Annotation:Mountain Belle Schottische

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MOUNTAIN BELLE SCHOTTISCHE. English, American; Schottishe. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABBAAB'B'. Composed by Charles Kinkel in 1856 [1]. It was a popular piece in America and Britain, regularly printed on solo sheets and in piano collections for more than ninety years. Surprisingly little is known about Kinkel, despite his many published musical works (which includes "Santa Claus' Galop" (1874), among many others!). He may have been born in Rheinpfalz, Germany, in 1832, but emigrated to America at some point, where he was a music teacher and a prolific composer of popular music in the second half of the 19th century. Dates of death vary.

A tune by this title was in the repertoire of the Hornellsville Hillbillys, a Steuban County, N.Y., string band of the 1930's.

Source for notated version: George Henry Watson (Swanton Abbott, Norfolk, 1850-80) [Callaghan]. Callaghan (Hardcore English), 2007; p. 88. Carlin (Master Collection), 1987; No. 31, p. 30.

Printed sources:

Recorded sources: EFDSS CD13, New Victory Band - "Hardcore English" (2007. Various artists). Topic 12TS382, New Victory Band - "One More Dance and Then" (1978. Heard first from the playing of Bill Fell, a plucked dulcimer player from Birmingham, according to John Adams. Later {re-}learned from the Smithsonian Social Orchestra and Quadrille Band).