Annotation:Pilgarlic

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PILGARLIC. English, Country Dance Tune (2/4 or cut time). C Major (Raven): D Major (Barnes). Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. The melody can be found in a 204 Country Dances selection in "A Frolic," circa mid-18th century. It was also printed (as “Pilgarlick”) by John Walsh in his Caledonian Country Dances. Vol. II. Part II (1751, p. 29) and Compleat Country Dancing Master, volume the 5th (London, 1755, p. 24). According to the Phronistery (a dictionary of obscure words) a pilgarlick is a “poor wretch; self-pitying person," although it could also refer to a bald-headed man (from the supposed resemblance between a bald head and peeled garlic -- "pilled garlic," in British dialect. The verb "pill" comes in part from the Old English pilian--"to peel").

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes, vol. 2), 2005; p. 101. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; p. 214.

Recorded sources:




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