The book is now out-of-print, and copies would only rarely be available.
About the contents listing
Composer, author and copyright ownership are shown as they are recorded in the book - and this information is sparse. However it is reasonable to assume that the lyrics are all in the public domain, and that mechanical copyright on the book itself has long-since expired. Some of the arrangements were made by Dr Dunstan, so may still be copyright depending on the date of his death and the legal situation in your country.Table of Contents
| Title (first-line) | Number |
|---|---|
| Babes in the Wood, the | 6 |
| My dears you must know that a long time ago / Poor babes in the wood, poor babes in the wood Lyrics by: Not stated © Score: Piano score Number of verses: 3 A simplified modern version of 'The Children in the Wood', a ballad from 1595 which was sometimes called 'Now Ponder Well'. | |
| Bessy Bell and Mary Gray | 8 |
| Now Bessy Bell and Mary Gray, they war 'two bonny lasses Lyrics by: Not stated © Score: Melody line for the original tune, Piano score for a simpler one Number of verses: 2 The original tune is from 'The Musical Miscellany', Perth 1786. | |
| Christmas Comes but Once a Year | 9 |
| O'er the air so clear and frosty, swells a gladd'ning sound: Lyrics by: Not stated © Public domain Score: Piano score Number of verses: 3 Words from a broadsheet publsihed by Woolcock, Helston and Cornwall in about 1850-1860. The tune is adapted from phrases on an early 18th century English tune. | |
| Dame Wiggins of Lee | 10 |
| Dame Wiggins of Lee was as worthy as soul as e'er threaded a needle or washed in a bowl; Lyrics by: Not stated © Score: Piano score Number of verses: 8 The melody is a modified form of 'Gee Ho Dobbin', and old English air: a revival hymn 'Lion of Judah' set to this tune was popular in the 1860-70s. | |
| Fox, The | 12 |
| The fox jumped up on a cold, clear night. Lyrics by: Score: Piano score Number of verses: 7 Sometimes sung to the first portion of JOHN PEEL. | |
| Hark the Bonny Christchurch Bells | 14 |
| Hark the bonny Christchurch bells, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Lyrics by: Not stated © Score: Melody line + piano score Number of verses: 3 Words adapted from an 18th century round by Dr Henry Aldrich (1647-1710) | |
| Hey Robin Jolly Robin | 16 |
| Hey robin, jolly robin / Where does thy sweet lady go? Lyrics by: Not stated © Score: Piano score Number of verses: 6 Words adapted from an original song in Percy's 'Reliques of Antient Poetry'. | |
| Hunt is Up, The | 34 |
| The hunt is up, the hunt is up, and it is well nigh day. Lyrics by: Not stated © Score: Piano score Number of verses: 4 | |
| I Had a Little Nut Tree | 18 |
| I had a little nut tree, nothig would it bear / I skipped 'er the water, I danc'd o'er the sea Lyrics by: Not stated © Score: Piano score Number of verses: 4 Supposedly about Queen Elizabeth. | |
| Miller and the Maid, The | 20 |
| There was a maid went to the milking / Oh, oh ho! Oh oh ho! Lyrics by: Not stated © Score: Piano score Number of verses: 3 Music probably written by William Bates - mid 18th century. | |
| Monday's Child | 21 |
| Monday's child is fair of face, Tuesday's child is full of grace Lyrics by: Not stated © Score: Piano score Number of verses: 1 Setting by R Dunstan, MUS DOC | |
| Now Robin Lend to me Thy Bow | 22 |
| Now Robin lend to me thy bow, sweet Robin lend to me thy bow Lyrics by: Not stated © Public domain Score: Piano score Number of verses: 6 Collected by Joseph Rison, popular at the start of Queen Elizabeth's reign (starting 1553) | |
| Pet Lamb, The | 24 |
| The dew was falling fast, the stars began to blink Lyrics by: Wordsworth (1770-1850 © Public domain Score: Piano score Number of verses: 4 The tune is from Sungden and West's 'Training School Song Book' and probably of Irish origin. | |
| Spider and the Fly, The | 26 |
| Will you walk into my parlour, said the spider to the fly / Will you, will you, will you, will you walk in pretty fly? Lyrics by: Thomas Hudson (1790-1820) © Public domain Score: Piano score Number of verses: 4 Sung by Henry Russell (1812-1900), among others | |
| Swiss Toy-Girl, The | 28 |
| I've come across the sea, I've braved every danger / Buy a little toy of poor Rose of Lucerne Lyrics & tune by: John Barnett (1802-1900) © Public domain Score: Piano score Number of verses: 4 From 'The British Minstrel', 1845. | |
| There was an Old Miller | 30 |
| There was an old miller who lived by himself Lyrics by: Traditional © Public domain Score: Piano score Number of verses: 3 | |
| Three Children Sliding on the Ice | 32 |
| Three children sliding on the ice, on a summer's day Lyrics by: W Sugden, approx 1850 © Public domain Score: Piano score Number of verses: 3 Adapted from a 17th century ballad 'The Drowning of Three Children on the Thames' | |
| Welsh Harper, The | 36 |
| Over the sunny hills I stray / The blithe old harper call'd am I Lyrics by: Not stated © Public domain Score: Piano score Number of verses: 3 From 'The Minstrel's Companion' 1838. | |
| Wig, the Hat and the Cane, The | 38 |
| By the side of a murmuring stream, an elderly gentleman sat Lyrics by: Thomas Hudson (1790-1820) © Public domain Score: Piano score Number of verses: 6 From the Supplement to 'The Ladies Magazine', London 1791. |
