Jyg, Gigg or Jig? A medley of three jigs from the Elizabethan period. The first (A Jyg) is attributed to the composer Anthony Holborne (c. 1545–1602), the second (A Gigg) by William Byrd is adapted from a four part arrangement in The Fitzwilliam Partbooks & the third (Kemp's Jig) was written by an anonymous composer as a tribute to the Shakespearean actor & dancer Will Kemp who danced from London to Norwich in 1600, a feat he later referred to as his "Nine Days Wonder". Although jigs are usually played at a lively pace, we decided to begin at a slower tempo & gradually increase the speed across the three tunes thus presenting the first two as more 'stately' in nature.

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La Rotta-Nonsuch-La Rotta (duo version) A 14th century tune from Italy & a 15th/16th century English tune also known as A La Mode De France, The Lady’s Bransle & None Such. It was published under the latter title by John Playford in the first volume of his English Dancing Master (1651) & also appears (under the alternate title) in Musick's Delight on the Cithren & Musick's Recreation on the Lyra-Viol, sometimes in a major key. The origin of the name may refer to the opulent hunting lodge built by King Henry VIII in 1538 at Duddington, near Epsom, Surrey.

 

Salterello (duo version) A 14th century Italian dance tune.

 

Stingo (aka "Oil of Barley", "A Cup of Old Stingo" & "Cold & Raw")

A tune from Playford's 1651 edition of The Dancing Master & also used as a song tune, this arrangement is adapted from a setting by Stephen Hendricks ©2003.

 

Grimstock/The Frogge (duo version)

Grimstock is taken from Matthew Holmes' manuscript for solo cittern c.1588-1595. The Frogge is a galliard by John Dowland - he also used the tune for his song "Now O now I needs must part".

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A MIxed Bag (duo version)

Medley of five dance tunes (Three-Handed Reel/Three Jolly Black Sheepskins/Willow Tree/Bean Setting/Shooting) that we collectively call A Mixed Bag.

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My Johnny was a Shoemaker/Hopping Down in Kent/Sleep Soond Ida Mornin'

Two traditional tunes (an instrumental version of an English traditional song about the sea & press gangs, & a reel from Shetland) plus a song about seasonal working holidays undertaken by some families in earlier times.

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En Dro/En Avant Blonde

Two traditional tunes - one from Brittany & the other from Quebec.

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Up & Down the City Road/Up to the Rigs of London Town/London Pride

The London set - two tunes & a song with the linking theme of London.

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An Dro Nevez​
A traditional Breton dance tune.