Key signature: Dmajor
Submitted on June 27th 2007 by ceolachan.
This tune has been added to 3 tunebooks.
Also known as Fighting 59, Fighting 59th, The Fighting 59th.
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: Fighting 59th March, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmaj
ABc | d2 d c2 d | BBA FGA | B2 c d2 c | BBA ABc |
d2 d ddd | d2 B c2 d | e2 f e2 d | c A2 ABc |
d2 e f2 e | d2 A AGF | GGF G2 A | B3 ABc |
d2 d c2 d | BBA FGA | d2 f e2 c | d3 d2 c |
BBA FED | F3 FED | A2 F A2 B | A3- Adc |
B2 A FED | F2 F FED | E2 D E2 F | E3 d2 c |
BBA FED | F2 F FED | A2 F A2 B |
A3- A2 B |ABc d2 F | E3 D3 |
"The Fighting 59th March" ~ a 6/8 march
An MP3 recording of it can be found here:
http://www.bellisland.net/lancecove/index.htm
Click on ~ Listen To "Fighting 59"
This recording goes at a good rollicking clip, 155 - 160 bpm. For a more relaxed 'march' it goes nicely at around 125 bpm.
# Posted on June 27th 2007 by ceolachan
The coffee went off as I was writing the above ~ espressed.
I think the espresso version of this, the faster tempo, is as for a quickstep, which a 6/8 march can easily accommodate. The recording is definitely in 3s, 2 & 1 = d2 d, once case of 1 & 2 = c A2 , and 3 = ABc & D3, as examples... Marches have been used for dancing for ages, some in 2/4 time, as many of us know, do double duty as polkas.
A different transcription of this melody, given as a hornpipe, and with added comment, can be found here ~
"The Fighting 59th" ~ hornpipe
Key signature: D Major
Submitted on June 17th 2007 by garyd.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7367
# Posted on June 27th 2007 by ceolachan
"Fighting 59" ~ some other minor possibilities
X: 2
T: Fighting 59th
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
Q: 120 - 126 / 155 - 160 bpm
R: march / quickstep
K: D Major
|: A2 c |
d2 d d2 c | B2 A F2 A | B2 c d2 c | B2 A ABc |
d2 d d2 d | d2 B c2 d | e2 f e2 d | c A2 ABc |
d2 e f2 e | d2 A A2 F | G2 F G2 A | B3- B2 c |
d2 d c2 d | B2 A F2 A | d2 f e2 c | d3- d2 c |
B2 A F2 D | F2 F F2 D | A2 F A2 B | A3- A2 d |
B2 A FED | F2 F FED | E2 D E2 F | E3- E2 d |
B2 A F2 D | F2 F FED | A2 F A2 B | A3- A2 B |
ABc d2 F | E3 D3 :|
# Posted on June 27th 2007 by ceolachan
&
X: 3
T: Fighting 59th
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
Q: 120 - 126 / 155 - 160 bpm
R: march / quickstep
K: D Major
|: AA/B/c |
ded cdc | B2 A FGA | B2 c d2 c | B2 A ABc |
ded ded | d2 B Bcd | efe fed | c A2 AA/B/c |
d2 e fec | d2 A FGA | G2 F G2 A | B3 B2 c |
ded cdc | B2 A FGA | d2 f ece | d3 d2 c |
B2 A FED | F2 F FED | A2 F A2 B | A3 A2 d |
B2 A FED | FD/E/F FED | EDD EFF | E3 E2 d |
BAA FDD | FF/F/F FED | A2 F A2 B | A3 A2 B |
ABc dFD | EFE D3 :|
# Posted on June 27th 2007 by ceolachan
Discussion: Hibbs "The Fighting 59th"
# Posted on April 14th 2007 by Chellam
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/13383
The 59th (2nd North Midland) Division
http://www.1914-1918.net/59div.htm
Summary history of the division: This 2nd-Line Territorial Division was formed in January 1915, although men were enlisted for the reserve units of the 1st-Line from September 1914 onwards. Men of the 1st-Line who did not undertake the imperial service obligation were transferred to these reserves. Early clothing and equipment for these units was haphazard; many had to train in civilian clothes, and it was only between November 1915 and March 1916 that proper equipment was received. Initially the Division had no currently-serving officers of the Regular Army, and only 12 former officers. From June 1915, the units of the Division supplied replacement drafts for the 1st-Line 46th Division. At the same time the 'home service only' men transferred to the provisional battalions. ~
# Posted on June 27th 2007 by ceolachan
Interesting recording. If you were indeed marching to it, you'd find yourself going something like | Right Left | Right Left | Right Left | Right | Left Right | Left Right | Left Right | ... if you see what I mean.
In other words, your transcription of the recording is accurate, ceolachan. Weirdly, it goes straight back to a half bar start, ie there's one bar in each time through that's in 3/8, not 6/8.
Strange ...
# Posted on June 27th 2007 by benhall.1
Only last session a couple of fiddlers started up this tune.
Afterwards one commented on odd phrase.
Thanks for posting it
# Posted on June 27th 2007 by McMandolin
Yes ben, at that roasting pace, but that's where the 123 of a quickstep could work at that pace. Slowed down it actually makes an interesting 'march', but not that fast. Like everything, things are often rushed, nothing new there.
# Posted on June 27th 2007 by ceolachan
The History bits ~ "The Fighting 59th"?
Here's an interesting email I just got from Laitch, worthy of getting some air here and taking the 'discussion' linked to above further ~
"It's a stretch for me to believe that this tune was composed during WWI for an Irish regiment identified in in your link as originating in fact from the North Midlands of England and "Irish" in that it helped suppress the 1916 "Easter Rising" in Ireland. I couldn't find the nickname "The Fighting 59th" associated with that regiment either. My research finds that the tune only has sparse recording references that date from the 1970s and mostly from players in the Maritimes in Canada where, in Newfoundland, it's a hallmark tune.
I wonder if this tune actually was dedicated to the "The Fighting 59th" Heavy Regiment of Newfoundland and their European theater service in World War II. One of Hibb's musical bases was the Caribou Club in Toronto which originally was a watering hole and meeting place for Newfoundland's members of the Royal armed forces.
Wouldn't be the first time sleeve notes were inaccurate.
While you're resting
, why don't you transcribe it in 2/4 which would better reflect the pace?
Adios ~ Laitch
# Emailed to ceolachan on June 27th 2007 by Laitch
I don't know the history or have the resources to confirm a connection one way or the other, not having the album or the 'connections' to chase it up in greater depth. The above links were the result of the 'discussion', are a quote from the linked to source. Sadly, while I wish otherwise, I don't have the resources or contacts to confirm which "59th" it might refer to.
As far as 2/4, no, I don't think so. While it is 'duple time', two beats to the measure, I've actually done the maths and the swing is pronounced and confirmed, so the 6/8 seems, considering all that happens rhythmically with it, the best fit, and also tends to confirm my earlier suspicion that it was a march, and a 6/8 march is a hell of a lot more likely than 2/4, which would end up having to be done in >s, which can also suggest 3-1 swing, which it definitely isn't. In general, 2/4 marches are 'straight', which this isn't... But hey, I love being proved wrong, as it usually is an education I need...
# Posted on June 27th 2007 by ceolachan
The Fighting 59th Heavy Regiment of Newfoundland
That bit does make a lot of sense... Maybe someone there can confirm that dedication. That would be very welcome... Hey, I just remembered, I do have some connections. I'll send a couple of emails and see what transpires.
# Posted on June 27th 2007 by ceolachan