Huntsman's Chorus
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Standard Notation
ABC Notation
Mandolin Tablature
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traditional
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Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
"Huntsman's Chorus", also known as "Hunter's Chorus" or "Huntsmen's Chorus" (similar to "Bunker<br> Hill" (Pa.), "Harrison City" (Pa.) or "A Drag" (Pa.)) is a British Isles and New England<br> country dance in 2/4 time or Morris Dance (4/4 time) tune in C Major (Manson), D Major (Ashman,<br> Brody) or G Major (Phillips, Wade). The parts are played ABC (Ashman) or AABB.<br> A march called the "Huntsman's Chorus" ("Was glecht wohl auf Erden") opens the third act of<br> Carl Maria von Weber's opera Der Freischütz, first performed in Berlin in 1821.<br> It is known by the<br> "Huntsman's Chorus" title in England and New England, but not apparently in Pennsylvania (see<br> alternate names) where it was a staple of many martial bands. It was used as a quickmarch in England as<br> well as Pennsylvania, particularly by the Rifle Brigade, the 95th Regiment, in the mid-1800's.<br> The melody was used as a tune for either a polka or single step morris<br> dance in the North-West (England) tradition. A related, untitled, polka was collected by Brendan<br> Breathnach from the playing of John Ryan, from a Radio Éireann recording.<br> It was printed in Ashman's The Ironbridge Hornpipe (1991),<br> Brody's Fiddler's Fakebook (1983),<br> English Dance and Song (1963 and 1965),<br> Howe's Diamond School for the Violin (1861),<br> Laybourn's Köhler's Violin Repository, vol. 2 (1881-1885),<br> Manson's Hamilton's Universal Tune Book, vol. 1 (1854),<br> Phillips's Fiddle Case Tunebook: British Isles (1989),<br> Townsend's English Dance Music, vol. 1,<br> Wade's Mally's North West Morris Book (1988),<br> Sumner's Lincolnshire Collections, vol. 1: The Joshua Gibbons Manuscript (1997)(appears as<br> "Election Tune", June 1826).<br> It was recorded by Hickory Wind on At the Wednesday Night Waltz,<br> Fennigs All Stars on The Hammered Dulcimer.<br>
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