|
Date: |
|
Description: | John Stokoe notes on page 125 of this manuscript that'So far as I know or have searched this is the earliest copy of our Tyneside melody extant'. This is still the case. This version needs careful editing, especially regarding note values, but it is still very interesting; the 'basic' tune is more ornamented than other versions, and the variations have some unusually tricky chord passages.The tune forms part of The 'Melodies Committee' manuscript, which appears to be a gathering together of tunes from which much of the contents of the Northumbrian Minstrelsy (1882) were selected, though its compilation continued after the date of the Minstrelsy's publication. It contains contributions in a number of hands from a number of sources, most of which are named. Items which directly reproduce other sources included on the FARNE site, such as Atkinson, Bell, Peacock and Mackintosh, have not been included, though alternative versions of tunes have been.This particular part of the manuscript was copied down by John Stokoe and was taken from the John Smith manuscript, which is now lost. A note on page 125 of the manuscript reveals more about its origins. It reads, 'Airs and dance tunes transcribed from an old ms. book now in the possession of Mr. Lewis Proudlock of Longhorsley by Morpeth. Mr Proudlock received the book from Mr Fish of Angerton five or six years ago, that is about 1881, who bought it at a farm sale amongst some old books. The book is an oblong quarto of about 90 pages containing about 200 tunes many of them minuetts [sic.] and old fashioned hornpipes in 6/4 tune. There are many of the old Northumbrian pipe tunes in it and I have copied verbatim from it into this book 20 tunes. On page 32 of the book is written in beautiful halftext 'John Smith's book 1752' and on page 51 is the Keel row with 10 variations as here copied. So far as I know or have searched, this is the earliest copy of our Tyneside melody extant. John Stokoe, Dec. 1887'. ; Collection of local tunes compiled by the Society of Antiquaries | Publisher: | compilers : Society of Antiquaries | Rights holder: | rights holder : Society of Antiquaries | Temporal: | start=1861;end=1900; | Source: | Folk Archive Resource North East | Identifier: | farne:R1113601 | Go to resource |
|
|