Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 1

Ancient Songs, Ballads, & Dance Tunes, Sheet Music & Lyrics - online book

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FROM HENRY VII. TO MARY.
71
again. Lead all in a double forward and back: that again. Two singles and a double back,"set and turn single : that again. Sides all: that again. Arms all: that again. As before, as before." Country dances were formerly danced as often in circles as in parallel lines..
The following songs were sung to the tune:—"The merry wooing of Robin and Joan, the West-country Lovers, to the tune of the Beginning of the World, or Sellenger's Round."—Roxburgh Collection. "The Fair Maid of Islington, or the London Vintner over-reached," in the Bagford Collection. " Robin's Courtship," in Wit Restored, 1658.
As a specimen of old harmony, I have added the arrangement of Sellenger's Round by Byrd, from Queen Elizabeth's Virginal Book. Having an instrument that would not sustain the tone (for the virginals, like the harpsichord, only twitted the wires with a quill) it is curious to see how he has filled up the harmony by an inner part, that seems intended to imitate the prancing of the hobby-horse. The hobby-horse was the usual attendant on May-day and May Games.