Tonight, as I was thinking about what to play, I thought, “I haven’t played a jig in a while.” So today is a jig day.
I pulled out Cole’s 1000 fiddle tunes and started playing through a few jigs. Most of them really didn’t catch my ear, but when I got to Haste to the Wedding, I thought this is a cool tune.
I had heard it before, maybe at the Mulligan’s Irish Session, but I don’t know if I had played it before. So, tonight I worked it up. As a side note, I liked the title too. My immediate thought was of a shotgun wedding. 😉
Haste to the Wedding according to Wikipedia
“Haste to the Wedding” is an Irish Jig in D Major with standard AABB format. “The tune ‘Come, Haste to the Wedding’, of Gaelic origin, was introduced in the pantomime ‘The Elopement’ in 1767. This version is known as the Manx tune and was printed by the Percy society in 1846. It is the basis for the Manx ballad, ‘The Capture of Carrickfergusby,’ written by Thurot in 1760 (Linscott).” One of the tunes associated with the dance “Lady in the Lake” in N.H./ Widely known in the USA: in the repertory of Buffalo Valley, Pa., dance fiddler Harry Daddario. This tune, known variously as “Haste to the Wedding,” “Come Haste,” “Rural Felicity” and even “The Rules of Felicity”.
Source for notated version: Smith Paine (Wolfboro, N.H.) [Linscott]. Linscott (Folk Music of Old New England), 1939; pg. 87. Sweet (Fifer’s Delight), 1964/1981; pg. 24.
Haste to the Wedding Lyrics
The tune came from an operetta The Elopement (1767)
“Haste to the Wedding/Rural Felicity”
Come haste to the wedding ye friends and ye neighbors,
The lovers their bliss can no longer delay.
Forget all your sorrows your cares and your labors,
And let every heart beat with rapture today.
Come, come one and all, attend to my call,
And revel in pleasures that never can cloy.
Come see rural felicity,
Which love and innocence ever enjoy.
Let Envy, Let Pride, Let Hate & Ambition,
Still Crowd to, & beat at the breast of the Great,
To Such Wretched Passions we Give no admission,
But Leave them alone to the wise ones of State,
We Boast of No wealth, but Contentment & Health,
In mirth & in Friendship, our moments employ
Come see rural felicity,
Which love and innocence ever enjoy.
With Reason we taste of Each Heart Stirring pleasure,
With Reason we Drink of the full flowing Bowl,
Are Jocund & Gay, But ’tis all within measure,
For fatal excess will enslave the free Soul,
Then Come at our bidding to this Happy wedding,
No Care Shall obtrude here, our Bliss to annoy,
Come see rural felicity,
Which love and innocence ever enjoy.
Popular Music
In 2005, The Corrs recorded a studio version of Haste to the Wedding for their Irish-themed album Home.Haste to the Wedding has been extensively played by Celtic folk rock band The Corrs during their live performances. The most notable performance is the one from their 1999 concert The Corrs Live at Lansdowne Road which was later included as a bonus track on the special edition release of their 2000 album In Blue.
Enjoying all your fiddle tunes Vi, going to treat myself to some music from your site for my own Christmas Present this year. Merry Christmas, Bill Ward.
Nice stuff!!
I love this tune. I play it on my pennywhistle
Yes indeed Mike! Very cool Susan you play it on pennywhistle! 🙂
Lovely musical performance !
this was the first tune I ever learned. I believe you played it before with one of your students. How about “Swingin’ on a Gate” ?
I have definitely played Swingin’ on a Gate before. It’s not one I play very often, and I didn’t record in my fiddle tune a day series, but thanks for bringing it back into my memory. 🙂