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Origin: The Wounded Hussar

30 Aug 00 - 05:40 PM (#288149)
Subject: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: Ed Pellow

I expect that this is an impossible question, but I'll ask anyway..

Where does this tune (aka Captain O'Kane)originate from?

Various soures suggest English, Irish or Scottish.

Some suggest Carolan.

Any thoughts welcomed.

Ed

30 Aug 00 - 06:35 PM (#288179)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: GUEST,Phil Cooper

Dear Ed,

I think the tune may be older than O'Carolan, but I have no basis of fact for this theory. I do know that J. Scott Skinner had a version of "Wounded Hussar" in his HARP & CLAYMORE book. There's also a version with a slightly different B part in Tomas O'Canainn's TRADITIOINAL SLOW AIRS OF IRELAND on Ossian publications. It's a great tune, I play the Skinner version on guitar.

30 Aug 00 - 07:23 PM (#288214)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: GUEST,Bruce O.

The earliest copy of the tune seems to be one in Alex. McGlashan's 'A Collection of Reels', c 1781 & 1786, followed by a copy in Vol. 3 of Aird's 'Airs' (1788). See the early Irish tune index on my website (in Mudcat's Links). There's another tune for the song composed by a Mr. Hewitt, as I recall (I'm not now at home where I could check this).

30 Aug 00 - 07:26 PM (#288217)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: GUEST,Antaine

The Wounded Hussar

(The tune is thought to be a variant of "An Caiptín Ó Catháin" composed by Toirbheallach Ó Cearbhalláin and the words are thought to have been composed by the Scottish poet Thomas Campbell. I got the following version of the words from Frank Harte.)

Oh alone to the banks of the dark rolling Danube,
Fair Adelaide did roam (1) when the battle was o'er.
"Oh where then (2)" she cried, "have you (3) wandered my true love (4)?
Or where do you wither (5) or bleed on the shore?"
She travelled a while the tears her eyes flooding, (6)
Through the dead and the dying she walked near and far, (7)
Till she found by a/the river all bleeding and dying, (8)
By the light of the moon her poor wounded hussar.

From his body (9) that heaved, the last torrent was streaming,
And pale was his visage deep marked with a scar,
And dimmed (10) was the eye once expressively beaming,
That had melted (11) in love or had kindled in war. (12)
How sad (13) was poor Adelaide's heart at the sight,
And how bitterly (14) she wept o'er the victim of war.
"Have you come then" he cried, (15) "this last sorrowful night for,
To cheer the loved (16) heart of your poor wounded hussar?"

"Thou shalt live then" she cried, (17) "heaven's mercy relieving,
Each anguishing wound shall forbid me to mourn."
"Oh no then" he cried, "for my life is fast fading, (18)
And no light from the moon (19) shall to Henry return."
"Thou charmer of life ever tender and true,
Take my love to my babes who do wait me afar." (20)
Then his faltering tongue could scarce bid her (21) adieu when,
He died (22) in her arms, her (23) poor wounded hussar.

The notes below show the 'original' version as composed by the Scottish poet Thomas Campbell. See p. 138 (his collected works) + p. ? Musical Magazine, The German Flute & Violin Pocket Magazine, Consisting of a choice Collection of the most favourite Pieces, Vol 2, c. 1800 (Notes also supplied to me by Fintan Vallely.)
(1) hied (2) whither (3) hast thou (4) my lover (5) "Or here dost thou welter.." (6) "What voice did I hear? 'twas my Henry that sighed!" (7) All mournful she hastened, nor wandered she far. (8) When bleeding, and low, on the heath she descried, (9) bosom (10) dim (11) that melted (12) and that kindled in war (13) smit (14) How bitter (15) "Hast thou come, my fond Love…" (16) lone (17) "Thou shalt live," she replied (18) "Ah no! the last pang of my bosom is heaving!…." (19) of the morn (20) "..Ye babes of my love, that await me afar!" (21) murmur (22) sunk (23) the

I now sing the following version:
(trying to get back to the poet's 'original' but culling out some over-flowery language)

The Wounded Hussar

Oh alone to the banks of the dark rolling Danube,
Fair Adelaide did roam when the battle was o'er.
"Oh where then" she cried, "have you wandered my true love?
Or where do you wither or bleed on the shore?"
She travelled a while the tears her eyes flooding,
Through the dead and the dying she walked near and far,
Till she found by the river all bleeding and dying,
By the light of the moon her poor wounded hussar.

