The Morris Book, Part 1 - A History of Morris Dancing, With a Description of Eleven Dances as Performed by the Morris-Men of England by Cecil J. Sharp
page 18 of 94 (19%)
page 18 of 94 (19%)
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Shoes for the mores dawnsars, the frere and
mayde Maryan at 7d. the payre 0 5 4 8 yerds of fustyan for the mores dawnsars coats 0 6 0 A dosyn of gold skynnes for the morres 0 0 10 5 hats and 4 porses for the dawnsars 0 0 4½ As a conclusion to this imperfect sketch we would point once more to the warranty of its imperfections and sketchiness offered in the beginning. We hope for it no more than that it may serve to direct those inclined to bestow upon the Morris a closer study, to at least the beginnings of an enthralling subject. So much for the origin and history of the art. As for its living practitioners: of the men, for instance, of Gloucestershire, Norfolk, Lancashire, Northumberland--the last-named of whom danced the other day before the King at Alnwick Castle under the name of Guisards--and elsewhere, we offer no precise information. It may be that one day we shall be privileged to do so. But for the tunes we have set down, and for the dances belonging thereto we have attempted to describe, we do claim that in these we have tried most faithfully to pass on to others what the Morris-men gave to us. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. In earliest days of the Morris, music was made by a simple pipe, by pipe and tabour, or the bagpipe. Of these the bagpipe was apparently the original. An old madrigal, printed in 1660, runs thus: |
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