Saturday 1 May 2010
Tune of the Day: Mr Beveridges's Maggot
Traditional English country dance
Some old English country dances had very odd names. One such dance was known as “Mr Beveridge's Maggot”, and was used in the BBC production of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice as well as in the 1996 film adaptation Emma starring Gwyneth Paltrow.
This traditional dance tune was first published by Henry Playford in his 1695 Dancing Master. As you may already have guessed, this particular dance was not actually in use in Jane Austen's day!