Contented Farmer (The)

 CONTENTED FARMER, THE. English, Jig. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The melody was first published in Charles and Samuel Thompson's Compleat Collection, vol. 3 (London, 1773). It was included by Northumbrian musician William Vickers in his manuscript collection, begun in 1770. Matt Seattle says this tune is "recognizably 'Happy Farmer' (c.f. Northumbrian Pipers' Tune Book, 1970), but with noticeable differences." There is an earlier, different tune, also called the "Contented Farmer" or "Contented Country Farmer" that appears in ballad operas and on song sheets and in some dance collections. Printed sources: Seattle (William Vickers), 1987, Part 2; No. 234. Thompson (Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 3), 1773; No. 178.

X:1 T:Contented Farmer, The M:6/8 L:1/8 B:Thompson's Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 3 (London, 1773) Z:Transcribed and edited by Flynn Titford-Mock, 2007 Z:abc's:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:G G>AG B2G|d2G B2G|D>ED F2D|A2D F2D|G>AG B2G| d2G B2g|fed A2^c|d3 D3:||:d>ed b2d|dcB c3|cdc a2c| cBA B3|G>AG B2G|d2B g2b|a2g !trill!fef|g3 G3:||