Annotation:Duke of Gordon's Reel (2)

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 DUKE OF GORDON'S REEL [2]. English (?), Country Dance tune (?). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The melody seems typical of country dance forms.  Source for notated version: the music manuscript collection of ship's fiddler William Litten, about whom little is known, save that he sailed with the British East India fleet in 1800-1802, part of the complement of H.M.S. Gorgon (at least for the return trip). The fleet arrived in China in early 1801. The manuscript came into the hands of Allen Coffin of Edgartown, Mass. (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), who brought it home with him when he returned from sea in the early 1800's. How the ms. came into Coffin's hands is unknown, as is the fate of Litten.  Printed sources: Huntington (William Litten's), 1977; p. 13.  Recorded sources:

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