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Two tune books for wind instruments from the early 19th century,
with close associations to the Belper Militia
They have been transcribed into ABC for the Village Music Project
by Howard Mitchell
One is inscribed “Thos. Reeve His
Book 1800 Brailsford 1800”
ABC file of the transcriptions
PDF file of the transcriptions
The other is inscribed “Jas
Oldfield... Belper Regiment... 1808”
ABC file of the transcriptions
PDF file of the transcriptions
(extracts from 'Belper Regiment – Grenadiers' by Rev. J. Charles
Cox)
"In consequence of the threatened invasion of revolutionary
France, volunteers were enrolled in England as early as 1793. On
23rd April 1798 the deputy-Lieutenants of the county were summoned
to meet at Derby to promote the “united, prompt and vigorous
action of all ranks of society at
the present important and alarming crisis”.
"This gathering resulted in the holding of hundred, parish and
township meetings in order that the inhabitants might enter into
“associations either of cavalry or infantry as the public exigency
may require”. On 16th October 1803 a meeting was held of the
inhabitants of Belper, Shottle and Holbrooke when they engaged
themselves to form four volunteer companies for the three
townships"
These manuscript books were found (by Neil Wayne?) as part of a
collection along with a printed book "Goulding, D'Almaine and
Potter 24 Country Dances for the year 1819", and a Clarinet tutor
"New Instructions for the Clarinet" printed by Cahusac, and a
printed book "W.M Cahusac's Annual Collection of 24 Favourite
Country Dances for the year 1809."
Some of the tunes in the manuscripts had been transcribed from these aforementioned books. Others are copied from a book by John Charles Webb, and others again from Jacob Wragg’s “The Flute Preceptor” ca1800
The Thos.Reeve
MS is identified by inscriptions on the cover :-
"Primo Clarinet....Primo"
and on the fly:- "Thos. Reeve His Book 1800 Brailsford" and
"Soresby Brailsford 1802".... "1812"
Additionally "The Southland Waltz" is dated 1819
The Jas
Oldfield MS, 1808 is inscribed on the cover:-
"Belper Regiment....Local Militia....Jas Oldfield
and inside the cover:- "Jas Oldfield 1808"
Tufty Swift recorded (in 1985) 24 of the
tunes on melodeon on the record “You'll Never Die For Love” which
has recently (2025) been re-released on Bandcamp
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