Annotation:Huntsman's Chorus

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 HUNTSMAN'S CHORUS. AKA - "Hunter's Chorus," "Huntsmen's Chorus." AKA and see "Bunker Hill" (Pa.), "Harrison City" (Pa.), "A Drag" (Pa.). British Isles, New England; Country Dance (2/4 time) or Morris Dance (4/4 time) Tune. D Major (Ashman, Brody): G Major (Phillips, Wade). Standard tuning (fiddle). ABC (Ashman): AABB. A march called the "Huntsman's Chorus" (Was glecht wohl auf Erden) which opens the third act of von Weber's opera Der Freishutz, first performed in Berlin in 1821. Known by the "Huntsman's Chorus" title in England and New England, but not apparently in Pennsylvania (see alternate names) where it was a staple of many martial bands, though in fact it was printed in several 19th century collections under the main title. It was used as a quickmarch in England as well as Pennsylvania, particularly by the Rifle Brigade, the 95th Regiment, in the mid-1800's (Winstock, 1970; pg. 220). The melody was used as a tune for either a polka or single step morris dance in the North-West (England) tradition. A related, untitled, polka was collected by Brendan Breathnach from the playing of John Ryan, from a Radio Éireann recording (see CRÉ V, No. 85, p. 45). A multipart version appears in the 1823-26 music manuscript book of Joshua Gibbons (Tealby, Lincolnshire Wolds) under the title "Election Tune, June 1826," attributed to one L. Hanson. Interesting in that in documents that the melody, or part of it, had entered folk tradition in England in the space of a few years.  Source for notated version: a c. 1837-1840 MS by Shropshire musician John Moore [Ashman].  Printed sources: Ashman (The Ironbridge Hornpipe), 1991; No. 70, p. 29. Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; p. 139. English Dance and Song, 1963, New Year issue, pp. 23, & 1965, p. 61 (collected in Yorkshire). Howe (Diamond School for the Violin), 1861; p. 21. Phillips (Fiddlecase Tunebook), 1989; p. 29. Townsend (English Dance Music), vol. 1, p. 142. Wade (Mally's North West Morris Book), 1988; p. 28. Sumner (Lincolnshire Collections, vol. 1: The Joshua Gibbons Manuscript), 1997; No. 163, p. 87 (appears as "Election Tune, June 1826).  Recorded sources:  Adelphi 2002, Hickory Wind- "At the Wednesday Night Waltz." F&W Records 3, "Canterbury Country Dance Orchestra." Front Hall 01, Fennigs All Stars- "The Hammered Dulcimer."   See also listing at: Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources

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