A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Tan-ta-ra

TAN-TA-RA. A word which occurs in English hunting songs, and is evidently intended to imitate the note of the horn. One of the earliest instances is in 'The hunt is up,' a song ascribed by Chappell to Henry VIII's time:—

The horses snort to be at the sport,
⁠The dogs are running free,
The woods rejoice at the merry noise
⁠Of hey tantara tee ree!

Another is 'News from Hide Park,' of Charles II's time:—

One evening a little before it was dark,
⁠Sing tan-ta-ra-ra-ra tan-ti-vee, etc.

But the word is as old as Ennius, who has

At tuba terribili sonitu taratantara dixit.

And the same form occurs in Grimald (1557) and Stanyhurst (1583).

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