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- Title
The 'barbarous old English jig': The 'Black Joke' in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries.
- Authors
Dennant, Paul
- Abstract
This article explores the series of tunes, songs, and dances entitled the 'Black Joke' (or 'Joak'), or similar variant, tracing their origins, distribution; popularity, and influence, during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The historical meaning of the word joke' as used in the context of this song/tune is investigated. Furthermore, offshoots and variations from the 'Black Joke' tune/song are examined, including the collection of tunes arising from the 'Black Joke' that incorporated the word joke' in their title. Evidence is adduced that the 'Black Joke' became extremely popular from the early eighteenth century, entering many areas of cultural life, including the theatre, as both a lewd song and a dance, and ballad operas and songbooks of the day. The tune also became popular in society for country dancing at court, public balls, and masquerades. Additionally, sets of variations on the tune were composed and used as a method of demonstrating musical virtuosity. 'The Black Joke' was published in the eighteenth century both as a country dance and as a bawdy song. It is feasible that the bawdy nature of the song caused the tune to become a signifier for lewdness and, as a consequence, to become extremely popular. Letters, anecdotes, and advertisements in newspapers from the collections of the British Library demonstrate the tune's popularity, distribution, and cultural significance. These newspapers also point to the tune's use in military music, and provide examples of horses and ships named after the tune.
- Subjects
MUSIC; CULTURE; MILITARY music; INSTRUMENTAL music; DANCE
- Publication
Folk Music Journal, 2013, Vol 10, Issue 3, p298
- ISSN
0531-9684
- Publication type
Article