Annotation:Rocket Hornpipe (The)

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X:1 T:Rocket Hornpipe, The M:C| L:1/8 R:Hornpipe B:Köhler’s Violin Repository vol. 3 (1885, p. 262) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:F (3cde|f2F2F2 {a}g^f|g2G2G2 ga|bagf efga|ge c2c2 de| f2F2F2 {a}g^f|g2G2G2 ga|bagf efge|f2f2f2:| |:(cB)|Afcf afcA|Bfdf bfdB|Afcf afcB|A2G2G2 (cB)| Afcf afcA|Bfdf bfdB|bagf afge|[A2f2][A2f2][A2f2]:|]

ROCKET HORNPIPE THE. Scottish (originally), Canadian; Hornpipe. Canada, Cape Breton. D Major (Kerr): F Major (Cranford/Holland). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. A 19th century hornpipe written in the ‘Newcastle’ style, according to Nigel Gatherer, with similarities to “Newcastle Hornpipe (1) (The)” composed by the principal proponent of the style, Tyneside fiddler-composer and publican James Hill. Gatherer thinks the tune likely named in honor of Stephenson’s Rocket, an early steam locomotive of 1829-30. Another explanation might possibly be that in Ireland (and in Scotland?), especially in Limerick, a rocket was a little girls’ frock, adapted from the English-French rochet (P.W. Joyce). It was recorded by Shetland fiddler Arthur Scott Robertson (preceded by “College Hornpipe (The)”).

Additional notes

Source for notated version: -

Printed sources : - Cranford (Jerry Holland’s Collection), 1995; No. 147, p. 42. Honeyman (Strathspey, Reel and Hornpipe Tutor), 1898; p. 50. Kerr (Merry Melodies, vol. 1), c. 1880; p. 30 (appears as untitled hornpipe in D Major). Kerr (Collection of Merry Melodies Arranged for the Pianoforte), c. 1870’s; p. 27 (appears as untitled hornpipe in D Major). Laybourn (Köhler’s Violin Repository vol. 3), 1885; p. 262.

Recorded sources: - Rounder Records 7006, Theresa and Marie MacLellan - "Trip to Mabou Ridge" (1979). Rounder Records 7008, “Jerry Holland” (1976).

See also listing at:
Alan Snyder's Cape Breton Fiddle Recordings Index [1]