Annotation:Winter Night Schottische

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X:1 T:Winter Night Schottische M:C L:1/8 R:Schottische B:Kerr – Merry Melodies, vol. 2, No. 439 (c. 1880’s) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:C c'2 e>f g2 c>d|e>Bc>A G4|G>AB>c d>ef>g|a2 g>^f g2 c>d| c'2 e>f g2 c>d|e>Bc>A G4|G>AB>c d>ef>B|c2 {d}c>B c2z2|| A A>^G A>Bc>d|e2 e>^d e2a2|e2a2e2d2|c>dc>B A2E2| A2 A>^G A>Bc>d|e2 e>^d e2a2|e2 d>e c>dB>c|A2 z2 a2 a2:|2 a2 z2 [B2g2] z2|| K:F f2 fa cfAc|FAcf a4|g2 gb egce|Gceg b4| f2 fa cfAc|FAcf a3f|efga bcde|f2f2f2:|



WINTER('S) NIGHT SCHOTTISCHE. AKA and see "Baie des sables," “Duck's Eyeball (2),” "Right Foot Left Foot," "Rainbow Schottische," “Stephen Baldwin's Schottische,” “Tom Bhetty's Hornpipe.” C Major (‘A’ part), A Minor (‘B’ part) & F Major (trio section). Standard tuning (fiddle). ABB’C (Trio). "Winter Night Schottische" is a member of a large and wide-spread schottische family. Orchestral arrangements for “Winter(’s) Night Schottische” date from about the 1860’s, and can be found in London publisher Hopwood and Crew’s Orchestral Journal, No. 16 where either the composition or arrangement is attributed to Charles Coote (1808-1880). Hopwood and Crew specialized in popular songs during the latter 19th century, and was half-owned by Coote, a composer of popular pieces for the ballroom, concert hall and bandstand. Coote was also the director of Coote & Tinney’s Band, the premier London dance orchestra, involved in the musical programs of Queen Victoria’s State Balls at Buckingham Palace where he was court band director. Coote’s son, also Charles (1831-1916), himself became a composer of popular songs and was so successful he was able to purchase in 1875 the remaining interest in Hopwood and Crew for the family.

Coote the elder appears to have been a fan of Charles Dickens, as a few of his compositions have titles from Dicken’s works, such as “Mugby Junction” (the name of a story by Dickens). The “No Thoroughfare Galop” by Charles Coote 'as performed nightly at the Adelphi Theatre' (1867-1868) is 'By Kind Permission of Charles Dickens Esq.', and “Coote’s Lancers” and “Somebody’s Luggage” were dedicated to the famous writer. Coote wrote to Dickens in the early 1850’s to inquire for permission to use some of his poems as lyrics for songs he would write. Dicken’s reply of January 24, 1853, survives in which he politely but firmly informs Coote that his publisher withholds permission for whatever Coote’s request had been. He suggests Coote look through older volumes of poetry for inspiration, but ends, “Mrs. Dickens and her sister send their kind regards,” so they must have been social acquaintances.

A 'crooked' (asymmetrical) version of the tune was printed under the title "Baie des sables" in J.A. Boucher's Le Répertoire du Violoneux (1933, No. 100)[1],


Additional notes
Source for notated version : - An untitled schottische by Gloucestershire fiddler Stephen Baldwin (1873-1955), recorded by Russell Wortley in 1954 [Callaghan].

Printed sources : - Callaghan (Hardcore English), 2007; p. 90 (appears as “Stephen Baldwin’s Schottische”). Kerr (Merry Melodies, vol. 2), c. 1880’s; No. 439, p. 50.

Recorded sources : - Familiar Records FAM 47, Pyewackett "7 to Midnight" (1985). Musical Traditions MTCD 334, Stephen Baldwin – “Here’s One You’ll Like, I Think” (2005).




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  1. Baie des sables is the name of a small town in the Gaspésie region of Québec.