Annotation:Annan Polka

ANNAN POLKA. Scottish, Polka. G Major ('A' and 'B' parts) & D Major ('C' part). Standard tuning. AA'BBCC(Trio). Annan is located in Dumfries, Scotland. The Bruces were Lords of Annandale from the time of David I (c. 1124) who conferred the lands on Robert de Brus, who was the ancestor of Robert I, king of Scotland in 1306. Edward Balliol was defeated at the battle of Annan in 1332. However, the "Annan Polka" is not Scottish, but is derived from Johann Strauss Sr.'s "Beliebte Annen Polka," composed in 1842. Seattle fiddler Vivian Williams, who discovered the connection, notes that the Straus piece should non be confused with Johann Strauss Jr.'s "Annen Polka," written in 1852. The melody appears in the Browne Family music manuscripts, which are actually a collection of different manuscripts in different hands that was in the possession of the Brown Family (of Troutbeck, Lake District, Cumbria, England) prior to their being secured by the Armitt Library in Ambleside. The particular manuscript that contains the "Annan Polka" probably dates to c. 1850, according to Chris Partington.

Printed sources: Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 3; No. 436, pg. 50.

Recorded sources: CDTRAX 242, Wendy Stewart - "Standing Wave."