MP3 Files of Traditional Tunes

Tunes From Shakespeare's Time

All these tunes except Stingo are mentioned somewhere in Shakespeare's plays or have some association with Shakespeare

Stingo, Heart's Ease and Staines Morris all appear the first (1651) Edition of Playford's "The English Dancing Master". Although The Dancing Master was initially published in the mid 17th Century, most of the tunes in the early editions can be traced back to the late 16th century.

• Sellenger's Round
• Stingo or Oil of Barley
• Heart's Ease
• Staines Morris
Kemp's Jig - Will Kemp (not the modern one) was an actor and friend of Shakespeare's. He was famous in his day for morris dancing from London to Norwich in nine days (though spread over a period of several weeks), a feat which he recounted in a book called "Nine Daies Wonder"

Previous files that I have uploaded may be found here