as played by the Leeds Waits according to a report in "The Leeds Mercury" in November 1739, to add to your collection of tunes played by waits:
"war with Spain declared with the usual solemnity by the Mayor, Aldermen, Common Council etc., the Town's Musick playing before them 'Britons Strike Home!'"
It is from the opera “Bonduca” (1695) by Henry Purcell, but as a patriotic song it must have maintained its popularity for half a century, despite being re-used by Dr Pepusch with somewhat different words by John Gay in “The Beggar’s Opera”.
The only other piece I have evidence of them playing, a familiar little tune, comes from a report in the same newspaper in 1792:
"Many associations were formed about this time for the protection of liberty and property against 'republicans and levellers'. Meetings were held in Leeds to make public Declarations of Loyalty to the Constitution, and 'God Save The King' was sung in the Parish Church, accompanied by the organ 'in excellent time', and it was also sung at the Market Cross and other places aided by the Town's Band."
Alan Radford, The Leeds Waits
pdf file of illustrated score play again Hear Alan Radford's arrangement home music
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