Annotation:Persian Dance (A)

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PERSIAN DANCE, A. AKA and see "Gallopede," "Persian Ricardo," "Yarmouth Reel." English, Country Dance Tune (2/4 time). England; Shropshire, Lincolnshire. G Major (Ashman, Manson): D Major (Sumner). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABBCC. The tune is well-known nowadays under the “Gallopede” title, especially at New England contra dances, although many early 19th century English fiddlers’ manuscripts list it under the “Persian” or “Persian Ricardo” title. The melody was printed by London publisher Thomas Preston in his Twenty-four Country Dances for 1801 as "Persion Ricardo." Nathaniel Gow published it as "Persian Dance" in 1812.

In addition to the printed collections below, it appears under that title in the separate 19th century music manuscripts of Lancashire musicians James Nuttall and William Tildsley.

Sources for notated versions: a c. 1837-1840 MS by Shropshire musician John Moore [Ashman]; the 1823-26 music mss of papermaker and musician Joshua Gibbons (1778-1871, of Tealby, near Market Rasen, Lincolnshire Wolds) [Sumner].

Printed sources: Ashman (The Ironbridge Hornpipe), 1991; No. 61, p. 24. Manson (Hamilton's Universal Tune Book vol. 1), 1844; p. 33. Sumner (Lincolnshire Collections, vol. 1: The Joshua Gibbons Manuscript), 1997; p. 22 (appears as “Persion”).

Recorded sources:

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