The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #15944   Message #4160418
Posted By: leeneia
27-Dec-22 - 03:49 PM
Thread Name: Lyr ADD: Winter / When the Trees Are All Bare
Subject: RE: Lyr Req/ADD: Winter / When the Trees Are All Bare
A while back, Jim Dixon helped out by posting that the original tune can be found at:

A Select Collection of English Songs: Airs to the Songs edited by Joseph Ritson (London: J. Johnson, 1783), Vol. 3, page lv.

Since I couldn't get the abc's above to convert, I found that melody, which is actually No. LIV on page 153. (It's important when searching, to remember that in discussions the first line is given as "The Trees are all bare," at times and at other times as "WHEN The trees are all bare. It really matters.)

I have made a MIDI and sent it to Joe for posting. It's more complicated than the Magpie Lane version. I'm trying to transcribe that off YouTube, but it's harder than you might think.

It would make a nice flute or harp tune if you don't want to sing it.

MIDI (click)

NWC (click)