The Banks of Newfoundland
by Francis Forbes
The following text is from A Newfoundland
Songbook - A Collection of Music by Historic Newfoundland
Composers, 1820-1942", compiled and annotated by Paul
G. Woodford and published by Creative Publishers, St. John's
|This well known tune was composed
by Chief Justice Francis Forbes about 1820 and
published in a piano arrangement by Oliver Ditson of Boston.
According to one source it was performed in the composers presence
in 1820 at a Benevolent Irish Society dinner at St. John's by
an Irish piper. It is described as a dance on the original printed
copy but was better known in later years as a march. At the turn
of the twentieth century it was considered an unofficial national
anthem of Newfoundland and has remained the march commonly associated
with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
shanty with the same title also exists. There is no connection
between the two as far as I know.