Country Dances from 'The English Dancing Master' by John Playford
Arranged by Gunild Keetman and Minna Ronnefeld
Easy settings for 2 Soprano Recorders, 1 Alto Recorder and Percussion

Contents and Performance Practice

This selection of old English country dances is taken from The English Dancing Master by John Playford (1650-1728). With this collection we would like, above all, to meet the demand for practicable dance pieces in class teaching which are not too ambitious but which are of good quality. The collection is aimed at elementary and junior high/mid schools but the pieces may also be used at more advanced levels and outside the school.

The dance settings assume a certain skill and experience from the soprano recorder player. The parts for alto recorders - which are to be found in several of the settings - may be played by beginners. The percussion instruments were chosen to reflect traditional Renaissance musical practice. They may be complemented with other suitable instruments. It was our intention to arrange the percussion parts so that even children who cannot read music will be able to learn and remember the parts easily. But to meet the musical requirements it would make sense to develop or vary the parts.

The preludes and postludes as well as the individual parts should be substituted as often as possible with improvisations. Always pay great attention to the tonal and dynamic balance of the instrumental ensemble. For example, it is recommended that consideration should be given, in each piece, as to whether there should be more recorders playing the first part than the second, and so on.

According to requirements and abilities, simple dances suited to the music may be created and performed by children and teachers.

Gunild Keetman & Minna Ronnefeld

Contents
	1.	Sellengers Round	4
	2.	Nunesuch	6
	3.	The Slip	8
	4.	Goddesses	10
	5.	The Geud Man of Ballingigh	12
	6.	Jenny pluck Pears	16
	7.	Parsons Farewell	18
	8.	The Old Mole	20
	9.	Chestnut	22
	10.	Black Jack	24
	11.	Step Stately	26
	12.	Spring Garden	28
	13.	Heartsease	30
	14.	Lull me beyond thee	32

Abbreviations/Instruments
SR AR HD Tamb BD WB Timp Tri {}	Soprano Recorder Alto Recorder Hand Drum Tambourine Bass Drum Wood Block Timpani Triangle Cymbal	HC Hcast FC WrB Rat Snap Clap Patsch Stamp	Suspended Cymbal Handle Castanets Finger Cymbals Wrist Bells Rattle

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