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The Keel Row sheet music

The Keel Row sheet music is available here in three notated versions: a setting labelled 'Reel', a concise 4/4 version, and a longer 4/4 setting titled 'with variations'. All three open in G major with one sharp; the reel begins in 2/4, while the other two begin in 4/4. Composer credits are not supplied, so these scores are best treated as practical versions of the tune rather than as a definitive attribution or scholarly edition.

Scores 1–20 of 55

Sheet music

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Choosing a version

The three available scores serve different practical needs. 'The Keel Row -- Reel' is the only version labelled as a reel and opens in 2/4. The plain 'The Keel Row' setting is a short 4/4 version. 'The Keel Row.with variations' is a 4/4 setting that is much longer than the other two and gives an opening tempo of 110 BPM. Start with the reel or plain setting for a compact single-strain version; inspect the variation score if you want a longer arrangement.

Key and metre at the opening

All three versions open with a one-sharp key signature, G major. The reel begins in 2/4; the plain version and the variation set begin in 4/4. These details describe the opening only. Check the full score for any key or metre changes, and do not assume the whole piece stays in G major or in the opening time signature.

What the titles do and do not tell you

The title 'The Keel Row -- Reel' identifies a dance-type label on one score; the other two are not labelled as reels. 'With variations' signals a variation set, but the available description does not explain the variation technique or difficulty. Composer fields are 'NA', so these pages do not establish an attribution. Treat the titles as useful leads for choosing a score, not as a complete description of the music.

Checking a score before you use it

The available scores do not name an instrument, edition, or arranger. Open the score to check clef, range, phrasing, and any performance notes. Tempo is given only for the variation set, at 110 BPM at the opening, so do not apply that tempo to the reel or plain 4/4 version without checking. If provenance matters, consult an authoritative reference beyond these scores.

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Common questions

What versions of The Keel Row are available here?

Three versions of The Keel Row are available here: one titled 'The Keel Row -- Reel', one titled simply 'The Keel Row', and one titled 'The Keel Row.with variations'. The reel opens in 2/4; the other two open in 4/4, and the variation version is the longest of the three.

Is The Keel Row in G major?

All three available versions of The Keel Row open with a one-sharp key signature, which is G major. That describes the opening key only; the scores may change key later, so check the full music before treating G major as the key throughout.

What time signature is The Keel Row in?

The available versions of The Keel Row do not share a single opening time signature. The reel is notated in 2/4, while the plain version and the variation set open in 4/4. The opening signature does not rule out later metre changes.

What does 'with variations' mean in this score title?

The title 'The Keel Row.with variations' indicates a setting that presents the tune and then adds variation passages. The score opens in 4/4 at 110 BPM and is much longer than the other two versions. The specific variation writing should be checked in the score itself.

What tempo is The Keel Row played at?

These versions of The Keel Row do not give a single tempo. Only the variation-labelled score states an opening tempo, 110 BPM; the reel and plain 4/4 version give no tempo. Use 110 BPM only as a starting point for that variation score, not as a rule for every setting.

What instrument is The Keel Row for?

The available scores for The Keel Row do not name an instrument. Check the clef, range, and any performance directions in the score you open before deciding whether it suits your instrument.