Annotation:Ranger's Frolick

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RANGER’S FROLICK. AKA – “Ranger’s Fancy.” AKA and see "Rafraichissante (La)," “Whip Her and Gird Her.” English, Country Dance Tune (6/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABBCC. The melody first appears in David Rutherford’s Compleat Collection of 200 of the Most Celebrated Country Dances (London, 1756). It also appears in the 1770 music manuscript collection of Northumbrian musician William Vickers under the title “Whipper and Girder” (Whip Her and Gird Her), while “Ranger’s Frolick” is given as an alternate title. The melody also was included by Perthshire fiddler John Fife in his c. 1780 collection (part of which may have been entered at sea), under the title “Ranger’s Fancy," and in John Moore's (Tyneside) 1841 music manuscript collection.

It is possible the title "Ranger's Frolick" is a nod to the exploits of the military irregular unit in America during the French and Indian Wars called Roger's Rangers [1], named after their leader, Capt. Robert Rogers. Formed in 1755, the Rangers were a highly successful scouting and raiding force and Roger's exploits stirred the British imagination.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Aird (Selections of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. 1), 1782; No. 180, p. 62. Thompson (Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 1), 1757; No. 189.

Recorded sources:

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