Scottish jig in A.
Martial origins with the Gordon Highlanders:
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Dancing to the tune in an unusually structure context:
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From Wikipedia: "The composer is unknown, but it first appeared in print in 1816 as a violin tune. It was later published in a collection of bagpipe music by Donald MacDonald in 1822, with the title of Gairm n’an Coileach (Scottish Gaelic: "The Cock’s Crow"). Some writers have noted a similarity to the 17th century English tune "Joan's Placket is Torn", which was mentioned by Samuel Pepys and is in John Playford's work, The Dancing Master. A version of the tune as a reel, from the island of Whalsay goes by the name Jumping John.
The tune has always been a march used by the Gordon Highlanders, although it did not become the official regimental march until 1933, when it replaced Hielan' Laddie. Although strongly associated with the Gordons, it was used by other Highland regiments, too.
At the Siege of Lucknow, during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, 12 year-old Drummer Ross of the 93rd Highlanders signalled the arrival of his regiment to the besieged garrison, by climbing the spire of the Shah Najaf Mosque and playing "Cock o' the North" on his bugle, while under heavy fire from the rebel forces.
In 1897, during an attack by the Gordon Highlanders on the Dargai Heights, which were held by Afridi tribesmen during the Tirah campaign, Piper George Findlater won the Victoria Cross for continuing to play a regimental march while wounded in both feet. The official statement did not give the name of the tune he played; some accounts state that it was "Haughs of Cromdale" which was the Regimental Charge-tune, others claim it was "Cock of the North". Finlater's own account says that he did not hear an order to play "Cock of the North", and played "Cromdale" on his own initiative."
The tune has always been a march used by the Gordon Highlanders, although it did not become the official regimental march until 1933, when it replaced Hielan' Laddie. Although strongly associated with the Gordons, it was used by other Highland regiments, too.
At the Siege of Lucknow, during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, 12 year-old Drummer Ross of the 93rd Highlanders signalled the arrival of his regiment to the besieged garrison, by climbing the spire of the Shah Najaf Mosque and playing "Cock o' the North" on his bugle, while under heavy fire from the rebel forces.
In 1897, during an attack by the Gordon Highlanders on the Dargai Heights, which were held by Afridi tribesmen during the Tirah campaign, Piper George Findlater won the Victoria Cross for continuing to play a regimental march while wounded in both feet. The official statement did not give the name of the tune he played; some accounts state that it was "Haughs of Cromdale" which was the Regimental Charge-tune, others claim it was "Cock of the North". Finlater's own account says that he did not hear an order to play "Cock of the North", and played "Cromdale" on his own initiative."