Annotation:Jim Clark's Hornpipe
JIM CLARK'S HORNPIPE. AKA and see "Clark's Hornpipe (1)," "Ivy Leaf Hornpipe," "Morpeth's Hornpipe/Morpeth Rant (1)," "New Sailor's Hornpipe (The)." Irish, Hornpipe. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The 'A' part is similar to "Harry Cooper" and "Land League (1);" see Bayard's note for "Harry Cooper." The tune is popular among Midwest fiddlers, and was one of '100 essential Missouri tunes' listed by Missouri fiddler Charlie Walden. Edward Le Roy Rice, in his book Monarchs of Minstrelsy (New York, 1911), has this entry on a Jim Clark:
JIMMY CLARK was one of the best jig dancers in the country, and equally proficient in the manipulation of the banjo, and an all-round good general performer. He was with Kelly and Leon's Minstrels in New York, also with the Duprez and Benedict Company. December, 1872, Welch, Clark and Hart's Minstrels began a brief career. Mr. Clark had not appeared professionally for some years. Prior to his death he was employed in the manufacturing of the banjo. Jimmy Clark died in New York City, February 27, 1880; age 40 years. (p. 142).
Unfortunately, banjo-playing Jimmy had nothing to do with composing the tune, for it was printed by Boston music publisher Elias Howe a few years after Jimmy Clark's birth, as "Clark's Hornpipe (1)." It may be the editor Ryan may have added the "Jim" to the title in the banjo-playing minstrel's honor, or perhaps for some other reason.
As "Clark's Hornpipe (1)" the hornpipe is also in Irish repertory, having been picked up from one of the Howe publications by Francis O'Neill and included in his Music of Ireland (1903) and Dance Music of Ireland (1907). However, the tune's provenance is English, and is based on the 18th century composition of William Shield.
