All very interesting, but does anyone know the answer to the actual question, which is:
Does anyone know the earliest recorded (i.e. written down in notation) tune to Barbara Allen, preferably 17th century? If not 17th century, do any 18th century tunes to it survive that you can point me towards?
By clicking on the User Name, you will requery the forum for that user. You will see everything that he or she has posted with that Mudcat name.
By clicking on the Thread Name, you will be sent to the Forum on that thread as if you selected it from the main Mudcat Forum page.
* Click on the linked number with * to view the thread split into pages (click "d" for chronologically descending).
By clicking on the Subject, you will also go to the thread as if you selected it from the original Forum page, but also go directly to that particular message.
By clicking on the Date (Posted), you will dig out every message posted that day.
sj