Annotation:Quick Step 21st Regiment
X:1 T:Quick Step 21st Regiment M:2/4 L:1/8 R:March B:Aird – Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. 1 (1782, No. 8, p. 3) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:D FA A(G/F/)|BA A(B/c/)|dA BG|FDD2:| |:df f(e/d/)|ce e(d/c/)|d>ef.g|aA A2| df f(e/d/)|ce e(d/c/)|dABG|FD D2:|]
QUICK STEP 21ST REGIMENT. AKA - "Greenitch Farr" (Greenwich Fair?). Scottish, English; March (2/4 time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. At the time of James Aird's publication of his first volume of Selections, the 21st Regiment was the Royal North British Fusilier Regiment of Foot, numbered the 21st Regiment in 1751 when the army reorganized and gave all its regiments numbers. It was one of the oldest units in the British Army, having been raised in Scotland in 1678 during the reign of Charles II. Despite the nomen 'North British', the Regiment was originally raised Lowland Scotland, retained those associations, and survives today as The Royal Scots Fusiliers. Among their many engagements, they fought against Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites at Culloden. The 21st, just prior to the publication of Selections of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. 1 in 1782, was in service in America during the War of Independence commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Ingles Hamilton (he was later promoted to Brigadier General). They were part of the forces of General John Burgoyne who invaded New York from Canada, and the unit surrendered with him at Saratoga in October, 1777.
The melody was also entered into The Buttery Manuscript [1] (c. 1784-1820, No. 953), under the title "Greenitch Farr" (Greenwich Fair?). John Buttery (1784-1854) joined the 34th Regiment in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, in 1797 and served as a fifer until discharged in 1814. His large ms. contains marches, duty calls, dance tunes and airs.
"Set Tune No. 2" in the first book of the Alex Sutherland music manuscript collection (County Leitrim) has a second strain that is similar to the second strain of "Quick Step 21st Regiment."
