Constitution Hornpipe is a great medley companion to Ned Kendall's Hornpipe also in F. It appears in Cole's 1000 Fiddle (M. M. Cole, Chicago 1940). It was originally published in Howe's Musician's Omnibus (Boston 1863) so it's a true oldie.
Of course, the tune is named for the famous Yankee warship Constitution, which is anchored in Boston Harbor to this day. If my information is right it’s the only active commissioned sailing ship in the United States Navy.
Another tune, “Hull’s Victory”, celebrates the victory of Captain Isaac Hull and the Constitution over the British frigate HMS Guerriere in the War of 1812. By the way, “Hull’s Victory” appears in Cole’s 1000 Fiddle Tunes and is also in F. So many good effing tunes!
Our featured tune is actively played in Quebec in the key of C as “Reel du cultivateur” (Farmer's Reel), but is seldom heard elsewhere these days. So let's jump on this sweet tune and start playing it!
Read about Ned Kendall’s at httpbigfiddleshow.substack.com/p/ned-kendalls-hornpipe.
You can download my dots for the tune here:
Here’s my rendition of the medley on Traditional Fiddle Music of Missouri from my 1981 cassette release. Sorry no 8-tracks. They’re sold out.
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