Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 2

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

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542                                  ENGLISH SONG AND BALLAD MUSIC.
Christmas Carols," 1688. These are " A carol for Christmas Day, to the tune of Over hills and hiyh'mountains ; for Christmas Day at night, to the tune of My life and my death ; for St. Stephen's Day, to the tune of 0 cruel bloody fate; for New Year's Day, to the tune of Caper and jerk it; and for Twelfth Night, to the tune of 0 Mother, Roger.* A copy of this curious collection is in Wood's Library, at Oxford.
" A delightful song in honour of Whitsontide, to the tune of Caper and jerk it" is contained in Canterbury Tales, &c, printed in Bow Churchyard. It commences—           " Now Whitson holidays they are come,
Each lass shall find her mate." -
There are many more ballads to the tune. The following eight stanzas are selected from the original, which is very long, and in two parts. In the black-letter copies (two of which are in the Douce Collection), it is entitled, "The West-country Delight; or, Hey for Zommersetshife,'' &c.; in the Pills, " The Countryman's Delight."
* Of these tunes, u My life and my death are both in with his kisses," is to be found in Pills to purge Melon-your power" is the composition of Mr. William Turner choly, and in The Dancing Master; and the remaining are (see Theater of Music, Book i., 1685); "O Mother, Uoger contained in this collection.                         ,