Buff and Blue (1)
BUFF AND BLUE [1], THE. English, Reel. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABBCC. 'Buff and Blue' were the colors of the Whig party in Britain; associated by Charles James Fox in Scotland in the late 18th century. Robert Burns referred to them in his song "Here's a Health to Them that's Awa":
Here'a a health to them that's awa,
Here's a health to them that's awa!
And wha winna wish guid luck to our cause,
May never guid luck be their fa'!
It's guid to be merry and wise,
It's guid to be honest and true,
It's guid to support Caledonia's cause
And bide by the buff and the blue.
Source for notated version: The music manuscript collection of ship's fiddler William Litten, compiled 1800-1802, apparently while Litten was stationed aboard a vessel of the East India Fleet. The manuscript was brought to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, after it had come into the hands of Allen Coffin of Edgartown, although how it came into his possession, and the fate of Litten are unknown.
Printed source: Huntington (William Litten's), 1977; p. 23.
X:1 T:Buff and Blue [1] M:C| L:1/8 S:William Litten's music manucsript (1800-1802) K:G ga/g/ dB ga/g/ dB|AG AB A2A2|ga/g/ dB ga/g/ dB|ce dB G2G2:| |:DG BG DG BG|AG AB A2A2|DG BG DG BG|ce dB G2G2:| |:ge fd ec dB|AG AB A2A2|ge fd ec dB|ce dB G2G2:||
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Engraver Valerio M. Pelliccioni