Tam Lin, or The Glasgow Reel as it also known, is a reel based on the tales of the legendary Scots character, Tam Lin. It is a tale that has its origins in the Scottish Borders, an area of Scotland long disputed by the Scots and the English. The story involves the rescue of Tam Lin by his true love from the Queen of the Fairies. The idea of capturing a person by holding them through transformation is a common one in literature and in many folk tales. This very theme is at the centre or Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In this tale the young lady in question can see her love’s true self despite the actions of the Queen of the Fairies to hide him. Others cannot see him but true love allows the young lady in question to see through the disguises allowing her the ability to free him from his prison. Given the place Glasgow has in my family’s history it seemed fitting to create a work utilizing this melody in some way. Like Tam Lin, the original melody of the reel is transformed melodically and rhythmically but if you listen closely you too can find it.
