Mr Sharp's Quadrille

reel

Key signature: Amajor

Submitted on March 31st 2006 by alexboydell.

This tune has been added to 9 tunebooks.

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Mr Sharp's Quadrille

This is another Rant I enjoy ~written by Robert Lightfoot. I play it in A as written here on the fiddle,but in the C.M.B it is in G. Robert Lightfoot came from Harlow Hill (near Hadrian's Wall) and wrote it is believed between 1830 and 1860. There are more of his tunes in books published by the Northumbrian Pipers Society.

# Posted on March 31st 2006 by alexboydell

Izzit just me, or is the rhythm a bit off balance?

# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Bob himself

2/4

I just think it should be notated in 2/4. A good tune. I have been playing it with my Band a long time time ago ans still like it.

# Posted on April 1st 2006 by Ranks

2/4, 4/4

I don't think it makes any difference whether it's notated in 2/4 or 4/4 - just a matter of convention. Nothing wrong with the rhythm as far as I can see - Bob, izzjussyou.

Would this qualify as the 'other' type of single reel, referred to in a recent (and earlier) discussion(s)? I know it's a 'rant' in Northumbrian/Bordars terminology, but in Ireland that term probably has more psychiatric than musical/dance associations.

# Posted on April 3rd 2006 by CreadurMawnOrganig

Okay, what’s throwing me off balance is that the second full measure of the A part is a bit too full. I count nine beats. Then the last measure of the B part is missing pickup notes for the repeat, so it has only seven beats, so maybe it all evens out in the end?

# Posted on April 4th 2006 by Bob himself

Bob - I can see what you're saying. It also doesn't help that there is a lack of clarity in displaying semiquaver groupings - the beams sometimes get eclipsed by the lines of thestave. I think Jeremy made improvements at some point, but for reasons best known to himself, it seems to be back how it was again.

# Posted on April 4th 2006 by CreadurMawnOrganig

I had a truck once that ran like this tune,
until I change the plugs.

# Posted on April 5th 2006 by ∅

Another occurrence

There's a Mr. Sharp's Quadrille in the Community Dances Manual #7 from the Country Song and Dance Society. That version is in either A dorian or in G major; I'm not good enough to always know the difference. The attribution there is "From 'The Charlton Memorial Tune Book'". No mention of Robert Lightfoot. Anyone heard of The Charlton Memorial Tune Book?

# Posted on April 26th 2006 by rpalmer

Timing fixes

I haven't ever played this tune but, to fix the timing I would play the following.
1. the second bar with the 2nd E (quarter note) should probably be an eighth note.
2. the last bar should probably include two pick up notes at the end, a C sixteenth note and a D sixteenth, exactly the same as the pick up notes at the beginning except you are repeating back into the second part.

# Posted on May 1st 2006 by patrickmclaurin

Go to Berwick Johnny?

This tune seems to be a version of Go to Berwick Johnny which is more widely known in Northumbria and the Borders.
Noel

# Posted on May 1st 2006 by noelbats

Rubbish! It's nothing like it. It's not even in the same time sig.

# Posted on May 2nd 2006 by Dr. Dow