Annotation:Siege of Delhi

---

X:1 T:Seige of Delhi, The M:C L:1/8 R:March B:David Glen – David Glen's Collection of Highland Music, Book 2 (c. 1885, No. 11, p. 8) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:A A/B/|c2 ce e/A/f/A/ eA/B/|c2 ce f/a/e/c/ BA/B/|c2ce e/A/f/A/ eA/B/| ca/e/ f/d/e/d/ cA/>G/ A:||:A/B/|c2 ce x2 df|c2 ce f/a/e/c/ BA/B/|c2 ce d2df| ca/e/ f/d/e/d/ cA/>A/ A:||:g|a/>A/a/f/ e/>A/e/c/ A/>A/A/c/ eA/B/|c2 ce f/a/e/c/ Bg| a/>A/A/F/ E/>A/E/C/ A/>A/A/c/ eA/B/|ca/e/ f/d/e/d/ cA/>A/ A:||:B|c2 ce f/d/a/d/ f/d/a/d/| c2 ce f/a/e/c/ BA/B/|c2 ce f/d/a/d/ f/d/a/d/|ca/e/ f/d/e/d/ cA/>A/ A:|]

---

SIEGE OF DELHI, THE. AKA - "Siege of Delhi." English, Scottish; March (2/4 time) or Hornpipe. G Major (Raven): A Major (Martin). Standard tuning (fiddle). ABCD (Raven): AABBCCDD (Martin). The title of this pipe march refers to an action during the Indian Mutiny that began in 1857 as a mutiny by the sepoys regiments against the British East India Company. Delhi had been the capital in northern India of the Moghul empire, and although it had lost prestige since then it was still a symbolic center of life in northern India. Rebels took control of the city, with considerable loss of European life, improved the fortifications and awaited the British. The British forces laid siege to the city and prevailed with much heroism (A total of 29 Victoria Crosses were awarded to recipients for bravery in the Siege of Delhi), though their cause was assisted by the fact that the rebel ammunition had begun to run out. There was also much looting and disregard for human life by all parties.

This bagpipe march is from an anonymous composer, and first appears in print in David Glen's second collection of Highland bagpipe music, published in the 1880's. The title appears with the first word spelled both "Seige" and "Siege" in various collections, with "Seige" appearing in older ones.