Annotation:New Duke of York's March

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NEW DUKE OF YORK'S MARCH. Scottish, English; March (2/4 time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. A note with the tune in John Watlen's Celebrated Circus Tunes (1791) indicates the piece was "Perform'd in the Pantomim Death of Capt. Cook." The popular stage production "Death of Captain Cook" was first performed at Covent Garden in 1789, and played on the public fascination with the South Seas. Scenes included "modes and manners of the Islanders making Love", "a View of the Sea and Ship Resolution", and the "Funeral Procession of Capt. Cook". Watlen attributes the march to 'Schroeter'; probably the celebrated London pianist Johann Samuel Schroeter, who married a gentleman's daughter in the 1780s, but only on condition that he give up his musical career this he did, in exchange for an ample annuity. Although he gave up his public concert life, he did not give up music and maintained semi-private performances in the home of the Prince of Wales (later George IV), for which he was known not only for his extravagant technique, but for his ease and grace in execution.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Watlen (The Celebrated Circus Tunes), 1791; pp. 8-9.

Recorded sources:

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