Green Mountain Petronella and Eli Greene’s Cakewalk

Notes

This classic New England set pairs the stately, Vermont-rooted Green Mountain Petronella with the syncopated ragtime flair of Eli Greene’s Cakewalk. Moving from the bright G Major of the Petronella into the soulful A Minor and soaring C Major of the Cakewalk, this medley offers a journey through the evolution of American dance music. It is a favorite for its rhythmic playfulness and the satisfying contrast between traditional reel bowing and early jazz-influenced syncopation.

“Green Mountain Petronella” and “Eli Greene’s Cakewalk” are two staples of the New England contra dance tradition, often played together in a high-energy medley. While they come from different musical roots, they share a rhythmic drive that makes them irresistible for dancers and fiddlers alike.

Green Mountain Petronella

This tune is a Vermont-flavored variation of the classic “Petronella,” a dance and melody that dates back to the early 19th century (originally published in Scotland around 1820).

• The Feel: It is a reel in 2/4 or 4/4 time, typically played in the key of G Major.

• The Character: What distinguishes the “Green Mountain” version is its specific melodic phrasing that emphasizes the “scooting” or “twirling” motion of the Petronella dance step. It has a bright, staccato quality that feels both antique and energetic.

• Significance: It is a quintessential “New England” tune, representing the way European melodies were adapted and “ruggedized” in the Northeast.

Eli Greene’s Cakewalk

Composed by Sadie Koninsky in 1898, this tune is a fascinating piece of Americana. Koninsky was a pioneering female composer of ragtime and marches, and “Eli Greene’s” was one of her most successful works.

• The Feel: A Cakewalk (2/4 time), usually played in A Minor and C Major.

• The Character: The tune is characterized by its syncopated, “raggy” rhythm. The A-part has a slightly bluesy, minor-key mysteriousness, which then breaks into a triumphant, sunny C-major section. This shift in mood is a hallmark of the cakewalk style.

• Significance: In the contra dance world, it is often treated as a “swingy” reel. Its transition from minor to major provides a fantastic emotional lift in the middle of a dance set.