its character.
