The Gloucestershire Wassail

English wassail in 6/8 time -- G major (1 sharp)

(Time through) Daniel Linda Val Brett Tony
1 (Intro) Chords for 2 measures after Tony (tacit) (tacit) Chords for 2 measures after Tony Vibes intro last 4 measures
2 (w/ repeats) Bass pizz. (tacit) Melody Rhythm Vibes melody middle register
5 (no repeat) Bass pizz. Chords Harmony Rhythm Vibes melody middle register

A Wassail, A Wassail Throughout The Town

English wassail in 6/8 time -- A minor (0 sharps)

(Time through) Daniel Linda Val Brett Tony
3 (w/ repeats) Bass pizz. Chords Melody Rhythm Vibes melody middle register
4 (w/ repeats) Bass pizz. Chords Harmony Rhythm Vibes melody high register

Tempo is dotted-quarter-note = 60 bpm (two beats per measure).

Play: Tony sets the tempo by playing just the last four measures of Gloucesterchire, and then Brett and Daniel follow that with two measures of just chords. Then everyone but Linda plays Gloucesterchire as written (following the repeat symbol). Then we all transition to the minor-key Wassail Throughout, playing the whole thing as written twice (form ABB ABB). To finish we go back to Gloucestershire and play it just once (ignoring the repeat).

Background: the tradition of ``wassailing'' came in two forms: one where groups of singers went from house to house in English villages offering drinks of spiced cider in exchange for gifts, and another where groups of singers and musicians would serenade orchard trees in order to promote a good harvest the following year. During the Middle Ages home-wassailing was a way for peasants to ask charity of lords without the stigma of begging. For example, the peasants might sing ``we are not daily beggars that beg from door to door, but we are friendly neighbours whom you have seen before'' to which the lords might sing in return ``Love and joy come to you, and to you your wassail too, and God bless you and send you a Happy New Year''.