British Muse
BRITISH MUSE. English, Air (cut time). A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The melody was published in Samuel Holyoke's Instrumental Assistant (Exeter, N.H., 1800). It also appears in a many American musicians' manuscripts and incidental collections of the last decade of the 18th century, sometimes set as a dance tune, and othertimes as a song. Apparently words were written to the tune, for "Friendship" often appears as an alternate title, reflecting a renewed relationship with Britain some ten years after the Treaty of Paris was signed (1783), and Americans once again looked to their roots.
Printed source: Mattson & Walz (Old Fort Snelling), 1974; p. 54 (set as a duet for two fifes).
X:1 T:British Muse M:C| L:1/8 S:Holyoke - Instrumental Assistant (1800) K:A c2 dc|B2e2A2 (Bc)|B4 (cd)ed| c2 (BA) B4|A4 c2 dc|B2e2A2 (Bc)| B4 (cd)ed|c2 (BA) "tr"B4|A4::c2 de|f2f2e2d2|c4 c2cd| e2 fe d2c2|B4 c2dc|B2e2A2 Bc|B4 (cd)ed|c2 (BA) "tr"B4|1 A4:|2 A8||
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Engraver Valerio M. Pelliccioni