Annotation:Little Devil (The): Difference between revisions

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LITTLE DEVIL, THE. English, Country Dance (2/4 time). A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The melody appears unique to the Samuel, Ann and Peter Thompson's Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 5 (1788). The title may refer to one of a few period performers who called themselves by the sobriquet of "The Little Devil." John Watlen's Celebrated Circus Tunes (1791) makes reference to a performer called "The Little Devil," who was one Giles Sutton, a late 18th/early 19th century equestrian, acrobat and dancer who often performed at the Royal Circus and similar venues. Sutton began his career with Hughes' Royal Circus in St. George's Fields around 1785. He was advertised in 1793 with Astley's Royal Circus as "Mr. Giles Sutton, the original Little Devil," who would "ride with his head upon the saddle, full speed, likewise will leap over a garter placed in four different parts of the riding school." Tragedy struck in December, 1797, when his mother, actress and singer Miss Froment (1756-1797, who had married an obscure performer named Sutton at the age of 16) drowned along with members of Astley's troupe while crossing St. George's Channel. Giles Sutton also danced in the chorus of British Amazons, and danced Health in Fire and Sprit, pantomimes given at Sadler's Wells in 1803. He was back with the Royal Circus in 1806, acting in pantomimes and performing on horseback, where he continued for some years. [Highfill, Burnim, Langhans, A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers & and Other Stage Personnel in London: 1660-1800, 1991]

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Thompson's (Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 5), 1788; No. 133, p. 67.

Recorded sources:

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-'''LITTLE DEVIL, THE.''' English, Country Dance (2/4 time). A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The melody appears unique to the Samuel, Ann and Peter Thompson's '''Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 5''' (1788). The title may refer to one of a few period performers who called themselves by the sobriquet of "The Little Devil." John Watlen's '''Celebrated Circus Tunes''' (1791) makes reference to a performer called "The Little Devil."
+'''LITTLE DEVIL, THE.''' English, Country Dance (2/4 time). A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The melody appears unique to the Samuel, Ann and Peter Thompson's '''Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 5''' (1788). The title may refer to one of a few period performers who called themselves by the sobriquet of "The Little Devil." John Watlen's '''Celebrated Circus Tunes''' (1791) makes reference to a performer called "The Little Devil," who was one Giles Sutton, a late 18th/early 19th century equestrian, acrobat and dancer who often performed at the Royal Circus and similar venues. Sutton began his career with Hughes' Royal Circus in St. George's Fields around 1785. He was advertised in 1793 with Astley's Royal Circus as "Mr. Giles Sutton, the original Little Devil," who would "ride with his head upon the saddle, full speed, likewise will leap over a garter placed in four different parts of the riding school." Tragedy struck in December, 1797, when his mother, actress and singer Miss Froment (1756-1797, who had married an obscure performer named Sutton at the age of 16) drowned along with members of Astley's troupe while crossing St. George's Channel. Giles Sutton also danced in the chorus of British Amazons, and danced Health in Fire and Sprit, pantomimes given at Sadler's Wells in 1803. He was back with the Royal Circus in 1806, acting in pantomimes and performing on horseback, where he continued for some years. [Highfill, Burnim, Langhans, A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers & and Other Stage Personnel in London: 1660-1800, 1991]
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