Cock o' the North (music): Difference between revisions
KirkCliff2 (talk | contribs) →Military Use: Section overhaul. Still need to look into the "Kopstein" reference. |
KirkCliff2 (talk | contribs) Fixed the improperly styled reference for Jack Kopstein book. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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The composer is unknown, but it first appeared in print in 1816 as a [[violin]] tune. It was later published in a collection of bagpipe music by Donald MacDonald in 1822, with the title of ''Gairm n’an Coileach'' ([[Scottish Gaelic]]: "The Cock’s Crow").<ref>[http://worldbookofmilitarymusic.com/marches_b_c_d.html Jack Kopstein, ''World Book Of Military Music and Musicians'', Marches: B-D]</ref> Some writers have noted a similarity to the 17th century English tune |
The composer is unknown, but it first appeared in print in 1816 as a [[violin]] tune. It was later published in a collection of bagpipe music by Donald MacDonald in 1822, with the title of ''Gairm n’an Coileach'' ([[Scottish Gaelic]]: "The Cock’s Crow").<ref name="Kopstein">[http://worldbookofmilitarymusic.com/marches_b_c_d.html Jack Kopstein, ''World Book Of Military Music and Musicians'', Marches: B-D]</ref> Some writers have noted a similarity to the 17th century English tune "Joan's Placket is Torn]]", which was mentioned by [[Samuel Pepys]] and is in [[John Playford]]'s work, ''[[The Dancing Master]]''.<ref>[http://www.tradsong.org/Vitality.pdf Frank Kidson, ''The Vitality of Melody'', ''The Choir'' Magazine, Vol. 15, no. 172, April 1924 (pp. 66-7)]</ref> A version of the tune as a [[Reel (dance)|reel]], from the island of [[Whalsay]] goes by the name ''Jumping John''.<ref>[http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/CO_COLL.htm Andrew Kuntz, ''The Fiddler’s Companion: A Descriptive Index of North American, British Isles and Irish Music for the Folk Violin and other Instruments'' - Alphabetical Files: CO-COLL]</ref> |
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==Military Use== |
==Military Use== |
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The tune has always been a march used by the Gordon Highlanders, although it did not become the official [[Regimental Marches of the British Army|Regimental March]] until 1933, when it replaced [[Hielan' Laddie]].<ref |
The tune has always been a march used by the Gordon Highlanders, although it did not become the official [[Regimental Marches of the British Army|Regimental March]] until 1933, when it replaced [[Hielan' Laddie]].<ref name="Kopstein"/> |
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Although strongly associated with the Gordons, it was used by other Highland regiments, too. |
Although strongly associated with the Gordons, it was used by other Highland regiments, too. |
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*[[85th Nova Scotia Highlanders]] |
*[[85th Nova Scotia Highlanders]] |
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*[[King's Own Scottish Borderers]] |
*[[King's Own Scottish Borderers]] |
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*[[Royal Canadian Regiment]].<ref |
*[[Royal Canadian Regiment]].<ref name="Kopstein"/> |
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==''Aunty Mary''== |
==''Aunty Mary''== |
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A well known [[drinking song|drinking]] or [[bawdy song]] using the ''Cock of the North'' tune<ref>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=B1ZLAAAAYAAJ&q=%22aunty+mary+had+a+canary%22&dq=%22aunty+mary+had+a+canary%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5hgEUbj9NYaG0AX0mIHoCg&ved=0CD0Q6AEwAzgK ''English Dance and Song'', Volumes 53-55 (p.8)]</ref> is known as ''Aunty Mary''. There are a great number of versions of varying degrees of obscenity. They nearly all share the same first two lines. One of the milder versions runs: |
A well known [[drinking song|drinking]] or [[bawdy song]] using the ''Cock of the North'' tune<ref>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=B1ZLAAAAYAAJ&q=%22aunty+mary+had+a+canary%22&dq=%22aunty+mary+had+a+canary%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5hgEUbj9NYaG0AX0mIHoCg&ved=0CD0Q6AEwAzgK ''English Dance and Song'', Volumes 53-55 (p.8)]</ref> is known as ''Aunty Mary''. There are a great number of versions of varying degrees of obscenity. They nearly all share the same first two lines. One of the milder versions runs: |
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Revision as of 14:59, 17 March 2014
Cock o'the North is a 6/8 military march, bagpipe tune and jig. The title comes from the nickname of Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon, who in 1794 raised the 92nd Regiment of Foot, which later became the Gordon Highlanders.
History
The composer is unknown, but it first appeared in print in 1816 as a violin tune. It was later published in a collection of bagpipe music by Donald MacDonald in 1822, with the title of Gairm n’an Coileach (Scottish Gaelic: "The Cock’s Crow").[1] Some writers have noted a similarity to the 17th century English tune "Joan's Placket is Torn]]", which was mentioned by Samuel Pepys and is in John Playford's work, The Dancing Master.[2] A version of the tune as a reel, from the island of Whalsay goes by the name Jumping John.[3]
Military Use
The tune has always been a march used by the Gordon Highlanders, although it did not become the official Regimental March until 1933, when it replaced Hielan' Laddie.[1] Although strongly associated with the Gordons, it was used by other Highland regiments, too.
At the Siege of Lucknow, during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, 12 year-old Drummer Ross of the 93rd Highlanders signalled the arrival of his regiment to the besieged garrison, by climbing the spire of the Shah Najaf Mosque and playing "Cock o' the North" on his bugle, while under heavy fire from the rebel forces.[4]
In 1897, during an attack by the Gordon Highlanders on the Dargai Heights, which were held by Afridi tribesmen during the Tirah campaign, Piper George Findlater won the Victoria Cross for continuing to play a regimental march while wounded in both feet. The official statement did not give the name of the tune he played; some accounts state that it was "Haughs of Cromdale" which was the Regimental Charge-tune, others claim it was "Cock of the North".[5] Finlater's own account says that he did not hear an order to play "Cock of the North", and played "Cromdale" on his own initiative.[6]
Besides the Gordons, the tune is, or has been, an official march for the following units:
- 48th Highlanders of Canada
- 85th Nova Scotia Highlanders
- King's Own Scottish Borderers
- Royal Canadian Regiment.[1]
Aunty Mary
A well known drinking or bawdy song using the Cock of the North tune[7] is known as Aunty Mary. There are a great number of versions of varying degrees of obscenity. They nearly all share the same first two lines. One of the milder versions runs:
- Auntie Mary had a canary
- Up the leg of her drawers;
- She was sleeping, it was creeping,
- Up the leg of her drawers.[8]
References
- ^ a b c Jack Kopstein, World Book Of Military Music and Musicians, Marches: B-D
- ^ Frank Kidson, The Vitality of Melody, The Choir Magazine, Vol. 15, no. 172, April 1924 (pp. 66-7)
- ^ Andrew Kuntz, The Fiddler’s Companion: A Descriptive Index of North American, British Isles and Irish Music for the Folk Violin and other Instruments - Alphabetical Files: CO-COLL
- ^ Richard Holmes, Soldiers: Army Lives and Loyalties from Redcoats to Dusty Warriors, Harper Press 2011 (p.275)
- ^ Ian F.W. Beckett, Discovering British Regimental Traditions, Shire Publications Ltd 1999 (p.85)
- ^ The Findlater Family - Piper Findlater VC
- ^ English Dance and Song, Volumes 53-55 (p.8)
- ^ Traditional Tune Archive - Cock of the North (1)