I’ve been doing a little more research recently – here are some great 17th and 18th century tunes from a number of contemporary publications.

Thomas Bray, like Henry Playford, was not a composer, but a publisher. His collection of tunes is important as it was the first English publication of its kind to include a printed bass line. The first edition had this printed upside down, so the two musicians could sit opposite each other and share the music.

John Young took over from the Playford family in publishing the Dancing Master, and the tunes included in this post are from the less well-known 2nd and 3rd volumes (as opposed to the original’s 2nd and 3rd editions).

Learnt from Ceri Rhys Matthews

Ian Luff

Cliff Stapleton

A regular at the Chester Arms French Session

Andy Letcher

Recorded on ‘Untie the Wind’ by Telling the Bees

Sun is high in the summer sky
I must drink or I will die
Can I have a glass of water
Can I have a glass of water
All I want is a glass of water
All I want is a glass of water

With my eyes I drink you up
Like the water from a cup
Drink you like a glass of water
You are cooler than the water
All I want is a glass of water
All I want is a glass of water

When the moon is in the sky
All alone in the bed am I
Dreaming of a glass of water
Dreaming of a glass of water
All I want is a glass of water
All I want is a glass of water

Words by Sydney Carter, music from a Cretian melody

Learnt from Chris Wood at the English Acoustic Collective Summer School

Learnt from Christine Cooper at English Acoustic Collective Summer School

Learnt from Chris Wood at English Acoustic Collective Summer School
Performed by Chris Wood and Andy Cutting on their recent tour

Learnt from Andy Letcher

Learnt from Andy Letcher