Annotation:Hemp Dressers (1) (The)

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 HEMP DRESSERS [1], THE. AKA and see "Flaunting Two," "London Gentlewoman (The)," "London Maid," "Sun Has Loos'd His Weary Teams (The)," "Winchester Christening (The)," "Deil's awa' wi' the exciseman (The)." English, Country Dance Tune (6/8 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The air appears in John Gay's Begger's Opera (1728) under the title "First time at the looking glass (The)." It was printed in all editions of Playford's English Dancing Master, 1650-1728 and the various titles given there ("London Maid," "London gentlewoman," "Hemp dresser") takes their name from a song beginning: There was a London gentlewoman, that loved a country man-a: And she did desire his company, a little now and then-a This man he was a hemp-dresser, (etc.) A Welsh version of the tune appears under the name "Flaunting Two," printed in 1794, although Kidson (Groves) says claims of a Welsh provenance for the melody are false. It was a popular country dance tune throughout the 18th century.  Source for notated version:  Printed sources: Barlow (Complete Country Dance Tunes from Playford's Dancing Master), 1985; No. 54, p. 28. Chappell (Popular Music of the Olden Time), vol. 1, 1859; p. 297.  Recorded sources:

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