American Rifle Team
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ABC Notation
Mandolin Tablature
Violin Tablature
traditional
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Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
"American Rifle Team" is an American hornpipe in 2/4 time and D Major.<br> The parts are played AA'BB'.<br> The tune was composed by Edwin Christie - not the blackface minstrel of 19th century<br> Christie's Minstrel's fame, but rather a "respected if not particularly successful<br> composer who probably worked in the Boston area".<br> Music researcher Don Meade says American rifle teams won victories against an Irish<br> team in 1874 and 1875, and 1876. "The American Rifle Team" honors the American<br> rifle team led by Major Leech that won an international match in 1874 held at the<br> Creedmore Range, Long Island. Meade also notes that a number of melodies were<br> inspired by this feat. As the Americans won by only the slimmest of margins,<br> a return match was held the following year at Dolly Mount, Ireland (the team sailed<br> on the Inman Line's City of Chester). Again, the Americans were victors, and a final<br> match in 1876 was held between teams of Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and Australia<br> for a final American victory. The Wimbledon Cup, a silver trophy that was presented<br> to the 1875 winners at Wimbledon by Princess Louise on behalf of the riflemen of<br> Great Britain, has been ever since been the annual honor for the long-range shooting<br> match. The country was ecstatic and with a surge of national pride treated the<br> members of the team as conquering heroes upon their return.<br> The B part of the tune begins in third position on the violin which is unknown<br> territory for most traditional fiddlers.<br> It was printed in Ryan's Mammoth Collection (1883) and<br> Cole's 1000 Fiddle Tunes (1940).<br> It was recorded Frank Ferrel on Yankee Dreams: Wicked Good Fiddling from New England<br> (1991).<br>
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