For the Musicians among the Brethren

[PoD]

Heres an early Christmas present to the Musicians in the Group.

Wit and mirth: or, Pills to purge melancholy: being a collection of the best merry ballads and songs, old and new. Fitted to all humours, having each their proper tune for either voice, or instrument.

A set of 6 volumes containing songs and poems (with actual musical notation!) from the early 18th century published in 1719.

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=PSQJAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=-K0QAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=xLRbAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Eq4QAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Z1xLAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=UK8QAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Enjoy

[capn'rob]

Good and Kind Sir, It is with graditude that I say many thanks to ye for this fine Gift. Such a great Gift and so fitting for the Season. I hope to be able to glean some music to present at the Tavern in the Fort at the Fort Taylor Pirate Invasion in Key West next year. True period music would just be so much more appropriate for the setting at the gatherings I attend. I have been collecting Shanties and Songs of the Sea for many years however most are early 19th century and modern interpetation of that period. To have music composed in the 18th century would be a wonderful addition to my collection so I thank you for my early Christmas Gift, Dutch

[Slopmaker Cripps]

Good and Kind Sir, It is with graditude that I say many thanks to ye for this fine Gift. Such a great Gift and so fitting for the Season. I hope to be able to glean some music to present at the Tavern in the Fort at the Fort Taylor Pirate Invasion in Key West next year. True period music would just be so much more appropriate for the setting at the gatherings I attend. I have been collecting Shanties and Songs of the Sea for many years however most are early 19th century and modern interpetation of that period. To have music composed in the 18th century would be a wonderful addition to my collection so I thank you for my early Christmas Gift, Dutch

Dutch,

Once you figure out which tunes you want to work on, post a list up here for the rest of us to take a look at....if I can get down next year, I would love to jam (should have a correct guitar, violin, and negro banjar finished by then...not sure how I'd integrate the banjar in with d'Urfey, but it could be interesting).

-Adam C.

Edited December 24, 2010 by Slopmaker Cripps

[Fox]

Wit and Mirth... has a long evolution, although it's D'Urfey's version from the early 18thC that everyone is familiar with. Early in his career D'Urfey worked with Henry Playford (son of John Playford of Dancing Master fame), and is mentioned in the early editions of Henry Playford's Wit and Mirth... dating from the 1680s and 90s. Some of the somgs are considerably older than 1719: 'We be three poor mariners', for example, dates back at least to Thomas Ravenscroft's Deuteromelia (1609) and is included (I'm pretty sure but haven't checked) in the various versions of Wit and Mirth..., including the 1719 one.

I haven't checked, does the 1719 edition still include all the songs about Quakers having sex with dogs and horses?

[PoD]

Wit and Mirth... has a long evolution, although it's D'Urfey's version from the early 18thC that everyone is familiar with. Early in his career D'Urfey worked with Henry Playford (son of John Playford of Dancing Master fame), and is mentioned in the early editions of Henry Playford's Wit and Mirth... dating from the 1680s and 90s. Some of the somgs are considerably older than 1719: 'We be three poor mariners', for example, dates back at least to Thomas Ravenscroft's Deuteromelia (1609) and is included (I'm pretty sure but haven't checked) in the various versions of Wit and Mirth..., including the 1719 one.

I haven't checked, does the 1719 edition still include all the songs about Quakers having sex with dogs and horses?

Ha Ha I havent come across that yet but have only flicked through them up to yet.