Annotation:Ayre
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AYRE. English, Country Dance Tune (cut time). C Major. Standard tuning. AABB. Composed in 1680 by Jeremiah Clarke (1674-1707). Clarke was a younger contemporary of English composer Henry Purcell. He died at age 32, shooting himself over a hopeless love affair with a pupil of high rank. Clarke began as a boy chorister and rose to membership in the Gentleman of the Chapel Royal (musicians to the King), and, like Purcell, he was a cathedral organist.
Printed source: Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes, vol. 2), 2005; pg. 27.