Annotation:Recovery (1) (The)
X:1 T:Recovery [1], The M:2/4 L:1/8 R:Country Dance Tune B:William Cahusac – The German Flute Preceptor (c. 1814, p. 12) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:D AdAd|(e/d/e/f/) ee|agec|(d/c/d/e/) dd|AdAd |(e/d/e/f/) ee|agec|df d2!fine!!fermata!:| |:agec|dfdA|GG (G/F/G/A/)|(G2F)z|agec|dfdA|GF/G/ A/G/F/E/|D2z2:| |:ff/f/ ff|f3g|fedc|(d/c/d/e/) f2|ee/e/ ee|e2 zf|edcB|A2 z2:|]
RECOVERY [1], THE. AKA and see "March (35)." English, Reel. F Major (Raven): C Major (Howe): D Major (Barber, Callaghan, Riley, Wilson). Standard tuning (fiddle). One part (Raven): AB (Riley): ABCA (Wilson): AABBCA (Howe): AABBCC (Barber, Callaghan). The melody appears in the music manuscript book of fiddler John Burk, dated 1821. Unfortunately, nothing is known of Burk, although he may have been from the north of England. The reel also appears in the large early 19th century music manuscript of British military fifer John Buttery, and in many other fiddlers’ manuscripts: John Clare (Helpston, Northants, 1820), the Rev. Robert Harrison (Brampton, Cumbria, 1820), James Winder (Wyresdale, Lancashire, 1835), Lawrence Leadley (Helperby, Yorkshire, c. 1840's), George Spencer (Leeds, west Yorkshire, 1831), a manuscript from Carlisle (Cumbria, 1810), James Haslingden (Midlands, 1827), a manuscript from Aston-on-Carrant (Gloucestershire, copy of 1770 MS) and Miss Best (unknown, c. 1850). Barry Callaghan (2007) notes that in Manuscript 36 in the Vaughn Williams Music Library of EFDSS a handwritten note accompanying the tune suggests the recovery referred to one of George III's (1738-1820) 'recoveries' from his bouts of mental disability [1]. The last two decades of George’s life contained periods of ‘madness’ and remission, but his health continued to decline. The Regency Act of 1811 effectively passed many royal responsibilities to his son George, the Prince of Wales.
Researcher Conor Ward finds a cognate tune as an untitled march (see "March (35)") in County Leitrim musician biography:Stephen Grier's 1883 music manuscript collection.
Published versions appear in Wilson’s Companion to the Ball Room (London, 1816, p. 109) and William Cahusac's German Flute Preceptor (c. 1814, p. 12). In America the melody was contained in Riley’s Flute Melodies, vol. 3 (New York, 1820-1825, p. 19).
