Annotation:Harsh February (The)

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 HARSH FEBRUARY, THE. AKA - "Dave White's." Scottish (originally), Irish; Reel. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. Composed by Scottish piano-accordion player Phil Cunningham (brother of Black's source). The tune is attributed to Phil Cunningham in Jerry Holland's Second Collection (2000), edited and published by Paul Stewart Cranford. The tune is also known as "Dave White's," referring to a Cape Breton stepdancer of Holland's acquaintance, and composition of the melody is sometimes attributed to Holland (who recorded it as "Harsh February" on his album "Fiddler's Choice").  Source for notated version: the late Scottish fiddler Johnny Cunningham [Black].  Printed sources: Black (Music's the Very Best Thing), 1996; No. 267, p. 144. Cranford (Jerry Holland: The Second Collection), 2000; No. 101, p. 40.  Recorded sources: Green Linnet, Johnny Cunningham - "Squeeze." Green Linnet GLCD 1145, Wolfstone - "Year of the Dog." Odyssey ORCS 1051, Jerry Holland - "Fiddler's Choice" (1998). Phil Cunningham (et al) - "The Big Squeeze." Lunasa - "The Merry Sisters of Fate" (appears as first tune of 10th set, although is mistakenly listed as 2nd tune on the lable).  See also listing at: Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recordings Index

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