SOLDIER'S  JOY
(aka Billy Peddle)

Time signature: 4-4  
​Tempo: As a reel, often quite fast
​
Traditional
UNDER CONSTRUCTION:  Additional "Soldier's Joy" videos need to be added,
                                             and the notation and video keys need to be checked.
​
Accordion Notation
If played quite fast (as a fast reel):  
​Beats per bar = 2 
​Beat symbol = Colon ( : )   (or equivalent)
Either row:  Buttons 3 - 8*
Part A
   
> >  "4 "4*  |   "5 "4  "3 "4   -   "5 "4   "3 "4       |     .5   .6     -    .6 

      "6* "5*  |   "5 "4  "3 "4  -   "5 "4   "3 "4        |     .4*  .3*    -   .3*
 
       "4 "4*  |   "5 "4  "3 "4   -   "5 "4  "3 "4         |    .5   .6     -    .6 

       "6 "7*  |   "7  "8  "7  "6    -   "7* "8* "7* "6*  |       :6       -    .6   <

Part B

    > "6 "7*  |   "7 "7* "7 "8*   -   "8 "9*  "8 "7   |   "7* "6 "7* "7   -   "8* "8*

      "7 "7*   |   "7 "7*  "7 "8*   -  "8 "9*  "8 "7    |   "7* "6 "6* "5*    -   .5 

      "6 "7*   |   "7 "7* "7 "8*   -   "8 "9*  "8 "7    |   "7* "6 "7* "7   -   "8* "8*

      "7 "7*   |   "7 "8 "7 "6     -   "7* "8* "7* "6*  |             :6     -     .6    < <

This notation draws on two sources:
(i)  "Forty Favourite Fiddle Tunes" by Kelly Russell's Tune #33 (Soldier's Joy),
     available in leading music stores in Newfoundland and Labrador and from Kelly directly.  
(ii) "English Pub Session Tunes" #67 (Soldier's Joy), published by Mel Bay and available on
     Amazon.
​
Embedded youTube VIDEOS for "SOLDIER'S JOY"
A  DEMONSTRATION TUTORIAL

Key:  D

Tutor:  Lauren A.

​Posted by:  The Tune Project

This is an excellent "fiddle" tutorial, which may also be of benefit to accordion players learning this tune (especially if you have an A-D or a D-G accordion).
More videos to come within the next few days.
Embedded youTube VIDEOS for "BILLY PEDDLE"
Four videos in  Keys:     G=3     C=1
If, when first learning them, you find these performances rather fast, you may want to play the videos at half or three-quarter  speed, and then return to normal speed when you are ready.   (If you don't know how, check the "Introduction to youTube" under the drop-down "Info" menu at the top of this page).   Also, please note that not all performances follow the above accordion notation exactly, though all are close.   
Key:  G

Group:  Mainland Kitchen Band

Accordion:  Rowena Turner
Vocal & Accoustic Guitar:  Jimmy Tarrant
2nd Guitar:  Paul Bennet

​Posted by:  Mainland Kitchen Band

Pattern:  AB repeated
Key:  C

Group:  St. Pat's Dancers

Accordion:  Graham Wells

​Posted by:  Darrin Feehan

Pattern:  AABB repeated

a.k.a.  Soldier's Joy  &  the Rally
Key:  G

Group: The Relics

Posted by:   The Relics

Billy Peddle begins at time 1:20

​Pattern AB, repeated
Key:  C

Guitarist:  Fred Vey

Posted by:  Fred Vey

Played at a moderate pace,
slower than most reels, yet very well done. 

​Pattern AABB
​​​
Background Materials, Information & Links
Background Links:
My accordion notation of this tune is based on the sheet music in Kelly Russel's "Forty Favorite Fiddle Tunes".  These 40 tunes were selected and transcribed by him, and include NL jigs, reels, singles & waltzes, plus tunes from Rufus Guinchard & Emile Benoit.  In addition to this earlier "booklet", Kelly has published two extensive volumes of the fiddle music of Newfoundland & Labrador, and the book Button Box (100 tunes for the button accordion) - an impressive contribution to the music of this province.  These are available in leading music stores in Newfoundland and Labrador, and may be obtained online by contacting Kelly . . . Check the Kelly Russell home page for his phone number and email address, his biography, and for other products you can purchase.