The March Hare

Subject: The March Hare
From: Jack Campin
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 04:07 AM

There is a splendid hornpipe called "The March Hare" which was a huge hit for Mickie Ainsworth (of Jimmy Shand's band) in the 1950s. It was later played in a slightly different version by Will Starr.

I've always assumed it was Irish, but it seems to appear in no Irish source and you never hear Irish music buffs playing it. Anybody know where Ainsworth got it?

Subject: RE: The March Hare
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 04:13 AM

It gained popularity in the fifties as you say as a theme tune to a film of the same name which was set in Ireland.
It was a regular feature in the late John Doonan's set list who used to introduce it as a "piece of nonesense". It always brought the house down.

Subject: RE: The March Hare
From: Will Fly
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 08:00 AM

From a post in TheSession":

it is in Am and Dm, and credited to Philip Green

Not an Irish tune, as far as I know - and I remember hearing it a lot on the radio as a child - but certainly in the "Oirish" style. Actually, it's a great tune and well worth playing, irrespective of origins.

Subject: RE: The March Hare
From: Jack Campin
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 08:04 AM

If I remember right from playing along with Ainsworth's LP recording, he actually did it in Gm and Cm.

Subject: RE: The March Hare
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 01:10 PM

And a great Irish showband guitarist from the '50's named Barney Skillen had a hit with it too.
Great bit o' music. Diddley - I -di - di...

Seamus

Subject: RE: The March Hare
From: GUEST,Roy Radford
Date: 18 May 10 - 06:01 AM

I still have my 78rpm of The March Hare, featuring Joseph McNally and the Geoorge Mitcheell, conducted by Philip Green C1956 c1956.
It is backed with I'm A Sentimental One, sung by Jean Campbell + singers + conductor.
It never ceases to entertain but the film doesn't seem to be available any more. Shame.

Subject: RE: The March Hare
From: Mrs Scarecrow
Date: 18 May 10 - 02:28 PM

Does anyone have the dots or a way of showing the tune. I have a thing about hares and would like to hear/learn it

Subject: RE: The March Hare
From: Jack Campin
Date: 18 May 10 - 02:55 PM

In ABC:

  X:1
  T:The March Hare
  T:ABACA
  P:ABACA
  N:my version, more or less from Will Starr
  M:C|
  L:1/8
  Q:1/2=92
  K:A minor
  P:A
  K:A minor
  E>G|A2 e2 e2 d2 |(3cdc B>A G>A (3BAG|A>G   A>B c>B   c>d|e>f g>f e>d c>B|
      E2 A2 A2 A>B|(3cdc B>A G>A (3BAG|A>B (3cBA G>A (3BAG|A2  A2  A2    :|
  P:B
  K:A minor
  e2|A2>>B2 c2>>d2|e2>> f2 e>d c2 |G2>>  A2  B2>>   c2|d2>>e2 d>c B2|
     A2>>B2 c2>>d2|e>f e>d c2<< A2|c>d (3edc B>c (3dcB|A2 A2  A2   :|
  P:C
  K:D dorian
  z2|d2 d2 d2 c>A|G>F G>A G>F D2 |d2    d2  d2    d>e|f>f e>d c>d (3edc|
     d2 d2 d2 c>A|G>F G>A G<D D>E|F>G (3AGF E>F (3GFE|D2  D2  D2      :|