Annotation:Trip to Bow Fair (A)
X:4 T:Trip to Bow fair,a Hornpipe, A A:England;London M:3/2 L:1/8 Q:1/2=100 S:J.Walsh,Third Book of the most celebrated jiggs,etc 1731 Z:Pete Stewart, 2004 <www.hornpipemusic.co.uk> with vmp revisions K:Bb B,4CDEF GABc|d2B4FE D2B,2|C4 DEFG ABcd|e2 c4GB A2F2| B,4CDEF GABc|d2B4FE D2B,2|Bgfe dcBd cBAG|FEDC B,CDA, B,4|| f3e defe dcBA|B2F2_AcBA GEDE|g3f efgf edc=B|c2G2_BdcB AF=EF| f3e defe dcBA|B2F2_AcBA GEDC|DFB2CEA2B,DGF |EDCB, A,B,CA, B,4|| Bdfb fdBd f_agf|g2e4cdA2F2|BABc dcBA GFED|CB,CD EFGB,A,4| Bdfb fdBd f_agf|g2e4cda2f2|GBAc Bdfb fdBG|AFGD ECDA,B,4|]
TRIP TO BOW FAIR, A. English, “Old” or Triple Hornpipe (3/2 time). G Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABBCC. The melody appears in London music publisher John Walsh’s Lancashire Jigs, Hornpipes, Joaks, etc. (c. 1730).
Bow Fair was held annually at Whitsun and was a popular event in the 18th and early 19th centuries. As happened with many such events, it eventually succumbed to rowdyism and disorganization and was closed by the authorities in 1823.
There's dancing, kissing, courting too,
And a great many more such things to do,
Getting drunk I do declare,
When they go to see Bow Fair.
There's hallowing, singing, cracking nuts,
Some cramming sausages down their guts,
Gin and gingerbread, I do declare,
Is what they get when they go to Bow Fair. ... ..."The Humours of Bow Fair", anon., c. 1800.
Bow is now an area in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in East End of London, England.
