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The Broken Pledge sheet music

Sheet music for The Broken Pledge appears here in several notated versions. The scores share an opening key signature of no sharps or flats, but they differ in metre, with 4/4 and 2/2 both represented. One listing labels the piece a reel and carries the credit “after Mr. McFadden”; the available information does not confirm the tune’s origin, authorship, or definitive form, so compare the notation before choosing a version.

Scores 1–20 of 32

Sheet music

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What the scores show

The listed versions of The Broken Pledge share an opening key signature of no sharps or flats, but they differ in time signature: 4/4 and 2/2 both appear. These details describe the opening of each score, so read through the whole piece before assuming two versions are identical.

Choosing a version

Start with the metre and how it shapes the pulse. A 2/2 setting is generally read with two broad beats per bar, while 4/4 divides the bar into four; compare how each setting makes the melody breathe. Then check the notation itself for range, ornamentation, repeats, and overall layout, since the title alone does not show how a particular version is arranged.

Title, credit and form

One score is titled “The Broken Pledge” (reel) and carries the credit “after Mr. McFadden”; the other listings give no composer. These details are useful leads for identifying the tune, but they should not be treated as proof of authorship or of one definitive form.

Limits of the evidence

This page does not establish an origin story, region, composer, original instrumentation, or definitive key for The Broken Pledge. Use the notation and reliable outside references to verify those details before relying on them in performance or teaching.

Scores to open first

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Common questions

What is The Broken Pledge?

The Broken Pledge is a tune title attached to several notated scores. One score is labelled a reel, but the available information does not confirm the tune’s origin, composer, or definitive form.

What time signature is The Broken Pledge in?

The scores of The Broken Pledge listed here open in either 4/4 or 2/2. That difference affects how the beat is grouped, so compare the metre when choosing a version.

What key is The Broken Pledge in?

The listed scores show an opening key signature of no sharps or flats. That signature can support different tonal centres, so check the actual notes and cadences rather than assuming a single major or minor key.

Who composed The Broken Pledge?

No composer is confirmed for The Broken Pledge here. One score carries the credit “after Mr. McFadden,” which may indicate a source or arranging connection but does not by itself establish authorship.

Is The Broken Pledge a reel?

One score is titled “The Broken Pledge” (reel), while the other listings do not confirm the form. A reel label is a useful clue, but check the metre and phrase shape before treating it as definitive.

How should I choose among the available versions?

Compare the time signature first: 4/4 and 2/2 can carry the same melody but feel different in accent and pace. Then check the notation for range, ornamentation, repeats, and how the phrases sit on your instrument.