#TheMusicalJourney - Country Gardens

Welcome to Week 80 of #TheMusicalJourney. Why not take a walk outside and smell the #SweetAndScentedAir? "Country Gardens" can be dated as far back as 1728, when a version using a very similar tune to the now popular version appeared in Thomas Walker's Quaker's Opera, written as a parody of The Beggar's Opera by John Gay. The tune was collected by Cecil Sharp from the playing of William Kimber; Sharp transcribed the song from Kimber's playing in 1906, and his transcription can be viewed online via the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library. Kimber, who was later recorded playing the tune on concertina in London in 1948, had performed it in the same way for Morris Dancers in the nineteenth century. His version was one of several variants collected from Cotswold villages and used for Morris dances: "Bampton in the Bush" (collected by Roy Dommett from Arnold Woodley); "Field Town" (Leafield collected by Kenworthy Schofield) ; "Headington" (collected by Carey) and "Longborough" (collected by Cecil Sharp and Schofield). The earliest known and surviving English written mention of Morris dance is dated to 1448 and records the payment of seven shillings to Morris dancers by the Goldsmiths' Company in London.[1] Further mentions of Morris dancing occur in the late 15th century, and there are also early records such as bishops' "Visitation Articles" mentioning sword dancing, guising and other dancing activities, as well as mumming plays. More to come next Saturday. #TheMusicalJourney - Week 80 - #SweetAndScentedAir