Annotation:Cheerily and Merrily (1)

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 CHEERILY AND MERRILY. AKA and see "Mr. Webb's Fancy." English, Jig. F Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. This tune can be found printed in John Playford's first English Dancing Master (1651) as "Cheerily and merrily, or Mr. Webb's Fancy." The melody appears in all Playford editions through the 11th, published in 1701. The "Mr. Webb" of the alternate title may have been William Webb, a songwriter, who lived from around 1600 to sometime after 1656. Webb was a wait and on the fringes of the English court, becoming a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal sometime in the 1630's through 1641. He is valued for his tuneful partsongs. Playford may have come into contact with him through his publication of some of his songs in the series Select Ayres and Dialogues, started in 1652 (as Select Musicall Ayres, etc.). Printed sources: Barlow (Compleat Country Dance Tunes from Playford's Dancing Master), 1985; p. 19. Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes, vol. 2), 2005; p. 18. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; p. 45 (reprint of the Playford original). Sharp (Country Dance Tunes), 1909; p. 22.

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