Annotation:Dressed Ship (The)

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 DRESSED SHIP, THE. English (originally), Country Dance Tune (cut time); New England, Polka. A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The tune first appeared in print in Charles and Samuel Thompson's Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1774 and their Compleat Collection of 200 Country Dances, vol. 4  (London, 1780), where it appears as a longways dance 'for as many as will.' A 'dressed ship' is one that has been decorated with signal flags and other pennants, usually for a ceremony or celebration. There are two distinctions: a dressed ship display employs smaller ensigns than does a full-dressed ship.  Source for notated version:  Printed sources: Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes), 1986. Fleming-Williams & Shaw (English Dance Airs; Popular Selection, Book 1), 1965; p. 14. Karpeles & Schofield (A Selection of 100 English Folk Dance Airs), 1951; p. 25. Miller & Perron (101 Polkas), 1978; No. 102. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; p. 25.  Recorded sources: Midsummer MR223, Jaqueline Schwab - "Mad Robin, Reflections on English Country Dances for Solo Piano."  See also listing at: Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index

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