Bill of Rights (The)

X:1 T:Bill of Rights, 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 Fynnian Titford-Mock, 2007 Z:abc's:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:G g2f e2d|efg d3|c2B A2G|ABG FED|g2f e2d|efg d2c|BGB AFA|G3 [G,3G3]:| FAG FED|FAG FED|dBg ecg|dBg ecg|BGB AFA|G3 [G,3G3]:||
 * B2c d2=f|e2d c2B|A2B c2e|d2c B2A|G2A B2d|c2B A2G|

 BILL OF RIGHTS. English, Jig. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The melody was originally published in Charles and Samuel Thompson's Compleat Collection, vol. 3 (London, 1773). As with numerous other tune from the Thompson's 1773 collection, it was entered into the 1788 music manuscript book of fiddlers John and William Pitt Turner of Norwich, Conn. "Bill of Rights" is one of the "lost tunes" of Northumbrian musician William Vickers' dance tune manuscript, begun in 1770. The title refers not to the American Bill of Rights (which, of course, the tune predated) but to the English Bill of Rights, passed by Parliament in 1689 when they invited William and Mary to the throne of England. It enumerates, among other important points, governance under a constitutional monarchy. Printed source: Thompson (Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 3), 1773; No. 119. __NORICHEDITOR__