Traditional Fiddle Tunes: “Sailor’s Hornpipe”: For Cello
Here is a very popular traditional fiddle tune in a transcription for cello and simple accompaniment. Unfortunately, there are many other different hornpipes which also have the same “Sailor’s Hornpipe” title, and, to add to the confusion, this hornpipe can also go by other names, such as “College Hornpipe”. At the end of the 18th century, the sailor became the favourite character of the musical stage, and the nautical theme became so associated with the dance that many hornpipes were generically labelled “Sailor’s Hornpipes”. It is probable that this tune is derived from an old sailor’s song called “Jack’s the Lad”.
All parts come with a chord chart so that any accompaniment instrument (piano, guitar, second cello, etc.) can easily improvise an accompaniment part. In this arrangement, we play the tune three times: first in the lower octave, then one octave higher in thumbposition, and finally once again, a little faster, in the lower octave. For an “Easier Version”, play it always in the lower octave.
Here is a play-along piano accompaniment audio with a two-bar introduction.
And here is a simple home recording of this piece with the above accompaniment: