Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green (The)

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Theme code Index	113b2 7#L111
Also known as
Composer/Core Source
Region	England
Genre/Style	English
Meter/Rhythm	Air/Lament/Listening Piece
Key/Tonic of	G
Accidental	2 flats
Mode	Aeolian (minor)
Time signature	4/4
History
Structure
Editor/Compiler	Biography:William Chappell
Book/Manuscript title	Book:Popular Music of the Olden Times vol. 2
Tune and/or Page number	p. 16
Year of publication/Date of MS	1859
Artist
Title of recording
Record label/Catalogue nr.
Year recorded
Media
Score ()

BLIND BEGGAR OF BETHNAL GREEN. English, Air (4/4 time). G Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). One part. Chappell (1859) remarks that this tune was found under the title "The Cripple" by Dr. Rimbault in a lute MS. written by a celebrated lutenist named Rogers, who lived in the reign of Charles II. Percy dates the tune and ballad from the time of Elizabeth I, and since then numerous ballads have been written to it. Chappell notes that the air is sometimes called "Pretty Bessie" from the lyrics at the end of the first verse of "Blind Beggar," and another such ballad which appears in the Roxburghe Collection. There is an entry in Pepys' diary of June 25th, 1663, which records a dinner engagement at Kirby Castle, Sir W. Rider's home at Bednall Green: "This very house was built by the blind Beggar of Bednall Green, so much talked of and sang in ballads; but they say it was only some outhouses of it."

Printed source: Chappell ('Popular Music of the Olden Times), vol. 2, 1859; p. 16.

X:1
T:The Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green
M:C
L:1/8
S:Chappell - Popular Music of the Olden Times vol. 2 p. 16 (1859)
Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion
K:Gmin
D2|G2 GA B2 AG|^F2 GA G2G2|=F>G FE DF Bc|d2 c>B c2 F2|
d2 Bd c2 Ac|B2 A>G ^F2D2|E2 FG D2 GA|B2 A>G G2||