Annotation:Bacca Pipes (1)
Back to Bacca Pipes (1)
BACCA PIPES JIG (GREENSLEEVES). AKA and see "Greensleeves [1]." English, Morris Dance. A Dorian (Bacon {Bampton, Hinton}, Karpeles, Raven): G Major (Bacon {Ascot-Under-Wychwood}). Standard tuning. AB (Bacon {Ascot}): AAB (Bacon {Hinton}): AABB (Karpeles, Raven): ABA'B'ABAB(Bacon {Headington}). From the Ascot-under-Wychwood, Bampton, and Headington areas of England's Cotswolds. 'Bacca' pipes refers to the long-stemmed clay tobacco pipes (sometimes called 'churchwarden' pipes), which were crossed and placed on the ground (in the manner of some sword dances) whilst a solo jig was danced between them. Although not related to the tune it is interesting to note that the term 'bacca-pipes' in lower class English slang of the early 19th century referred to whiskers curled in small close ringlets.
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: Bacon (The Morris Ring), 1974; pp. 26, 197, & 204. Karpeles & Schofield (A Selection of 100 English Folk Dance Airs), 1951; p. 36. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; p. 74.
Recorded sources: EFDSS CD03, William Kimber - "Absolutely Classic: The Music of William Kimber." Topic 12T249, William Kimber - "The Art of William Kimber" (William Kimber played the anglo concertina for Headington Quarry Morris on Boxing Day, 1899, when Cecil Sharp first encountered them, which led to a morris dance revival).