Country Courtship (The)

 COUNTRY COURTSHIP, THE. AKA and see "The Irish Washerwoman," (Irish), "The Free Masons [1]," "In Bartholemew Fair," "Star at Liwis," "The Scheme," "Corporal Casey [1]," "Paddy McGinty's Goat," "The Snouts and Ears of America," "The Big Jig." English, Rapper Sword Dance Tune (6/8 time). G Major (Karpeles, Raven): C Major (Chappell). Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. Bayard (1981) states this tune is from "perhaps 1688, but certainly from 1715," and says it arose from an earlier tune called "Dargason," first published in 1609. His authority for the 1688 date apparently is Chappell (1859) who stated that in that year a song entitled "The Country Courtship," beginning 'Honest Sir, give me thy hand,' was entered at Stationers' Hall, to John Back. The well-known "Irish Washerwoman" is a nearly identical outgrowth of the "Courtship" tune. Chappell, writing in England in the 1850's declared the tune to be in common use in his time. It appears in Playford's Dancing Master (vol. iii), and Walsh's New Country Dancing Master. Printed sources: Chappell (Popular Music of the Olden Times), vol. 2, 1859; p. 128. Karpeles & Schofield (A Selection of 100 English Folk Dance Airs), 1951; p. 31. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; p. 74.

X:1 T:Country Courtship, The L:1/8 M:6/8 S:Chappell - Popular Music of the Olden Time (1859) K:C G|EDC CDC|EFG GAG|FED DED|FGA ABA| EDC CDC|EFG GAG|GFE DGF|ECC C2|| G|cBc GAG|cdc edc|BAB GAG|BcB dcB| Acc Gcc|F>EF E2E|FEF DGF|ECC C2||

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