English, Department of
Date of this Version
January 1921
Abstract
CONTENTS
I INTRODUCTION The pastimes of the ballad in relation to the theme of the ballad. -The ballad narrative rather than descriptive.-Rapid action in the ballad.-Pastimes not ordinarily an essential part of the action.-Minstrelsy, music, and the dance in King Estmere and The Bonny Lass of Anglesey.-Pastimes usually portrayed in casual descriptive touches.-Purpose of the present study.Importance of recreational interests in the ballad.-The place of music in the present study. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 3·6
II MINSTRELSY The Percy and Ritson descriptions of minstrels.-Ballad minstrel usually a harper or fiddler.-King Estmere.-King Estmere's minstrel guise.-Dress of minstrels.-Occasions for minstrelsy. -Reception accorded minstrels.-King Estmere probably a representative of higher minstrelsy.-Poverty and prodigality of minstrels.-The Lochmaben Harper.-A "silly blind harper."A representative of lower minstrelsy.-The minstrel a public character.-Harping and singing.-The harp and the vielle.Rewards of minstrels. - Municipal minstrels. - Glasgerion.Minstrelsy and royalty. - Permanent minstrels. - Glenkindie both harper and singer.-The fine garment as a reward.Hind Etin.-Nearness of minstrel to royalty.-Young Bearwell. -A king's minstrel.-The Twa Sisters.-The minstrel a privileged character.-The minstrel sometimes given the theme of his song.-Geordie.-Thomas Rymer.-The minstrel as a mere story-teller.-Robin Hood's Birth, Breeding, and Marriage.The King of the Fiddlers.-occasions for Minstrelsy.-General Amusement.-Weddings.-Minstrelsy and the dance.-War.The instruments of minstrelsy.-Thomas Rymer.-Musicians other than minstrels........................................ 6-29
III THE DANCE General questions in connection with the dance.-The Morris Dance. -Its stationary and processional character.-The costumes of the morris dancers.-Distinction between early and modern dances.-Ring-dancing.-Dancing among the nobility and the peasantry.-The Earl of Errol.-Dancing in a row.-Fair Janet. -Ring-dancing.-Invitations to dance.-Dancing by couples.The reel.-Dancing singly.-Dancing by "three and three."Solo- dancing-The Cruel Brother.-Dancing by Gypsies.-The Gypsy Laddie.-The Bonny Lass of Anglesey.-Dancing matches.-Dancing for a prize.-Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford.-Dancing and the clergy.-The Brown Girl-Dancing on a grave.-Place of dancing.-Dancing out of doors.-Dancing on the green.-character of peasant dances.-Dancing among the nobility.-Dancing of Robin Hood and his foresters.-Danclng courts or plots.-Lizzie Lindsay.-Danclng Indoors.-Prince Robert.-The dance and the garland.-Robin Hood's Birth, Breeding, and Marriage.-The time of day for danclng.-Danclng as a conclusion to a day of sports.-Dancing and the game of ball.-The Twa Brothers.-Importations of dances.-Rob Roy. -French dances.-The dance accompaniment.-Instruments of the dance.-Vocal accompaniment.-Instrumental accompanlment.- The bagplpe.-The fiddle.-The dance In the ballad Independent of song 29·64
Comments
University of Nebraska Studies in Language, Literature, and Criticism Number 4. Lincoln, Nebraska 1921