Annotation:Breakdown (The)

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X:1 T:Break Down M:C| L:1/8 R:Hornpipe S:Kerr - Merry Melodies, vol. 4, No. 268 (c. 1880's) Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:A (3efg | a2A2 AcBA | E2A2 AcBA |1 F2B2 BcBA | GABc defg :| |2 GABc defg | aece A2 ||:(3BAG | A2a2A3B | B2b2B3A | |1 GABc defg | aefd cABG :|2 GABc defg | a2 ({b}ag) a2 ||

BREAKDOWN, THE. AKA - "The Break Down." English, Scottish; Hornpipe and Reel. A Major (Kennedy, Raven): AA'BB' (Kerr). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The melody is widespread throughout England, from Cornwall to Northumberland, and it is a favorite in the Scottish country dance repertory. The first strain is a variant of "Mason's Apron (The)" and is shared with Norfolk musician Walter Bulwer's "<incipit title="load:ship" width=850 link="https://tunearch.org/wiki/Shipdham Hornpipe">Shipdham Hornpipe</incipit>." Hans Nathan (Dan Emmett and Negro Minstrelsy, Univ. of Oklahoma Press, 1962, p. 93) mentions a 'Breakdown Hornpipe' as an old blackface minstrel dance or series of dance steps, although there may be no connection to this particular tune. American versions with the same first strain can be found under title "Wake Up Susan (1)" and others.

Additional notes

Source for notated version: -

Printed sources : - Kennedy (Fiddlers Tune Book, vol. 1), 1951; No. 23; p. 12. Kerr (Merry Melodies, vol. 4), c. 1880's; No. 268, p. 29. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; p. 176. Seattle (Morpeth Rant).

Recorded sources: -Beautiful Jo BEJOCD-36, Dave Shepherd & Becky Price - "Ashburnham." Parlophone PMD 1012 RPM 33, Jimmy Shand - "Scottish Country Dances in Strict Tempo No. 1" (1950). Topic Records ‎12T240, Walter & Daisy Bulwer - "Bocastle Breakdown" (1974. Various artists). Topic Records ‎TSCD607, Billy Cooper - "English Country Music" (2000).

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