Annotation:Ash Grove (The)

ASH GROVE (Llwyn Onn). AKA - "Ashtree Grove"?? AKA and see "Llewellyn," "Sir Watkin William Wynn." Welsh (originally), Scottish, New England; Waltz. C Major (Laufman): G Major (Johnson). Standard tuning. AB (Kerr): AAB (Johnson, Laufman). The air is considered by some to be an early 18th century melody from Wales, perhaps because it is attributed to that country in Gow's Strathspey Reels (book 4, pg. 24), where it appears as "Sir Watkin William Wynn." In fact the earliest Welsh printing is not until Jones's Bardic Museum (1802), where it is given that it was named after 'Mr. Jones's mansion near Wrexham'. Robin Huw Bowen says it is played in the form 'theme and variations', a form poular with Welsh harpists of the early 18th century. It appears under different guises in period publications and can be found in Gay's Beggar's Opera (1729) and in the repertoire of Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738). "The Ash Grove" was used as a vehicle for English morris dancing, and various words were set to it, bawdy and otherwise. One set begins:

Down yonder green valley, where streamlets meander

Where twilight is fading, I pensively rove--

Or at the bright noontide, in solitude wander

Amid the dark shade of the lonely ash tree.

Printed sources: Johnson (The Kitchen Musician's Occasional: Waltz, Air and Misc.), No. 1, 1991; pg. 1. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 3; No. 309, pg. 33. Laufman (Okay, Let's Try a Contra, Men on the Right, Ladies on the Left, Up and Down the Hall), 1973; pg. 23. Matthiesen (Waltz Book I), 1992; pg. 13.

Recorded sources: Flying Fish FF70610, Robin Huw Bowen - "Telyn Berseiniol Fy Ngwlad/The Sweet Harp of My Land" (1996). Green Mountain Volunteers - "New England Country Dance Music."