Annotation:German Beau (The)
X:1 T:German Beau, The M:C| L:1/8 K:D A2|d4 A2d2|e3c A2f2|g2f2 e2d2|cdec ABcA| d4 A2d2|e3c A2g2|fafd egec|d6:| |:A2|defg a2de|fgab a2a2|b3a b2c'2|d'4 c'2d'2| b4 g2e2|a4 f2d2|g2f2 e2d2|cdec ABcA| d4 A2d2|e3c A2g2|fafd egec|d6:||
GERMAN BEAU, THE. AKA and see "Miss Sandy's Delight," "Rasmus Storm Marsch," "Who Cares for You." English, Irish, American; Contra Dance Tune (cut time), Polka or March. G Major (Keegan): D Major (Laufman). Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. There is a set dance, known as a northern Irish ceili dance, called 'The Three Tunes' for which "The German Beau" is often played as the third accompaniment melody (preceded by "Haste to the Wedding (1)" and "Leslie's Hornpipe"). The figures are printed by Keegan (2002), while the set below is from Ten Irish Figure Dances (1947):
A. Sides (16 bars)
B. Rings (8 bars)
C. Lead Around (8 bars)
D. Stamp and Clap (2 x 8 bars)
E. See-Saw (16 bars)
F. Roly-Poly (2 x 12 bars)
G. Hook and Chain (16 bars)
H. Rings (16 bars)
I. Sides under Arms (8 bars)
J. Stamp and Clap (2 x 8 bars)
K. Thread the Needle (2 x 8 bars)
L. Roly-Poly (2 x 12 bars)
The tune has some antiquity. Researcher Conor Ward finds that versions were published in London by the Thompsons under the titles "Miss Sandy's Delight" and "Who Cares for You" in their country dance collections of 1776 and later. Even earlier, the melody was established on the Continent in musicians mss. collections as the "Rasmus Storm Marsh," "swinflusen Sesken," "De melkboer" and other titles.
