Tamlin

Notes

“Tam Lin” (also widely known as The Glasgow Reel, The Tamlin, or Howling at the Moon) is a modern classic in the world of traditional Celtic music. Though it is a relatively contemporary composition—written by the renowned Davey Arthur in the 20th century—it has earned a permanent place in the traditional repertoire, carrying an ancient, mythic energy that feels hundreds of years old.

The tune takes its name from the legendary Scottish ballad of Tam Lin, a young man captured by the Queen of the Fairies and rescued by his true love. The music perfectly captures the dark, supernatural, and urgent atmosphere of that folklore.

Here is what makes “Tam Lin” such a captivating piece:

The Mood and Mode

While many traditional reels are bright and major, “Tam Lin” is set in the D Minor scale (specifically the D Natural Minor / Aeolian mode).

• The Atmosphere: It is moody, brooding, and intensely dramatic. It carries a sense of mystery and driving urgency, evoking images of a midnight chase through an enchanted forest.

• The Contrast: Unlike tunes that rely on standard major-chord cheerfulness, “Tam Lin” gets its power from a dark, swirling tension that grips the listener from the very first note.

Driving Structure

The tune is a standard $4/4$ reel, but its melodic progression gives it an relentless, hypnotic momentum:

• The A-Part: Keeps the melody grounded heavily around the low D, creating a tense, rhythmic heartbeat. It feels coiled, like a spring waiting to be released.

• The B-Part: Breaks free and climbs up the scale, shifting the harmonic focus to the major chords (F and C) for a brief, soaring moment of light before plunging back down into the driving minor resolution.

A Session Showstopper

In an Irish or Scottish traditional session, “Tam Lin” is a certified crowd-pleaser and a favorite among musicians. It is highly adaptable; it can be played with a smooth, flowing lyricism on the fiddle, a crisp, percussive attack on the tenor banjo or mandolin, or a thunderous, driving rhythm on the guitar and bouzouki.

Because of its dark energy, it is often used as a “climax” tune in a set of reels. Musicians will often transition into “Tam Lin” from a lighter major-key tune to instantly shift the room’s atmosphere, raising the stakes and injecting a thrilling burst of adrenaline into the session.