President Garfield’s Hornpipe is a tune I have long enjoyed playing. I grew to like it listening to a Tony Furtado Redording, where he played it as part of a medley, and I then learned it out of the Fiddler’s Bible. It has a fun bowing rhythm in the A part (first part), and the syncopation of the notes in the B part (second part), is really fun to play. I know that some of what I am writing here is musically geeky, and I’m ok with that. If you don’t want to read it, you can play the video, or skip to the tune history at the end.

I enjoy playing in flat keys, and Bb might be my favorite. And I think hornpipes work especially well in Bb. Add some syncopated rhythms and you have the perfect storm. Honestly, the B part of this tune might be the coolest notes pattern of any hornpipe I have played.

The History of President Garfield’s Hornpipe according to the Fiddler’s Companion

PRESIDENT GARFIELD’S HORNPIPE. AKA and see “Garfield’s Hornpipe,” “Blue Water Hornpipe,” “High Level [2].” American, Canadian; Hornpipe. USA; New England, Missouri. Canada; Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton. B Flat Major (Brody, Cole, Kerr, Martin & Hughes, Miller & Perron, Perlman, Phillips): D Major (Sweet). Standard. AABB (most versions): AA’BB’ (Martin & Hughes). President James A. Garfield, the twentieth U.S. chief of state (elected in 1880) was assassinated by a lone anarchist, a European immigrant, shortly after taking office, making his one of the shortest terms in that office. The composition is credited to Harry Carleton in Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (1883), but it is known as a New England tune. As “Garfield’s Hornpipe” it is on Missouri fiddler Charlie Walden’s list of ‘100 essential Missouri fiddle tunes’. Northumbrian concertina player Alastair Anderson introduced the tune into Northumbrian repertoire, finding it in Kerr’s Merry Melodies, but also being influenced by hearing New England fiddler Rodney Miller play it. Sources for notated versions: Rodney Miller (Antrim, N.H.) [Phillips]; Kenny Chaisson (b.c. 1947, Bear River, North-East Kings County, Prince Edward Island; now resident of Rollo Bay) [Perlman]. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 221. Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 101. Kerr (Merry Melodies), Vol. 2; pg. 42. Martin & Hughes (Ho-ro-ghedllaedh), 1990; pg. 42. Miller & Perron (New England Fiddler’s Repertoire), 1983; No. 100. Perlman (The Fiddle Music of Prince Edward Island), 1996; pg. 115. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), Vol. 2, 1995; pg. 216. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 137. Sweet (Fifer’s Delight), 1965/1981; pg. 42. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. NMAS 1972, Natalie MacMaster – “Fit as a Fiddle” (1993). Fretless 119, Rodney and Randy Miller‑‑”Castles in the Air.” Glencoe 001, Cape Breton Symphony‑ “Fiddle.” Green Mountain GMS 1052, “No Curb Service Anymore: The Pine Island Band.” Philo 119, Rodney and Randy Miller‑ “Castles in the Air.” Rounder 7008, “Jerry Holland.” Boys of the Lough – “To Welcome Paddy Home.” Topic Records, Alistair Anderson – “Corby Crag” (1978). Paul O’Shaughnessy & Paul McGrattan – “Within a Mile of Dublin.” 422 – “One.”