Annotation:Hell on the Wabash (2)
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HELL ON THE WABASH [2]. American, March (2/4 time). E Minor (Mattson & Walz): A Minor (Cole, Kerr): A Major (Sweet). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB (Cole, Kerr, Sweet): AA'BB'CC' (Mattson & Walz). Listed as a 'jig' in Ryan's Mammoth/Cole's 1000, referring not to the Irish 6/8 jig but to a type of old-time syncopated banjo tune known as a "straight" or "sand" jig. The minstrel origins for this syncopated tune are quite evident and the genre was popular on the early variety stage in the 1870's and 1880's. Its use as a march is attested to by its appearance in fife manuals and martial collections. See also the related reel "Lady on the Green," from the repertoire of Nebraska fiddler Uncle Bob Walters.
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: American Veteran Fifer, 1902. Bruce & Emmett (The Drummer's and Fifer's Guide), 1862. Cole (1000 fiddle Tunes), 1940; p. 81 (appears as "H_' on the Wabash"). Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 2; No. 423, p. 48. Mattson & Walz (Old Fort Snelling... Fife), 1974; p. 67. Ryan's Mammoth Collection, 1883; p. 114. Sweet (Fifer's Delight), 1964/1981; p. 55.
Recorded sources: