Kemp's Jig

Polka · 2/4 · D major

Kemp's Jig is a traditional English tune that dates back to the late sixteenth century, famously associated with the actor William Kemp and his celebrated morris dance from London to Norwich in 1600. Set in D major and 2/4 meter as a lively polka, the tune is characterized by an upbeat, rustic rhythm and a playful, danceable melody well-suited for early English step dancing. Because the exact composer remains historically undocumented, the tune survives purely through early printed collections like Playford's Dancing Master, where it became a standard fixture of the English baroque repertoire.

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