X:1
T:St. James’s Park [1]
M:C|
L:1/8
S:John Young – 2nd Book of the Dancing Master, 3rd Ed. (1718)
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:D
DE|F2D2A2d2|c3B A2B2|c2d2e2c2|dcde d2 ef|
g2 fg e2 fg|f2ed c2BA|d2 ef f3e|e6:|
|:e2|c2 BA d2 ef|g2 fg e2a2|f2 dc B2e2|cdcB A2c2|
d2 cd B2 cd|c2 Bc A2ag|f2 gf e3d|d6:|
A View of the Parade of St. James Park, The New Buildings for the Horse Guards, The Admiralty with His Majesty going to the House of Lords &c.. Copper print, 1794.ST. JAMES’S PARK [1]. English, Country Dance Tune (cut time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. “St. James’s Park” appears in the Second Volume of the Dancing Master, third edition (London, 1718, p. 291), printed with directions for a longways country dance by John Young, publishing heir to the long-running Dancing Master series of editions first established by John Playford in 1651. It also appeared in Young’s fourth (and last) edition of 1728. Rival London music publisher John Walsh also included it in his similarly titled Second Book of the Compleat Country Dancing Master (London, 1719, p. 313).
In the time of King Charles II the park was a rural enclosed place with a field and a pleasant tree-shaded walk. The King was fond of birds, which were kept in aviaries ranged along the road on the boundary of the south side of the park, known as “Birdcage Walk.” A corps of dragoons formed by Charles, the Life Guards, paraded in St. James’s Park and were charged with the safety of the king and royal family. They were men from good families, often younger sons of country squires, and even privates in the unit were designated as ‘Gentlemen of the Guard.’
Additional notes
Printed sources : - Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes, vol. 2), 2005; p. 113.
