Sheet Music: Jamaica

TitleJamaica
Alternate titlesThe Jovial Broom Man
The Slow Men of London
ComposerTraditional English
InstrumentationFlute solo
KeyF major
RangeF4–G5
Time signature2/2
Tempo92 BPM
Performance time0:25
Difficulty leveleasy
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (44 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (184 kB)
Date added2018-03-10
Last updated2018-03-10
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 0.2 (relatively unpopular)
Categories
Ballads, Dance tunes, Traditional/Folk

Performances

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Saturday 10 March 2018

Tune of the Day: Jamaica

Traditional English tune

The earliest appearance of this tune is in the 4th edition of Henry Playford's The Dancing Master, dated 1670, under the title “Jameko”. The 19th-century antiquarian William Chappell notes that the tune seems to have appeared shortly after the Spanish island of Santiago was appropriated by the English in 1655, and renamed “Jamaica”.

Several sets of lyrics have been set to this tune, including most notably “The Jovial Broom Man” and “The Slow Men of London; or, the Widow Brown”.

Thanks to Phil for suggesting this tune!