The Ballad Literature and Popular Music of the Olden Time: A History of the Ancient Songs, Ballads, and of the Dance Tunes of England, with Numerous Anecdotes and Entire Ballads. Also A Short Account of the Minstrels. 2 Vols.

London: Chappell & Co., 50 Bond Street WC; 1855 (not stated).. Hardcover, 3/4 black leather on marbled boards, red morocco title patches, a modern rebinding; 26 cm, xx, 384, 388, [1] pp. A voluminous work, which I have actually found useful. An expansion of his "A collection of national English airs" of 1838-40. † This is a voluminous work, which I have actually found useful. The songs are organized by time period, with an essay on the nature of music at that time, followed by examples.So that "Reigns of James I and Charles I' has a 10-page essay, followed by 78 examples... e.g., two pages about when the fiddle first became referred to as a vyolin, under Charles II, and a few of the players of that era. Each song or tune begins with another brief essay listing antecedents and everywhere it might be found or quoted from, including in some cases several variant verses; followed by the music, followed by many verses (except in the case of a few dance tunes without verses). The music is transcribed for piano; the melody line is clear. At the end are two extensive indices, one to Ballads, Songs, and Tunes, one to Subjects .... Condition: Near Fine: Clean, straight, unmarked, with a little foxing on the title pages and last pages of each volume; a small waterstain at top of vol 2 title page and next few leaves. Otherwise perfect.