Annotation:Come Sweet Lass

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COME, SWEET LASS (THIS BONNY WEATHER). AKA and see "Greenwich Park (1)." English, Air. F Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. The melody appears under this title in John Gay's Beggar's Opera (1729) and earlier in all editions of Thomas D'Urfey's Wit and Mirth; or, Pills to Purge Melancholy, and is associated with the 18th century theatre. In the second part of Playford's Dancing Master (vol. 9, 1698) it is known as "Greenwich Park (1)." John Purser says there is an English manuscript source from c. 1704-1707, and an undated songsheet that attributes the music to "Mr. Clarke." Scots composer James Oswald (who lived in London) included the tune in his 1744 collection A Second Collection of Curious Scots Tunes. It was entered into the music manuscript copybook of London musician Thomas Hammersley (c. 1790).

Printed source:

Recorded source:

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Aird (Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. 3), 1788; No. 516, p. 197. Chappell (Popular Music of the Olden Time), vol. 2, 1859; p. 73. Oswald (Caledonian Pocket Companion, Book 2), 1760; p. 33. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; p. 66.

Recorded sources: Redwing Music RWMCD 5410, Abby Newton - "Castles, Kirks and Caves" (2001).




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