Annotation:York Fusileers (The)
X:1 T:York Fusiliers, The M:2/4 L:1/8 R:Air B:Cushing - Fifer's Companion No. 1 (1805) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:D D2 FA | de/f/ ge | fd cd | e/d/c/B/ A/G/F/E/ | D2 FA | de/f/ ge | fd c/d/e/c/ | d4 :| |: fe e2 | fa a2 | fa fd | e/d/c/B/ A/B/c/d/ | fe e2 | fa a2 | fa fd | e4 :| |: DA A2 | DB B2 | AB A/G/F/E/ | Dd cd | DA A2 | DB B2 | AB A/G/F/E/ | E2 D2 :| |:A>G Fd | A>G Fd | BA GF|E/D/E/F/ E2|A>G Fd | A>G Fd | Bg f/d/e/c/ | d4 :|
YORK FUSILIERS, THE. AKA and see "Convention (The),” "Shenandoah." English (originally), American; March or Country Dance. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABBCCDD. A British regimental march from the Revolutionary War period that has found its way into American dance and martial tradition, perhaps from early fife tutors (showing up in southwestern Pa. marital bands as the march "Shenandoah"). It appears in a great many musicians' manuscript collections from the end of the 18th century into the early 19th century, as well as in American fife tutors. For example, it was entered into Cushing Eell's tune manuscript of 1789 (page 19) from Norwich, Connecticut, and in The Fifer’s Companion, printed by Joshua Cushing in 1805. Eells also lists this song as “General Washington's March.” The melody was also used for shape note hymns ("The Heavenly Contention"). Morrison uses it for the contra dance "The Convention."
