Annotation:Gallant 69th (The)

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GALLANT SIXTY-NINTH, THE. AKA and see "Gals of Sixty-Nine," "Irishman's Shanty," "Old Tenth (The)." American, March (6/8 time). USA, southwestern Pa. A Mixolydian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. Bayard (1981) identifies this as yet another of the extensive "Welcome Home" family of tunes. The first alternate title is obviously a risqué corruption of the given title. The melody is Irish in origin, employed as a march tune that appears to honor the "Fighting 69th," or New York's 69th Regiment, a decorated unit that was originally largely composed of Irish immigrants from New York City to fight for the Union in the Civil War.

Sources for notated versions: Hiram Horner (Westmoreland and Fayette Counties, Pa., 1944 & 1960), Wilbur Neal (Jefferson County, Pa., 1948) [Bayard].

Printed sources: Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle), 1981; No. 606A-D, pp. 535-536. Feldman, (The Northern Fiddler), 1979; p. 231 (3rd tune). Mitchell (The Dance Music of Willie Clancy), 1976; No. 40. O'Neill (Dance Music of Ireland: 1001 Gems), 1907; No. 305.

Recorded sources:

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