Annotation:Dublin Volunteers Quick March

Tune properties and standard notation

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DUBLIN VOLUNTEERS QUICK MARCH. Irish (?), March (2/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (O'Farrell): AABB (Aird). James Aird dedicated his Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs to "the Volunteer and Defensive Bands of Great Britain and Ireland." He was referring to the numerous units raised for home defense during the several wars with France during the latter 18th and early 19th centuries. At the time of the revolt of the American colonies the British Government was worried about home defense and threats from France. The Irish Volunteer movement was formed as a home guard when Britain's forces were engaged in America but it soon became a political reform movement. The Dublin Volunteers was one such unit, a yeomanry force raised in 1779 among the English-speaking population of Dublin and first commanded by the Duke of Leinster. It was the unit to which later-rebel leader Napper Tandy (1740-1803) belonged before he was expelled in 1780 after advocating for the expulsion of the Duke on the grounds that he was too moderate. The Royal Dublin Volunteers had in 1803 a uniform consisting of a red coat with blue facings, blue breeches, and black gaiters and shoes.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Aird (Selections of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs), vol. II, 1785; No. 137, p. 51. O'Farrell (Pocket Companion, vol. 1), c. 1805; p. 55.

Recorded sources:

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Tune properties and standard notation