Brick Makers (The)

 BRICK MAKERS, THE. AKA - "Brickmaker's Frolick." English, Country Dance Tune (2/4 time). G Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The melody was first published by David Rutherford in his Choice Collection of Sixty of the Most Celebrated Country Dances (London, 1750), reprinted in his Compleat Collection of 200 Country Dances, vol. 2 (London, 1760). In addition to London publishers Charles and Samuel Thompson (1757), it was also issued by John Johnson in 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 8 (London, 1758), and, again by the Thompsons in Compleat Tutor for the Hautboy [ed. Oboe] (London, c. 1770). It is in the earlier edition of the latter volume, Charles and Ann Thompson's Compleat Tutor for the Hautboy (London, 1758), that an expanded title, "The Brick makers in the Genii," is given, and this is a clue to the tune's origin on the stage, for it appeared in Woodward's pantomime The Genii (1752), which thematized magic. "The Brick Makers" also appears in a number of musicians' manuscript books, including those of William Vickers (Northumberland, 1770, as "Brickmaker's Frolick") and fiddler Thomas Hammersley (London, 1790). In America, it can be found in the copybooks of flute player Henry Beck (1786), fiddler George White (Cherry Valley, New York, c. 1790), flute player Micah Hawkins (New York, 1794), and Morris Woodruff (Litchfield, Conn., 1790). Printed sources: Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes), 1986. Thompson (Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 1), 1757; No. 177.

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 * B/c/|d b2 (a|a) g2 (f|f2) gf|f2 gA|B2 cd|e2 fg|fdcB|{B}A2 GF|

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