Music

Allemande Swiss

woodcut of man playing flute to seated woman

From Catchpenny Prints, Bowles and Carver, London, first published in the late 1780s

Allemand Swiss was a popular English country dance that was enjoyed in the American colonies and may have been one of the most popular American country dances by the end of the 18th century. The tune and dance also go by the title of the "Faithful Shepherd." The musicians on this recording have taken the liberty to play the tune as a canon, or round, with the various instruments coming in at the beginning of the tune, after other instruments have already started, and continuing on.

Instrumentation: fiddle, flute, fife, soprano recorder, hammered dulcimer