From his bosom that heaved, the last torrent was streaming,
And pale was his visage deep marked with a scar,
And dimmed was the eye once expressively beaming,
That had melted in love or had kindled in war.
How sad was poor Adelaide's heart at the sight,
And how bitterly she wept o'er the victim of war.
"Have you come then" he cried, "this last sorrowful night for,
To cheer the loved heart of your poor wounded hussar?"

"Thou shalt live then" she cried, "heaven's mercy relieving,
Each anguishing wound shall forbid me to mourn."
"Oh no then" he cried, "for my life is fast fading,
And no light of the morn shall to Henry return."
"Thou charmer of life ever tender and true,
Take my love to my babes who do wait me afar."
Then his faltering tongue could scarce bid her adieu when,
He died in her arms, her poor wounded hussar.

By the way, the air is also on 'The Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master - Pádraig O'Keeffe' (RTÉ CD 174) under the title "The Banks of the Danube"

30 Aug 00 - 08:19 PM (#288235)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: MartinRyan

I don't think there's much doubt about the Campbell attribution for the words - but I'm curious how/when/why/where the link up with the tune occurred.

Regards

30 Aug 00 - 08:59 PM (#288251)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: GUEST,Bruce O.

The association of Campbell's song with the tune "Captain O'Kane" was made in R. A. Smith's 'The Irish Minstrel', 1825, according to Andrew Kuntz 'Fiddler's Companion Tune Index' on the Ceolas website. The basis for attribution to O'Carolan is also given there. The copy of the tune published by McGlashan is earlier than any copy in that index or in 'Sources of Irish Traditional Music', 1998.

31 Aug 00 - 10:57 AM (#288556)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: MartinRyan

Thanks, Bruce - as ever!

Regards

31 Aug 00 - 02:16 PM (#288655)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: GUEST,Bruce O.

Donal O'Sullivan in his 'Carolan' (#133) accepted Hardiman's statement that the tune is by Carolan, but there's no other evidence for Carolan's composition of the tune.

31 Aug 00 - 05:22 PM (#288752)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: Ed Pellow

Thank you all very much indeed for all the information.

Much appreciated.

Thank you.

Ed

11 Jun 01 - 02:08 PM (#480934)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: toadfrog

Probably all true. But also note that a Mr. J. Hewlitt claimed credit and appears to have copyrighted the song in 1800. Click here.

11 Jun 01 - 03:46 PM (#481027)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: Malcolm Douglas

There's no mystery: as Bruce mentioned earlier, Hewitt's setting was to a melody of his own; hence the copyright.  It was not in any way unusual for "composers" and/or publishers to neglect to mention the lyricist -particularly in America, where piracy of material from Europe was common (later in the 19th century, Gilbert and Sullivan had to arrange for some of their comic operas to receive their first performance in the US to get round that problem).  I have a note that the date for Campbell's poem is 1799 (though I can't remember where I got the information) so the dates fit.  As pointed out earlier, the poem was probably not set to Captain O Kane until 1822.  Incidentally, a 1788 Burns song, The Smallest Birds Rejoice was set to Captain Okean (Okain).

Malcolm

12 Jun 01 - 07:27 AM (#481472)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: InOBU

Wow! Words to it! It is a formidible Uilleann pipe tune... Larry

12 Jun 01 - 01:08 PM (#481694)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: Roger in Sheffield

Toadfrog I can't get that link to work. I found the page by working back and using the search page , then I tried to link straight to the 'Wounded Hussar' page and my link wouldn't work either (not surprising as it matched yours letter for letter). So if anyone else has problems search for wounded hussar from there.
Nice site Toadfrog thanks for pointing it out

Roger

12 Jun 01 - 01:21 PM (#481698)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: MMario

sheet music for THE WOUNDED HUSSAR at The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music.

13 Jun 01 - 09:25 AM (#482367)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: Luke

The sheet music refered to above is not the tune I know..

Luke

13 Jun 01 - 09:34 AM (#482371)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: MMario

like? you have any way of transmitting the tune you know?

