Song 4 "Brave Wolfe"

"Brave Wolfe" (Instrumental Version)
Mark O'Connor and Wynton Marsalis (recorded in 1997: trumpet and violin)

"Brave Wolfe" is a folk song ballad (so I am not exactly sure when it was written) describing the battle in 1759 where the British defeated the French in Quebec. Different lyrics emphasize different things. Some focus on the fact that General Wolfe died leaving his sweetheart behind, others focus on his military expertise and his good treatment of his men.

The story is told in this particular version through the tempo and the feeling of the music, as well as changes in key. It starts out slow and proud, and it sounds almost mysterious or sad. You can tell it's honoring the dead general. Then the tempo changes and the notes are shorter. It seems to be representing the military battle and the victory that came afterward. It is being told as a story like after the actual event happened.


I thought this song to be proud but melancholy. It's so sad, but at the same time you can tell how much the general was appreciated. I can imagine people going around singing it in taverns and the towns.

This song allowed me to learn that the British, through this battle portrayed, were able to secure Canada for themselves. Also, that like anywhere else America honored it's heroes and they weren't easily forgotten. They were starting to have their own experiences away from England, because this version of the song was sung mostly in America while the one in Britain was a different version.