Annotation:Musette (The)
X:1 T:A New Song M:C L:1/16 R:Air B:The Gentleman’s Magazine, Vol. XIV (1744, p. 444) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:Bb B4 B/c/d3 {d}c4 fA3|B4 ec3 {B}TA4|BF3 G_A3 G2=A2 B4|c/d/e3 d2{d}Tc8| B4 B/c/d3 {d}c4 fA3|B4 ec3 {B}A8|BF3 G_A3 Gg3ec3|{B}TA6 B2 B8|| A4 B/c/d3 dc3 BA3|cB3 AG3 {B}TA8|cA3 GF3 D2=E2 F4|G/A/B3 A4 {B}TG8| c4 B/c/d3 dc3 BA3|B=e3gB3 {B}TA8|cA3GF3 Dd3BG3|T=E6F F8| B4 B/c/d3 {d}c3gA3|B2 ec3 {B}TA8|BF3 G_A3 G2=A2 B4|c/d/e3 d2 {d}Tc8| B4 B/c/d3 c4 fA3|B4 ec3 {B}TA8|BF3 G_A3 Gg3ec3|{B}TA6B2 B8||
MUSETTE, THE. AKA and see "Amorous Goddess (1) (The)." English, Reel. England, Northumberland. B Flat Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB'. Researcher and Northumbrian piper Matt Seattle finds the tune as "Amorous Goddess (1) (The)" in Robert Bremner's Airs and Marches. A different country dance tune called "Amorous Goddess (2) (The)" was printed in London publisher John Johnson's Choice Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 4 (1748). The tune is attributed to "Dr. Howard" in Edinburgh musician and composer Robert Mackintosh's Fourth Collection of New Strathspey Reels (c. 1803 or 1804).
The Amorous Goddess was a stage play by organist and composer Samuel Howard (1710-1782), who produced both sacred and secular music; his incidental music to the Amorous Goddess was performed at Drury Lane, and published in 1744. The musette from the play was a popular tune and the vehicle for several songs. One is by poet James Mccaulay, and begins:
Shepherds of the lonely vale,
Listen to my mournful tale;
Vent the sigh of pensive woe,
Let the tear of sorrow flow.
Hills and dales, resound the strain,
All your beauties bloom in vain!
Vain is all your verdure gay,
Aided by the sweets of May.
Another song, printed in The Gentleman's Magazine (vol. XIV, 1744, p. 444) goes:
Soft invader of my soul,
Love, who can thy pow'r control?
All the haunt earth, air and sea,
Own thy force, and bow to thee.
All the dear enchanting day,
Celia steals my heart away,
All the tedious livelong night,
Celia swims before my sight.
