Annotation:Old National Theatre
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OLD NATIONAL THEATRE. American, "Straight Jig" (2/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The tune is one of a genre of syncopated old-time melodies, primarily banjo tunes, meant as a vehicle for clog dancing on the late 19th century stage. Such duple-time 'jigs' were often called "straight" or "sand" jigs (the later derived from the habit of sanding the stage to facilitate the movements).
The title probably refers to the Old National Theatre in Boston, located at Portland and Traverse Street, from 1830's, although there were Old National theaters in New York, Philadelphia, and other cities as well.
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; p. 84. Ryan's Mammoth Collection, 1883; p. 116. White's Unique Collection, 1896; No. 31, p. 6.
Recorded sources: