Annotation:Dr. Fauster's Tumblers

Back to Dr. Fauster's Tumblers

DOCTOR FAUSTER'S TUMBLERS. AKA - "Dr. Faustus' Tumblers." English, Country Dance Tune (cut time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The tune can be found in a number of 18th century publications, including Playford's Dancing Master (London, 1726, pp. 3 & 200--the long running series was at that time published by John Young), Walsh's New Country Dancing Master, 3rd Book (London, 1728, p. 7), Walsh's Third Book of the Compleat Country Dancing Master (London, 1735, pp. 6 & 144), Walsh's Compleat Country Dancing Master, Volume the Fifth (London, c. 1754, pg. 202). Irish musicologist Grattan Flood (1913) speculated that this tune might be an ancestor of air and march "The British Grenediers."

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes), 1986. Callaghan (Hardcore English), 2007; pg. 34. Towns, Audrey (A Frolick), 1979.

Recorded sources: Fellside Recordings, Dr. Faustus - "The First Cut" (2006). Topic 12TS442, "Brass Monkey" (1986). Jello 2CD, Spinning Jelly - "Starling Bridge." John Kirkpatrick - "Orlando's Return."

See also listing at:
Hear a version by the Texas Tech Celtic Ensemble [1]