3/2 - "Double" Hornpipe III

Folk Dance Music - The Double Hornpipe.

 Here are two more examples of Double Hornpipes. The first, The Downfall of the Ginn, is taken from John Walsh, "The Third Book of the Most Celebrated Jiggs, Lancashire Hornpipes, Scotch and Highland Lilts, Northern Frisks, Morris and Cheshire Rounds c1731"  I don't think any one has yet found the first two ( shame!)

Downfall of the Ginn

[ Play  - The Downfall of the Ginn ]

  The second is by Henry Purcell (1659-1695), Rondeau from Abdelazer (1695). Play ABACAB etc ending on A, you can slow the last A down for a big finish.

  Henry Purcell was a renound composer from England, he lived and played in London at the same time as Samuel Pepys diary was being written in the late 1600s. The Wrapper band play the Downfall of the Ginn quite often, and were once asked if that was a piece by Beethoven? As you can see, it does have a similarity to a piece by Purcell, Rondeau from Abdelazer.

Copyright wasn't a big issue in the 1600 and 1700's, and John Walsh was also Purcell's publisher.

Purcell died after catching pneumonia, it is said that, after coming home late from (another) late night Jam session/Drink session, his wife locked him out, the resulting cold turned to pneumonia. It's quite possible that the tune he used for Abdelazer was the result of such a night, where he had improvised numerous variations on the original theme.

Rondeau Part A

Rondeau Part B

Rondeau Part C

[ Play Rondeau (1695) by Henry Purcell ]

[ Henry Purcell Information site ]

[ Go to Home page ]