Bridge of Lodi (The)

 BRIDGE OF/AT LODI, THE. AKA and see "Douglas," "Down Back o' Shoddy," "Hell on the Potomac [3]," "Hunter's Hornpipe [1]," "Huntsman's Hornpipe," "The Lochmaben Hornpipe," "Lord Nelson's Hornpipe," "Nelson's (Hornpipe) [2]," "Saxon's Hornpipe," "Worcestershire Hornpipe." Scottish, English; Hornpipe. C Major (Carlin): D Major (Raven). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. A very popular hornpipe melody that exists in 19th century publications and musicians' copybooks under a variety of titles, dating to the very early 1800's. It was printed under the "Lodi" title in London in J. Ball's Gentleman's Amusement, Book 3 (1815), and in dancing master Thomas Wilson's Companion to the Ballroom (1816). In America it appears in Paff's Gentleman's Amusement No. 1 (N.Y. c. 1812) and the music copybooks of P. Van Schaack (1820, Kinderhook, N.Y.) and William Patten (Philadelphia, Pa.?, 1800?). The Bridge of Lodi was the site of one of Napoleon's earliest and most important victories in Italy, early in his career. The melody appears under this title in the music manuscripts of William Clarke (Feltwell, Norfolk) dated 1858. Dorset writer Thomas Hardy wrote a poem called "The Bridge of Lodi," inspired twofold by the hornpipe and by a trip to Italy in the Spring of 1887. The first two stanzas begin: When of tender mind and body, I was moved by minstrelsy, And that air "The Bridge of Lodi" Brought a strange delight to me. In the battle-breathing jingle Of its forward-footing tune I could see the armies mingle, And the columns crushed and hewn. Printed souce: Carlin (Master Collection), 1984; p. 99 (#170). Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; p. 163. Wilson (Companion to the Ballroom), 1816; p. 132.

X:1 T:Bridge of Lodi, The M:C L:1/8 R:Hornpipe Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:D AF | D2d2d2 cd | ecAc d2 de | fdfd gege | fdfd ecGE | D2d2d2 cd | ecAc d2 ed | cecA cBA^G | A2A2A2 :: fg | agfe dcBA | B2G2G2 ga | bagf edcB | c2A2A2fg | afaf bgbg | afaf bgbg | afge fdec | d2d2d2 :||

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