Annotation:Moon and Seven Stars (The)

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MOON AND SEVEN STARS, THE. AKA and see "Grand Parade (1) (The)," "Seven Stars," "True Briton (The)." English (originally), American; Jig (6/8 time) D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The tune under this title dates to around 1750, although as "Seven Stars" it may be somewhat older (according to Pete Coe, West Yorks, U.K.). It was entered under the "Moon and Seven Stars" title into the 1795-c. 1815 music manuscript commonplace book of musician Luther Kingsley of Mansfield, Connecticut, and the c. 1815 music manuscript of Cumbrian musician Matthew Betham. New Hampshire contra dance musician Randy Miller gives that it was an old fife tune in America where it was called "The Moon and Seven Stars," a title he suggests was influenced by freemasonry. Northumbrian musician and woodcut artist Joseph Crawhill (1821-1896) also entered it into his 1872 music manuscript collection [1]. See note for "annotation:Seven Stars" for more information.

Additional notes

Source for notated version: -

Printed sources : - Aird (Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. 1), 1782; No. 9, p. 4. Miller (Fiddler's Throne), 2004; No. 79, p. 58. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; p. 103. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; p. 139. Sweet (Fifer's Delight), 1965/1981; p. 79.

Recorded sources: -Sage Arts 1101, Erin Schrader - "Enrichez Vous" (1991). Randy Miller - "Lore of the Fingerboard" (1990).

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