Period: English Renaissance
Source: Playford's Dancing Master
Difficulty: Early Intermediate
Notes Used: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C (high)
Time Signature: 4/4
Key: C Major
A humorous dance with a cheeky title, common in the bawdy humor of Renaissance England. Play with a playful, tongue-in-cheek character!
Review the C Major scale descending.
Master the opening descending pattern.
Practice the half note cadence.
Work on the answering phrase.
Master the closing gesture.
"Cuckolds All a Row" comes from Playford's Dancing Master and has one of the more colorful titles in the collection! A "cuckold" in Renaissance England was a man whose wife had been unfaithful - a common subject of jokes, ballads, and theatrical humor in the period. The title likely refers to a line of dancers, humorously suggesting they're all cuckolds standing in a row. This kind of bawdy humor was perfectly acceptable in country dance culture, which celebrated the earthy, sometimes ribald aspects of rural life. The simple, straightforward melody with its descending scale pattern makes it easy to learn and remember - perfect for a dance that might be performed late in the evening when the ale was flowing freely! Despite its cheeky title, the music itself is charming and unpretentious, characteristic of English country dance melodies.
Once you can play Cuckolds All a Row confidently, try: