Annotation:Honeymoon (Country Dance)
X:1 T:Honey Moon, The T:Honeymoon [Country Dance], The M:2/4 L:1/8 R:Country Dance N:”A Favorite Country Dance B:John Pringle – A Second Collection of Strathspeys, Reels & Jiggs &c. (c. 1805) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:D Addd|dffa|gfed|ce A2|Addd|dffa|{a}gfge|d2-d2:| |:d>A {BAG}A2|G>d {edc}d2|AFED|CE {FE^D}E2|d>A {BAG}A2|G>d {edc}de|f>ge>f|d2-d2:|]
HONEYMOON [Country Dance], THE. AKA - "Honey Moon." Scottish, English; Country Dance, Reel. D Major (most versions): G Major (Betham, Cahusac). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. Composition credited to Jas. Young by Kerr. Young is identified by Barry Callaghan (2007) as the son of a fiddle maker in Montrose and leader of the Aberdeen Theatre Royal orchestra. However, he was not born until 1815 and manuscript appearances of the melody predate his birth. For example, it appears in the music manuscript book of pianist Ann Winnington (New York, 1810) and Mary Richards (Wales, 1787, appearing as "Mis Mel"). It can also be found in the 19th century English musicians' manuscript collections of James Haslingden (Midlands?, 1827), Docker, John Hall (Northumberland, 1833), Richard Pyle (Nether Wallop, Hampshire, 1822), William Calvert (Leyburn, north Yorkshire, 1812), Rev. Robert Harrison (Brampton, Cumbria, 1820), the Welch family manuscripts (Bosham, Sussex), and an anonymous manuscript from Carlisle, Cumbria, of 1810. The tune is contained in the 19th century Joseph Kershaw Manuscript. Kershaw was a fiddle player who lived in the remote area of Slackcote, Saddleworth, North West England, who compiled his manuscript from 1820 onwards, according to Jamie Knowles. The country dance tune was also entered into the Woburn (Mass.) Fife Manuscript, a ms. collection inscribed with the the name Seth Johnson and "Woburn. April 20th day, 1807. I Bought this Book, 5:3." Entries were made between 1807 and as late as 1840.
