"High D"
A descendent of William Dillon, a fifer with the 2nd Virginia during the American Revolution who served at Valley Forge, Quince Dillon was also a Virginian and a fifer. During the War Between the States, he volunteered as a fifer in the 166th Virginia Militia in August, 1861 at Red Sulfur Springs in Monroe County (now West Virginia). This unit was later incorporated into the 59th Virginia Infantry, the bulk of which was captured by Union forces at the Battle of Roanoke Island on February 8, 1862. Those who escaped or who were later paroled were later organized into the 26th Virginia Battalion. Quince joined this unit in Centerville, Virginia in February 1863 and was promoted to Chief Musician. This unit went on to serve in the battles of New Market, Third Winchester, and Cedar Creek. His appointment as Chief Musician was most unusual since whenever he enlisted, he signed with an "X." It was then mandatory for officers and noncommissioned officers to be literate. Quince obviously came from a most musical family: There was a William Dillon with the 26th Virginia Battalion, and Hugh Dillon, Fife Major with the 23rd Virginia, a component of Echol's Brigade.
Although one might presume that he created more than one composition, only one is known today. The tune is appropriately named "High D," and should present quite a challenge to the modern fifer. The timing is rather tricky and performance requires knowledge of the fingering for high D on the Conventional 6-hole Bb fife While I am at it, I may as well add the fingerings for B, C# and D, for reasons that I will announce later in this document.
Hitting these notes can be most difficult to do, particularly for an inexperienced or out-of-practice fifer with a weak embouchure. On many fifes of inferior quality, playing them is impossible, even for an expert. The best way is to work up slowly, using "church tones," playing an A and holding it as long as you can. When you can hit the A reliably, go on the the B, then the C#, and when your embouchure gets very strong, the D. At this point, every man and beast for miles will be intimately aware of the fact they have a fifer living nearby. When you can reliably play the high D, you can play the tune, "High D."
I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Steve Dillon, from the Garden State of New Jersey, for providing me with the information regarding the Dillons of the Civil War. Steve is a trombonist who will soon be learning the fife, in keeping with his family heritage.
Once you can play high B, High C# and High D with confidence, you might try to play Turkey in the Straw, which requires all three notes. This tune is known to some as "Ol' Zip Coon."
This tune comes with many variations; please don't complain to me about how this isn't the "right" one. They are probably all "right." This is the version that I play. At my age, I am not about to change.
ŠE.W.Boyle, 2003 (All Rights Reserved)