Maple-sugar-reel tutorial

MAPLE SUGAR REEL

Time signature: Either cut time
or common time

Ward Allen

Maple Sugar, by Canadian Ward Allen, is a universal favorite among fiddle players. Listen to it in its original form, played by Ward Allen in the embedded youTube video at right. The keys are A (time 0:05 to 1:28), E (time 1:28 to 1:44), and A again (time 1:44 to 3:06, end).

There are many fiddle, guitar and accordion performances of this tune on youTube, but very few, if any, accordion videos have melodies that are identical to the original, or even to each other.

As shown in the selection of embedded youTube videos, there is also a wide range of A & B patterns. Some follow the traditional 32-bar reel patterns AABB (repeated) or ABAB (repeated), but many do not. Perhaps this is why this tune is included in some "reel" collections, but not in others.

Accordion Notation (simpler versions)

If playing at a moderate tempo, with four beats per bar, the beat symbol = Dot (.) or equivalent.
If playing as a reel (fast tempo), with two beats per bar, the beat symbol = Colon (:) or equivalent.

Arrangement One: Playing Parts A & B on different rows.
(Based mainly on Greg Brown's youTube tutorial video)
Part A - played on outside row (high)
Part B - played on inside row (low)

Part A   Greg plays this on the outside row, high. (Key of A on his A-D accordion)

>  > "7 "8* | .8 "'8 '9* "8 "8* "7 "7*  | .7 "'7 '8* "7 "6  "8* "7  |

"7 "7* "7* "7   .8* "'7 '7* |  "8* "7 "7 "7* "7 "6 "7 "8* |

   .8 "'8 '9*   "8 "8* "7 "7*  | .7 "'7 '8*   "7 "6 "8* "7 |

  "7 "7* "7* "7 .8* "'7 '7*  |  .7* "6 "6 "6* "6 <

Part B   Greg plays this on the inside row, medium. (Key of D on his A-D accordion)

> "4 "4* | .5 "'5 '5*   "5 "4 "5 "6   |   .7 "'7 '7* .6 "5 "5* |

'5 "'7* '"7* '7 "7* "6* "5* "6* |  .6 "6* "5* 5" "4*  "4 "4* |

  .5 "'5 '5*     "5 "4 "5 "6 |   .7 "'7 '7*   "6 "5 "5* "5  |

  .7*   '"7* '7   "7* "6* "5* "6*   |    .6   "'6* '7* "6 "5 < <

  At the very end of tune, replace the final bar with | :6 ~ ~: | Note held for full final bar.

This notation is matched to the youTube accordion tutorial at right, featuring Greg Brown playing an A-D button accordion.

Greg starts on the outer row, playing part A on buttons 6 to 9* rather slowly, and then at an intermediate pace, with left-hand accompaniment.

Then he moves to the inner row for part B, again playing rather slowly, followed by an intermediate pace.

Then he plays the whole thing quickly.

Arrangement Two: Playing Parts A & B on the same row (low & medium)

Part A (in low octave range; same melody, but an octave lower than in Arrangement one & three)

>  > "4 "4* | .5 "'5 '5* "5 "4* "4 "3*  |  .4    "'4 '4* "4 "3  "4* "4  |

"4 "3* "3* "4   .4* "'4 '3* |  "4* "4 "4 "3* "4 "3 "4 "4* |

  .5 "'5 '5*   "5 "4* "4 "3*  | .4    "'4 '4*   "4 3" "4* "4 |

"4 "3* "3* "4   .4* "'4 '3* |  .3* "3 "3 "2* "3 <


Part B (in medium octave range)

> "4 "4* |   .5 "'5 '5* "5 "4 "5 "6 |   .7 "'7 '7* .6 "5 "5* |

'5 "'7* '"7* '7 "7* "6* "5* "6*  |  .6 "6* "5*   5" "4*  "4 "4*  |

.5 "'5 '5*    "5 "4 "5 "6   |    .7 "'7 '7* "6 "5 "5* "5  |

.7* '"7* '7   "7* "6* "5* "6*   |   .6 "'6* '7*   .6 < <

At the very end of tune, replace the final bar with | :6 ~ ~: | Note held for full final bar.

Embedded youTube Videos

Although most of these videos do not exactly match the version above, they may be close enough for you to play along with (at least in part), following (for the most part) the notation above.

Keys: A from time 0:05 to 1:28
E from 1:28 to 1:44
A from 1:44 to End at 3:06

Player: Ward Allen

Parts in key of A: AA from 0:05 to 0:38
BB from 0:38 to 1:11
A from 1:11 to 1:28
Part in key of E: B from 1:28 to 1:44
Parts in key of A: B from 1:44 to 2:00
AA from 2:00 to 2:33
BB from 2:33 to 3:06

Posted by: Tom Towle

Keys: D and A (also E)

Guitarists: Marcel Doiron et Claude Kilganon

Posted by: raglan765

Key: G

Accordionist: Bob (a talented Australian)

Posted by: bertosvids

Bob is playing the Slim Dusty version of Ward Allen's tune.

Keys: E, A and D

Player: Poss Slaney

Posted by: Newfieposs

Keys: A and E

Player: Andy ?
(from New Brunswick?)

Posted by: Rod Legge

Keys: G, C and F

Player: Bob ?

Posted by: newfiebob2

Keys: A and E

Singer: Jack Adams

Fiddle Player: Ward Allen

Posted by: Jack Adams

The lyrics are given below.

Background Materials and Links

Lyrics:

Maple Sugar Sweetheart - Hank LaRiviere, sung to Ward Allen's Maple Sugar tune,
at a more moderate tempo.

Now I left her in the mountains in the golden summertime
And I told her not to worry little darling girl of mine
I told her that I loved her and always would be true
When the moon comes o'er the mountain, I'll be waitin' here for you

She's my darling, my sweetheart, she's the only one for me
With a heart as pure as gold and in dreams her face I see
For soon I'll be returning and the wedding bells will chime
I'll make her mine forever when it's maple sugar time

[Instrumental]

When Ward Allen plays the fiddle, folks will come from far away
To the maple sugar hoedown, on our happy wedding day
I'll feel like a country king, we'll paint a lovely scene
I'll kiss her smiling ruby lips, she'll be my pretty queen

[Instrumental]

She's my darling, my sweetheart, she's the only one for me
With a heart as pure as gold and in dreams her face I see
For soon I'll be returning and the wedding bells will chime
I'll make her mine forever when it's maple sugar time.

Composer:

Ward Allen - Check here for a brief biography of this talented Canadian.

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