Origin: Battle of the Somme

Subject: 'Battle of the Somme' info, please
From: Ian HP
Date: 09 Jun 01 - 10:19 AM

I've just arranged 'Battle of the Somme' and seem to have mislaid the info I once had on the tune. I seem to remember that it was originally a slow tune (an air? a dirge? a retreat?) that was turned into a dance tune - or was it the other way around? I assume that it was written in commemoration of one of the Battles of the Somme of 1916 and 1918, but I'd like to know how near in time the tune is to the events and, if possible, who wrote it. Anyone?

Subject: RE: 'Battle of the Somme' info, please
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 09 Jun 01 - 11:13 AM

From Andrew Kuntz's invaluable resource,  The Fiddler's Companion:

BATTLE OF THE SOMME, THE.  Scottish, Retreat March (9/8 time). D Major. Standard. AABB.  This pipe tune, a retreat from Army Manual (Book 2) and composed by William Laurie (1882-1916) commemorates one of the greatest and most terrible battles of World War I.  Jack Campin communicates that Laurie "just lived to see it become an immediate success before dying of his wounds a few months later."