Annotation:Frog and the Mouse (The)

Tune properties and standard notation

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FROG AND THE MOUSE, THE. English, Country Dance Tune (2/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. Kidson's tune is from Thompson's Pocket Companion for the German Flute (London, 1797), and is the same as that used for the old song "Amo Amas I love a lass" (from the Agreeable Surprise, 1781). He points out the nursery song "A frog he would a wooing go" is quite ancient and is mentioned in the 1549 work Complaint of Scotland under the title "The frog cam to the myl dur {mill-door}." A ballad "Of a most strange wedding of a frog and mouse" was entered at Stationer's Hall in 1584, according to Chappell. It can be found in 'Melismata (1611) and in Thomas D'Urfey's Pills to Purge Melancholy (1719) as a political song. American versions go under the title "Froggie went a-courtin'" while in Ireland it can be found as "Cousin frog went out to ride (fa lee linkin' laddy oh)."

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Kidson (Old English Country Dances), 1890; p. 3.

Recorded sources:

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Tune properties and standard notation