Annotation:Manchester Reel (2)

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MANCHESTER REEL [2]. American, Reel. E Mixolydian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The composition credited by William Bradybury Ryan to Zeke Backus, who contributed a few tunes to the Ryan collection. There were Backuses that were minstrel performers in the mid- and latter 19th century, including Charlie and Ned, although a Zeke Backus is not listed. Zeke may have been one of the New England musicians (like the Nortons) who have tunes peppered throughout Ryan's Mammoth. If so, the title perhaps refers to Manchester, New Hampshire. See also other Zeke Backus compositions in the volume, such as "Charter Oak" (which refers to Connecticut).

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; p. 34. Ryan's Mammoth Collection, 1883; p. 59.

Recorded sources:

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