13 Jun 01 - 10:58 AM (#482429)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: Malcolm Douglas

Well of course it isn't the tune you know: see my note, and Bruce's earlier one.  The later, familiar tune can be found at  J C's Tunefinder  both as Wounded Hussarand Captain O'Kane.

13 Jun 01 - 11:03 AM (#482434)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: MMario

whoops! sorry malcolm, that's right; I did see that earlier and just had a kneejerk reaction. apologies.

13 Jun 01 - 05:51 PM (#482788)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: Luke

I too apologize. Forgive my lack of scholorship.

Luke

13 Jun 01 - 07:27 PM (#482887)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: Malcolm Douglas

Nothing to do with scholarship; everything to do with reading the thread!  No hard feelings, I hope.

14 Jun 01 - 12:10 PM (#483338)
Subject: RE: Help: 'The Wounded Hussar'
From: Luke

The tune I know is very much like the tune listed in the location you refered to. I learned it from someone who learned it from his father so some of the corners may have been worn smooth from singing. But the same tune. for sure.

Thanks,

Luke

26 Sep 10 - 09:19 PM (#2994232)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE WOUNDED HUSSAR
From: Jim Dixon

Why would anyone, when posting the lyrics to this song, think it necessary to "cull out some over-flowery language"? I'd rather read the original and judge that for myself.

From The Musical Banquet of Choice Songs (Glasgow: A. Macgoun, 1798), page 78:


THE WOUNDED HUSSAR

Alone to the banks of the dark-rolling Danube,
Fair Adelaide hied when the battle was o'er.
"O whither," she cry'd, "hast thou wander'd, my true love,
Or here dost thou welter, and bleed on the shore?
What voice have I heard? 'Twas my Henry that sigh'd!"
All mournful she hasten'd, nor wander'd she far,
When bleeding, and low, on the heath she descry'd,
By the light of the moon, her poor wounded Hussar!

From his bosom that heav'd, the last torrent was streaming,
And pale was his visage, deep mark'd with a scar,
And dim was that eye, once expressively beaming,
That melted in love, and that kindled in war!
How smit was poor Adelaide's heart at the sight!
How bitter she wept o'er the victim of war!
"Hast thou come, my fond Love, this last sorrowful night,
To cheer the lone heart of your wounded Hussar?"

"Thou shalt live," she reply'd. "Heav'n's mercy, relieving
Each anguishing wound, shall forbid me to mourn!"
"Ah, no! the last pang in my bosom is heaving!
No light of the morn shall to Henry return!
Thou charmer of life, ever tender and true,
Ye babes of my love that await me afar—!"
His faultering tongue scarce could murmur adieu
When he sunk in her arms, the poor wounded Hussar!

06 Mar 12 - 09:31 AM (#3318166)
Subject: RE: Origin: The Wounded Hussar
From: MartinRyan

For a fine version of this by Rita Gallagher of Donegal:

Click here

Regards

p.s. BTW, I think Jim (Dixon) was a little harsh on GUESTAntaine (at ten years remove, mind you!) who sings HIS VERSION very well indeed. Like all traditonal singers, he finds a way of making the song his own - and in this case has clearly done so with acknowledged respect for the original.

06 Mar 12 - 09:48 AM (#3318173)
Subject: RE: Origin: The Wounded Hussar
From: Mr Happy

Apologies, but the page you requested could not be found. Perhaps searching will help.

Tony McMahon here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_leFY8oFbg

06 Mar 12 - 09:50 AM (#3318175)
Subject: RE: Origin: The Wounded Hussar
From: MartinRyan

Apologies for that - I'll sort it out as soon as possible.

Regards

06 Mar 12 - 09:52 AM (#3318178)
Subject: RE: Origin: The Wounded Hussar
From: MartinRyan

Let's try again....
Click here

Regards

06 Mar 12 - 10:55 AM (#3318209)
Subject: RE: Origin: The Wounded Hussar
From: Mr Happy

No male singers?

06 Mar 12 - 04:07 PM (#3318372)
Subject: RE: Origin: The Wounded Hussar
From: MartinRyan

It is certainly sung regularly by male singers in Ireland - GUESTAntaine above being a fine interpreter, for example. I'll see if I can find one online.

REgards