Annotation:Optimist (The)

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OPTIMIST, THE. Irish, Hornpipe. E Flat Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. Composed by early 20th century composer J.D. Michie (1884-1960), a musician, inventor, composer, teacher, poet and craftsman, who resided and kept a music shop in Brechin, Scotland. He composed a hornpipe suite in the key of Eb (published in 1933) that consisted of "Autocrat (The)," "Jester (The)," and "Optimist (The)." A second hornpipe suite was preceded by a slow air ("Dying Year (The)" (dedicated to fiddler Angus Fitchet, who responded with a march, "Mr. Michie"), followed by "Cynic (The)," "Desclaimer (The)," and "Recluse Hornpipe."

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: McGuire & Keegan (Irish Tunes by the 100), 1975; No. 76, p. 20.

Recorded sources:

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