Annotation:Original Schottische Polka (The)

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ORIGINAL SCHOTTISCHE POLKA, THE. AKA and see "Bielbie's Hornpipe," "Curlew Hills Polka (The)." English, Schottische. G Major ('A', 'B' and 'D' parts) & D Major ('C' part). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABBCD. A popular ballroom piece that was absorbed into tradition repertory (parts are often reversed from one another in manuscript collections). Northumbrian musicians play the tune as "Bielbies/Beilby's Hornpipe," and in Ireland it is known as "Curlew Hills Polka (The)" and "Glenbeigh Hornpipe." See also American versions as "Military Schottische," "National Schottische." For an extended investigation into this tune family, see Andrew Kuntz's article "A Well Traveled Melody" (Fiddler Magazine, Spring, 2007).

Sources for notated versions: an MS collection by fiddler Lawrence Leadley, 1827-1897 (Helperby, Yorkshire) [Merryweather & Seattle]; fiddler Michael Turner's manuscript copybook (Sussex) [Loughran & Gammon]; musician William Hall Lister (mid-19th c., East Boldon, nar Newcastle, North East, appears as untitled schottische) [Callaghan].

Printed sources: Callaghan (Hardcore English), 2007; p. 89. Loughran, A. & Gammon, V. (A Sussex Tune Book), 1982. Merryweather & Seattle (The Fiddler of Helperby), 1994; No. 102, p. 57 (appears as "The Schottische").

Recorded sources:

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