Annotation:Abergenny

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ABERGENNY. English, Welsh; Country Dance Tune (2/2 time). G Minor. Standard tuning. AB (Mellor): AABB (Barnes, Raven). The Welsh or Brittonic prefix Aber- means 'mouth', and was attached to names of rivers. Thus Abergenny means the 'mouth of the Genny' although, according to Frank Kidson, the title probably refers to Abergavenny in Monmouth county, “which is sufficiently Welsh in manner and customs to be musically included.” Kidson also points out the tune bears a strong resemblance to “Annotation:Cold and Raw.” The tune and dance instructions appear in Playford's Dancing Master, 3rd edition of 1657, and all later editions of the long-running Dancing Master series, through the 18th and final edition of 1728. "Abergeny" also was printed by John Walsh in his The Compleat Country Dancing Master, editions of 1718 and 1731.

Kidson also notes the tune "greatly resembles the so called Scotch air 'Cold and Raw'."

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes), 1986. Mellor (Welsh Dance Tunes), 1935. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 18.

Recorded sources:



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