Whitehall Palace, London
This lovely tune is named for the Palace of White Hall, which had grown larger than Versailles or the Vatican by the time it was almost entirely destroyed by fire in 1698.
The Whitehall Minuet was published in 1709 by John Young in his tunebook Dancing Master, and in John Walsh’s Compleat Country Dancing Master, 1718.
Hare’s Maggot and French Morris, the ‘set’ partners to the minuet in the two very different renderings below, are both Playford tunes from 1701.
I’ve always understood that ‘maggot’ in a title means a tune that sticks in your head – an ear-worm. But I see from the wonderful Traditional Tune Archive that although the word can mean a dram (a liquid measure), ‘the musical meaning may stem from the word’s derivation from the Italian word maggioletta, or a plaything’.
The Askew Sisters
Emily Askew (fiddle), Hazel Askew (melodeon)
From a 2014 performance at TwickFolk, Twickenham, Middlesex, UK. The set is also on their CD In the Air or the Earth.
(‘The Askew Sisters – The Whitehall Minuet and Hare’s Maggot’, YouTube video, 5:10. Published by Eugey Baby, 15 Oct 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guZEJy_ggRQ)
Boldwood
Becky Price (accordion), Miranda Rutter (fiddle, viola), Matthew Coatsworth (fiddle, viola)
From the acclaimed but unreleased 2012 album Mudlarking. Whitehall Minuet starts at 1:41.
(https://soundcloud.com/boldwood/06-french-morris-whitehall)
GIG ALERTS!
Askew Sisters: this coming Monday 19 September, at London’s Green Note, Camden. Last few tickets here!
Boldwood: Saturday 15 October, St Peter’s Church, Wolvercote, Oxford. Tickets: info@stpeterswolvercote.org or 01865 559316
For more information on CDs, gigs etc:
Askew Sisters: website facebook
Jenny Glover's FIDDLETAILS 
If you like the Boldwood version, visit http://www.boldwoodmusic.bandcamp.com to download the whole of ‘Mudlarking’ demo including Whitehall Minuet.
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Brilliant, Matt – thanks so much for that, and for stopping by! Everyone loves Mudlarking – great to have the entire download link.
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Hi Jenny, Thanks for this….you even managed to find a TwickFolk video we didn’t know about !!
Eugene (‘Eugeybaby’) comes fairly regularly but doesn’t always tell us he’s been filming and publishing videos. Not ure he always asks or advises the guests he’s doing it either. That’s a lovely performance though and I’m sure the sisters would be happy with it.
Good to see you’re back playing…I enjoyed last night’s workshop after missing the last couple, especially the Saltdean Adventure tune. Geraint From: Jenny Glover’s FIDDLETAILS To: evansakes@yahoo.com Sent: Tuesday, 13 September 2016, 10:52 Subject: [New post] Whitehall Minuet #yiv9112015971 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv9112015971 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv9112015971 a.yiv9112015971primaryactionlink:link, #yiv9112015971 a.yiv9112015971primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv9112015971 a.yiv9112015971primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv9112015971 a.yiv9112015971primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv9112015971 WordPress.com | Jenny Glover posted: ” This lovely tune is named for the Palace of White Hall, which had grown larger than Versailles or the Vatican by the time it was almost entirely destroyed by fire in 1698.The Whitehall Minuet was published in 1709 by John Young in his tu” | |
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Thanks for the comment, Geraint – fancy TwickFolk not knowing! Yes, it’s a great tune, fantastically played – though Eugey Baby has mistaken Hazel’s melodeon for an accordion. The Askews are fine with the video, though – it’s on their own website, plus I always seek permission from artists before posting.
It’s so great to be playing again – who’d have thought a sprain could take so long to fix? Look forward to playing with you again soon!
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