'The Bold Princess Royal' - John Gregson - 1981

"The Bold Princess Royal" arranged and played by John Gregson in 1981. John came from Widnes on the north bank of the River Mersey and played the various folk clubs in the surrounding area (Widnes, Runcorn, Frodsham, Warrington, etc.). He was a member of the Tape 'n' Tab Club (T'n'T) but never attended any of the meetings/gatherings. He seemed to disappear from the scene around 1982/3. He was a fine player though the recordings here are recorded too close to the microphone and consequently are a bit bass heavy.

John noted that this was a Morris Dance tune though he was unsure which part of the Cotswolds it came from. The tune is reputed to be based upon 'The Princess Royal' by Turlough O'Carolan, a blind Irish harper in the 1700s. John arranged this tune for guitar in Dropped D (DADGBE) tuning and in the key of D.