Cutty Wren, The

Waltz · 3/4 · A mixolydian

The Cutty Wren is a traditional English folk tune associated with the ancient St. Stephen's Day wren-hunting ritual and was first recorded in print in John Stafford Smith's 1779 collection Musica Antiqua. As a waltz in 3/4 meter, the melody is set in A mixolydian and is traditionally performed with a steady, rhythmic lilt well-suited for social dancing or folk song accompaniment. Because its exact historical origins before the late eighteenth century remain uncertain, the tune is best understood through its enduring place in communal folk traditions rather than a definitive single source.

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