Annotation:Abergenny

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The Welsh or Brittonic prefix 'Aber-' means 'mouth', and was attached to names of rivers. Thus Abergenny means the 'mouth of the Genny,' but probably refers to Abergavenny in Monmouth according to Frank Kidson (Groves, 1910, p. 496), "which is sufficiently Welsh county in manner and customs to be musically included." Kidson thought "Abergenny" one of (if not the) earliest Welsh tune mentioned in the country dance repertoire, and also points out that it bears a strong resemblance to "Cold and Raw." It appears in the 1665 and all later editions of Playford's Dancing Master (through to the last, in 1728), and in John Walsh's Compleat Country Dancing Master of 1718 and 1731. Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes), 1986. Mellor (Welsh Dance Tunes), 1935; pg. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 18.