Annotation:Kitchener's Army (1)

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X:1 T:Kitchener’s Army [1] M:2/4 L:1/16 R:Pipe March B:Robertson-Ramsay Collection Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:Amix ed|c2A2 A3B|c<Ac<e f>ed>c|d2B2 B3c|d>ef<a f2ed|c2A2 A3B| c<Ac<e f>ed>c|d2fd c2ec|B4 A2:||:cd|e2a2 a2gf|e2c2 c2ec| d2B2 B2cd|c2A2 A2cd|e2a2 a2gf|e2c2 c2ec|d2fd c2ec|B4A2:| |:ed|c2e2 a3e|ceae f<ae<c|d2f2 a3f|dfad f<af<d|c2e2 a3e| ceae f<ae<c|d>fa>d c>ea>c|B4 A2::ed|c2e2 e3d|c<ee<a f>ed<c| d2f2 f3e|d>ff<a g>fe>d|c2e2 e3d|c<ee<a f>ed>c|d>fa>d c>ea>c|B4 A2:|

KITCHENER'S ARMY [1]. AKA and see "George the Fifth's Army," "George's Army March," "King George V's Army." Scottish, March (2/4 time). A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABBCCDD. "Kitchener's Army [1]" is a pipe march composed by Pipe Major George S. MacLennan (or McLennan, 1883-1929), in honor of the forces of Lord Kitchener, commander of the British Army during World War 1. MacLennan himself served in the conflict with the Gordon Highlanders. MacLennan's title for the tune, however, was "King George V's Army," the 2/4 march became known as "Kitchener's Army [1]" when it was adapted for the fiddle by Cape Breton musicians^[1]. MacLennan did compose a tune with the title "Kitchener's Army (2)," but it is in 6/8 time. As the story told by the Gordon Highlanders goes, the 6/8 time tune was composed by MacLennan first, in 1915, and was named "Kitchener's Army" for the newly raised troops. About 2.5 million volunteered, another 2.5 million were conscripted from January 1916, spurred on by the recruiting poster featuring Kitchener's stern likeness along with the words "Your Country Needs You," which became famous. It was to honor the old regular troops that MacLennan afterward composed his "King George V's Army."

Paul Stewart Cranford notes that Cape Breton fiddlers often play the tune ABDC.

Additional notes

Printed sources : - Cranford (Jerry Holland: The Second Collection), 2000; No. 12, p. 6. Martin (Ceol na Fidhle, vol. 2), 1988; p. 9 (appears as "King George V's Army"). P/M James Robertson & P/M Donald Shaw Ramsay (Master Method for the Highland Bagpipe), c. 1950; p. 41. Scots Guards, vol. 1.

Recorded sources : - Rounder 82161-7032-2, Bill Lamey - "From Cape Breton to Boston and Back: Classic House Sessions of Traditional Cape Breton Music 1956-1977" (2000). Brenda Stubbert - "Endless Memories" (2008).

See also listing at :
Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recording Index [1]

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↑ The name "Kitchener's Army" for "King George V's Army" may or may not have originated with Cape Breton musicians. The tune appears as "Kitchener's Army" in the mid-20th century publication by Pipe Majors James Robertson and Donald Shaw Ramsay.

[1] The name "Kitchener's Army" for "King George V's Army" may or may not have originated with Cape Breton musicians. The tune appears as "Kitchener's Army" in the mid-20th century publication by Pipe Majors James Robertson and Donald Shaw Ramsay.

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