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Notes
“Spootiskerry” is one of the most beloved and widely played reels in the modern traditional repertoire. Though it has the timeless, infectious lift of a centuries-old tune, it was actually composed around 1960 by the talented Shetland Islands fiddler and multi-instrumentalist Samuel Ian Rothmar Burns (1932–1995). It was the very first tune he ever wrote, and it has since become a global session standard, celebrated for its bright energy and remarkably satisfying fingerboard flow.
Here is a description of the tune, highlighting its unique history and musical character:
“Spootiskerry” — An Overview
“Spootiskerry” is a vibrant G-major Shetland reel that perfectly captures the joyful, driving spirit of maritime traditional music. From the northernmost reaches of Scotland, this tune has traveled to sessions worldwide, admired by fiddlers, mandolinists, and guitarists alike for its syncopated bounce and inherently cheerful nature.
The Story Behind the Name
The distinctive name comes from a family croft (a small coastal farm) belonging to Ian Burns’s grand-aunts, located on the North Mainland of Shetland near the village of Brae. The word itself is a colorful piece of Shetland imagery:
“Spoot” refers to a razor clam, a local shore delicacy named because it “spoots” (spouts) water when disturbed in the sand.
“Skerry” is a traditional maritime term for a rocky reef or island that is submerged at high tide and exposed at low tide.
Together, the name brings to life the rugged, beautiful coastline where the tune was born.
Musical Character and Playability
The Flow: “Spootiskerry” is famous among traditional musicians for being “much easier than it looks.” While it sounds intricate and highly dynamic, the melody lies beautifully under the fingers on standard-tuned stringed instruments (like the fiddle and mandolin). It relies heavily on natural scale patterns and intuitive string crossings, making it an absolute joy to play.
The Rhythm: The tune has a wonderful, infectious syncopation—particularly in its choice of leaps and rhythmic hooks—that gives it a characteristic Shetland “swing.”
The Structure: The ‘A’ part hops along with an optimistic, conversational melody, while the ‘B’ part opens up beautifully, driving forward with an uplifting energy that naturally makes listeners want to dance.
In the Session Circuit
In traditional music sessions from Edinburgh to New England, “Spootiskerry” is rarely played alone. It is a consummate “set-builder.” In the Scottish and Shetland tradition, it is most famously paired in a driving reel set alongside classic tunes like “Willafjord” and “Sleep Soond ida Mornin'” (Sleep Sound in the Morning).
Whether it is driving a crowded dance floor at a New England contra dance or being traded back and forth around a quiet kitchen table, “Spootiskerry” stands as a brilliant testament to modern traditional composition—a tune rooted deeply in a specific coastal home, but built with a universal appeal that unites traditional musicians everywhere.