Annotation:Dawning of the Day (1) (The)

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X:1 T:Dawning of the Day [1], The O:"Irish" M:C L:1/8 Q:"Slow" R: Air B:James Aird – Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. 3 (Glasgow, 1788, No. 502, p. 193) N:”Humbly dedicated to the Volunteers and Defensive Bands of Great Britain and Ireland” Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:G DE/F/|:G>AGF TE2D2|dd g/f/e/d/ B2 c/B/A/G/|GFGA TB2 gfed|B>c {B}TA2 G4:| |:Te>defg2 ga/b/|agfe d2B2|ed e/g/f/a g2 (ga/b/)|agTf>e e4| edef gg g/f/e/d/|Bg B/g/B/g/ A2 B/A/G/F/|GFGA B2 g/f/e/d/|(Bc) {B}TA2 G4:|]

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DAWNING OF THE DAY [1] (Fáinne_Geal_an_Lae). AKA - "Dawn of Day." AKA and see "Bright Dawn of Day (The)," "Enchanted Glen," "Golden Star (1) (The)." Irish, Air (4/4 or cut time). G Major (Heymann/1988, O'Neill/Krassen & 1850): E Flat Major (Haverty): F Major (O'Neill/1915). Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Haverty): AAB: AABB (Aird). "Fáine Geal an Lae" literally translates as 'the bright ring of day', referring to dawn. The air, one of a supposed seven or eight hundred, was reputed to have been composed by Thomas O'Connellan (see note for "Breach of Aughrim (The)"), a 17th century harper from County Sligo who spent considerable time in Scotland. O'Neill (1922) says: "O'Connellan flourished in a period when the renown of Irish harpers became a matter of history. After a sojourn of 20 years in Scotland, he returned to his native land in 1689, and died nine years later. As the above setting differs materially from that of Bunting in his second collection issued in 1809, and others much more recent, its introduction among Waifs and Strays may be not without interest to students of Irish musical history." In his 1840 collection Ancient Irish Music, the collector Edward Bunting aslo attributed it to Connellan (p. 70). Others, notably O'Neill in an earlier work, credit the composition of the tune to Turlough O'Carolan, though it is not known by what authority and thus is very much in doubt. However, Donal O'Sullivan notes that Carolan may have joined Connellan's "Dawning of the Day" music to his poem "The Morning Star," written for Dolly MacDonough.

It was one of the tunes played in competition by 95 year old Irish harper known variously as Denis O'Hansey, O'Hampsey, Henson or Hampson (Donnchadh a Haimpsuigh) at the last great meeting of the ancient Irish harpers in July, 1792, at the Belfast Harp Festival. O'Hampsey lived to the age of 110. Bunting also states that blind harper William Carr (1777-?), originally from County Armagh, played it at the same competition. Versions appear in both Stanford/Petrie and in Hugh Shields edition of the 19th century James Goodman's manuscripts (vol. 1) under the title "Bright Dawn of the Day"/Fáinne Geal an Lae). An early printing of the melody appears in James Aird's Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. 3 (Glasgow, 1788).

In 1862 Bruce and Emmett's Drummers' and Fifers' Guide was published to help codify and train the hordes of new musicians in Union Army service early in the American Civil War. George Bruce was a drum major in the New York National Guard, 7th Regiment, and had served in the United States Army as principal drum instructor at the installation at Governor's Island in New York harbor. Emmett was none-other than Daniel Decatur Emmett, a principal figure in the mid-19th century minstrel craze and composer of "Dixie" (ironically turned into a Confederate anthem during the war) and "Old Dan Tucker," among other favorites. Emmett had been a fifer for the 6th U.S. Infantry in the mid-1850's. The authors include the melody in their section of tunes suggested for reviles, and say: "'The Dawning of the Day' and 'Dusky Night' must not be considered to belong to Reveills, at present; but the Author has placed them in their present position as that honor may become acquainted with them. In the U.S. Army they are omitted."