T H E C O V E N A N T E R
the No. 1 Piano Concerto by John Field. I do not know why, how and when,
The name of this Irish composer was no ‘Within a Mile of Edinburgh Toon’ became
stranger to me, for I had played the John
the Regimental March of the Cameronians.
Field Suite under the baton of Laurie Dunn.
One explanation that stated it was chosen
Field composed his No. 1 Piano Concerto
because the Cameronians defeated the
in 1799 and had decided to use a Scottish
Jacobites is clearly untrue because James
tune, as was the custom at the time, in the
Hook was not born until 1746. However,
slow movement.
both ‘The Garb of Auld Gaul’ and
Although Within a Mile of Edinburgh
‘Kenmure’s on and awa’ are Jacobite tunes
Toon appears in collections of Scottish airs,
it is not Scottish, for it is a mock-Scottish
whose use by Cameronians can be heard as
tune composed by an Englishman called
battle trophies. The use of ‘Within a Mile of
James Hook (1746-1827). This can easily be
Edinburgh Toon’ as our quick march can be
done with any national music or tune once
traced probably to the regiment becoming
the sound; the rhythm and the chords have
the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in 1881.
been studied. I recall in the 1960s that the
Although it is an odd choice, there must be
music of The Beatles was arranged to sound
an official document shelved somewhere
like W.A. Mozart while the irish Guards
with the story. I am awaiting a reply from
played the same tunes as marches.
the Regimental Museum. If they do not
James Hook, a composer, an arranger,
know, perhaps Kneller Hall will be able to
organist and pianist, lead a very active
give the answer?
musical life as the musical director of the The origins of regimental marches,
Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens in London like their nicknames, are not always
for fifty years. He had to be a prolific obvious. Folk tunes play a big part but
composer in all forms of music to satisfy
it is confusing when English regiments
the variety of visitors to the Gardens. He
use Scottish tunes as their marches. On
composed over 2000 songs: two of which
one occasion, the 14/20th Hussars were
were ‘Within a Mile of Edinburgh Town’
unable to carry out their duties through
and ‘The Lass of Richmond Hill’. While in
some misdemeanour and the Royal Sussex
the British Library doing other work, and
Regiment were called upon to replace
purely on a whim, I decided to look up
them. As a punishment the 14/20th now
Edinburgh Town, the future quick march
of the Cameronians. The popularity of the
plays The Royal Sussex, a tune of French
song surprised me, for it had been
origin, as their regimental march. Before
arranged as song, as a choral work and for
the foundation of the Royal Military School
instruments in dozens of arrangements.
of Music in 1857, the army employed
The original song, I believe, is intended to
many German civilian bandmasters who
be sung in the jolly tempo of Allegretto. To
arranged operatic and German folk tunes
attempt to sing the words at Cameronian
as regimental marches. Things always take
pace would land the singer in the Accident
a long time to evolve and change. In this
and Emergency. However, the words are
report, the position of the bandmaster
by an Englishman who does not fully
in the army was not always clear. In
understand Scots. I could imagine a
the Cameronians, the bandmaster was
Cameronian ‘sticking it on’ James Hook for sometimes called a civilian, probably
such poor lyrics. He composed the music because of the previous status of a BM and
and then busked the Scots. Hook wrongly the fact he was addressed as Mr. In the
used Edinborough Town: uses down and
end, I might discover that the choice of
not doon, cannot instead of cannae, will
the Regimental March of the Cameronians
not do and not winna dae and lassy and
might either have been a well considered
not lassie. The first verse of the song is as
choice or just the need to choose a Scottish
follows:
sounding time.
‘Twas within a Mile of Edinborough Town,
Bill Coughlan
In the rosy time of the year,
Sweet Lavrocks bloom’d and the grass was down,
And each shepherd woo’ his dear.
Kenya - Mau Mau
Bonny Jockey blith and gay,
1952-2002
Kiss’d sweet Jenny making hay,
The lassy blushed and frowning cry’d no, no it will
It‘s fifty years since the start of the Mau
not do,
Mau Emergency in Kenya. For most of
I cannot cannot wonnot wonnot munot buckle too. the years since then I have held happy
Drink until you are half-fou and try to sing
memories of my time in that wonderful
the words at Cameronian pace.
exciting country, as must many fellow
45
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76