"A Peep at the Jubilee"STRATFORD JUBILEE. English, Jig (6/8 time). A Major. Standard tuning. AABB. The melody is unique to Charles and Samuel Thompson’s Compleat Collection (London, 1773). According to Robert Chambers’ Book of Days, the Stratford Jubilee was a days long celebration in 1769 in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, commemorating the death of Shakespeare 150 years before. The celebration was the idea of the town corporation, who hit upon the brilliant public relations scheme of inviting the leading actor and producer of the day, David Garrick, to become a burgess. They presented him with an elegant box made from the mulberry tree Shakespeare himself planted (which had recently been cut down by its owner, a “splenetic clergyman” who also pulled down Shakespeare’s house, to the great distress of the community). Garrick acquitted himself well, hosting a number of events, dinners, stage entertainments, and of course several complete performances of Shakespeare’s works. See "The Book of Days"[1] for more.
Additional notes
Printed sources : - Thompson (Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, vol. 3), 1773; No. 112.
