Description
These three English country dance tunes are taken from John Playford’s comprehensive collection known as The Dancing Master, published in several volumes between 1651 and c1728. Primarily an instruction book for country dancing, it contains all the steps of the individual dances, as well as their basic melodies for playing on ‘the treble violin’.
By the 1701 edition, the title page reads ‘To all lovers of country dancing, and the pleasing recreation of playing on a violin or flute’. Almost certainly the term ‘flute’ here can be taken to mean the recorder, as opposed to the transverse flute; in the decades surrounding the turn of the eighteenth century, recorder-playing was a highly fashionable pastime for cultured gentlemen.
The tune Blue Breeches (I love thee once, I love no more) appears for the first time in the second edition of the collection (1652); Greensleeves and Yellow Lace in the seventh edition (1686) and Red House in the eleventh edition (1695). They have been freely arranged here for recorder trio.
Suitable for players of around Grade 3/4 upwards.
Audio Excerpt
Julia Dawson (verified owner) –
We just had a first playthrough of your Playford in Colour SAT – Wow!! What fun! Thank you for a wonderful arrangement.