Annotation:Millfield

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MILLFIELD. English, Country Dance Tune (6/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. The air (and steps for a circle dance "for as many as will") was published by London publisher John Playford in the first edition of his English Dancing Master of 1651, and retained in subsequent editions through the 7th edition of 1686. Chappell (1859) finds a reference to the jig as early as 1581 when it was named in a ballad licensed that year called called to be sung to "Millfield, or els to Greensleeues"; since Greensleeves was in secondary place, one might surmise that "Millfield" was the better-known air at the time.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Barlow (Complete Country Dances from Playford's Dancing Master), 1986; No. 62, p. 29. Chappell (Popular Music of the Olden Time), vol. 1, 1859; pg. 293. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; p. 40. Sharp (Country Dance Tunes), 1909; p. 63.

Recorded sources: Beautiful Jo Records BEJOCD-33, 1651 - "Cast a Bell" (2001).

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