> Who wrote the original song? Pierre Guédron's air 'Est-ce Mars le grand Dieu des alarmes' formed part of a court spectacle performed on 17 November 1613 and was published twice that same year (in the Second book by Guedron and in the Fourth of the Bataille series). An early form of of the melody dates back to 1601, according to the Collection Philidor (Recüeil de Plusieurs Anciens Ballets ... mis en ordre par Philidor l'Aisné, F-Pn Rés F496) 'Ballet des Nègres: Ire Entrée / Dansé l'an 1601'. Frits Noske suggests that the tune was based on a folk song. There are many cognates, none earlier than this. The tune was known all over Europe, and under many different names.
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