Can anyone help me track down a tune associated with the Leicestershire Regiment (now part of the Anglian Regiment), called “Wolfe’s Lament”?
The Leicestershires served with Wolfe in Quebec and adopted the tune as their regimental music after Wolfe’s death. (Apparently it was regimental custom to play it before “God Save the Queen,” which would seem to have been really pushing the boundaries for the British Army in the 19th century :rolleyes: )
Anyone have any ideas? I’ve poked around on Google a bit, but without much success.
Hmm…Do you have any idea how it goes? Would you recognize it if you heard it, or are you just starting out?
Wolfe’s Song?
http://www.contemplator.com/america/whysoldr.html
The Death of General Wolfe?
http://www.contemplator.com/folk3/wolfe.html
DDG, you are the Queen of Google! I tried all sorts of combinations of “Wolfe” etc. and never got these!
I don’t know the tune, so I can’t recognize it by listening. I came across the reference to “Wolfe’s Lament” and thought it might be a nice piping tune.
Of the two, the “Death of General Wolfe” sounds closer to what I’m looking for - a lament of some sort, from contemporary accounts. (Plus, it’s a nice little tune). “Wolfe’s Song” is more like a song to encourage soldiers to fight than to mourn.
I’ll keep poking around though, and see if the “Death of General Wolfe” is the right one.
Thanks for the help!