Pear Tree Hornpipe

The Pear Tree is a hornpipe in F major attributed to Tyneside fiddler and composer James Hill, appearing in Köhler’s Violin Repository from 1881-1885. The tune is named after the Pear Tree Inn in Tyneside. Discussion on TheSession.org confirms this is a James Hill composition and a hornpipe, though it has sometimes been played as a reel. The tune is commonly played in D major as well as its original F major setting.

James Hill (c.1811-1853) was a Scottish-born British fiddler-composer and publican who was born in Dundee but lived in Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead for the remainder of his short life. He is famous as the composer of many fine common-time hornpipes for fiddle.

Personal note: I learned this tune from Brittany Haas on Artistworks.