Annotation:General Toast (The)
Tune properties and standard notation
GENERAL TOAST, THE. AKA and see "Gamest Toast (The)." English, Air & Jig. England; Northumberland, Lancashire. G Major (Peacock, Raven): F Major (Plain Brown). Standard tuning (fiddle). One part (Peacock, Raven): AABB (Plain Brown). A song air that appears in numerous publications and musicians' manuscript books from 1780 through the early 19th century, beginning with appearances in two separate oboe tutors both published in London in 1780 -- Longman and Broderip's New and Complete Instructions for the Oboe or Hoboy and Preston's New and Complete Instructions for the Hautboy. See also an Irish version under "Gamest Toast (The)."
Source for notated version: the 1845-47 music manuscript of Ellis Knowles, a musician from Radcliffe, Lancashire, England [Plain Brown].
Printed sources: Aird (Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. 3), 1788; p. 196. Peacock (Peacock's Tunes), 1980; No. 21, p. 7. Doyle (Plain Brown Tune Book), 1997; p. 19. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; p. 115.
Recorded sources: