The Badger’s Sett

A collection of new Scottish dances in traditional form

Devised by Ian Brockbank Foreword The Badger’s Sett A collection of new Scottish dances in traditional form This booklet contains scottish country dances I have written, together with music where this is possible (ie where I have permission from the copyright holder, if Contents relevant). Ceilidh Dances This version of the collection contains the complete set of my dances (except for A Canonbie Ceilidh...... 40 bar Reel, repeated ad lib ...... 5 dances I have completely rejected as failed experiments which are not even interesting for academic purposes). I have organised the dances into the following Bruntsfield Links...... 4c32 bar Reel...... 6 categories: Highland Cathedral ...... 32 bar slow air...... 7 Ceilidh: easy dances, suitable for ceilidhs as well as SCD The Marmalade Sandwich ...... 8x32 bar Reel ...... 8 Easy SCD dances: easy dances, but due to the style probably more suited to Mist-covered Mountains ...... 16 bar waltz ...... 9 SCD programmes than ceilidhs The Packhorse Rant...... 32 bar Reel ...... 10 Moderate: dances which shouldn't prove too challenging for a moderately Seeing Purple ...... 32 bar Reel, repeated ad lib ...... 11 experienced dancer Teviot Square ...... 4x48 bar Jig ...... 12 For connoisseurs: dances which will take a bit of thought or practice, or Easy SCD Dances possibly careful phrasing Brodie’s Fancy ...... 8x32 bar Reel ...... 13 Challenging: dances which are challenging and probably not suited for social dancing, but might prove an interesting challenge for a group of Cherry Blossom ...... 8x32 bar Strathspey ...... 14 experienced dancers with an hour or two to fill The Happier Meeting...... 32 bar Reel, repeated ad lib ...... 15 These dances may be freely danced, performed, put on dance programmes, so long The President’s Dilemma ...... 4x32 bar Jig ...... 19 as the source is acknowledged (Ian Brockbank, unless otherwise specified). If you Upstairs Downstairs ...... 4x32 bar Reel ...... 18 try any of these dances, please let me know how you get on and what you think of Moderate Dances them. Auld Mahoun’s Revenge...... 8x32 bar Reel ...... 28

The BAMFAD ...... 8x32 bar Reel ...... 20 I run a web site for Scottish dancers at http://www.scottishdance.net/. This contains resources for Scottish dancers, including: The Broderer ...... 8x40 bar Strathspey ...... 22 http://www.scottishdance.net/dances/ - the latest version of this collection Dancing Dustbins...... 8x32 bar Reel ...... 23 http://www.scottishdance.net/bands/ - Scottish dance bands (SCD and ceilidh) Gloomy Winter’s Noo Awa’ ...... 8x32 bar Strathspey ...... 25 http://www.scottishdance.net/groups/ - Scottish dance groups worldwide Maple Dancing ...... 8x32 bar Reel ...... 26 http://www.scottishdance.net/events/ - forthcoming Scottish dance events The Mara ...... 8x32 bar Strathspey ...... 28 http://www.scottishdance.net/links/ - links useful to Scottish dancers New Scotland Gold...... 8x32 bar Jig ...... 28 http://www.scottishdance.net/SCD/tips/ - useful tips for Scottish dancers Nifty Shiftin’ ...... 4x32 bar Reel ...... 27 http://www.scottishdance.net/books/ - recommended reading Skagits in Stockbridge ...... 4x40 bar Strathspey ...... 28 Skye Barbecue...... 8x32 bar Reel ...... 28 Triskelion...... 3x32 bar Strathspey + 3x32 bar Reel...... 28 For Connoisseurs The Gairloch Hornpipe...... 5x48 bar Reel ...... 28 The Geese in the Bog...... 8x32 bar Jig ...... 28

2 3 The Gloomy Winter...... 8x32 bar Strathspey...... 28 The Golden Thistle ...... 4x48 bar Jig...... 28 In Scottish Spirit...... 4x48 bar Reel ...... 28 Mill of Towie ...... 8x32 bar Strathspey...... 28 The One O’Clock Canon ...... 4x64 bar (overlapping) Reel ...... 28 Challenging Dances The Cotton Reel...... 8x32 bar Reel ...... 28 Ceilidh dances McEwan’s Revenge...... 160 bar Reel ...... Back page The Palindrome...... 128 bar Reel ...... 28 Xaxanaka...... 128 bar Strathspey ...... 28

These are easy dances, suitable for ceilidhs as well as beginners to Scottish Country Dancing.

4 5 A Canonbie Ceilidh Bruntsfield Links A dance for four couples in a 4-couple longwise set 4x32 bar Reel

Circular dance for any number of couples 40 bar Reel, repeated ad lib 1 – 8 First couple lead down the middle and back up to first place. 9 – 16 First and second couples dance right hands across in a wheel, and left Couples form a large circle round the room, ladies on the right of their partners. hands back, finishing in promenade hold facing the top (3s come in on the final step) for… 1 – 8 All circle round to the left and back. 17-24 First, second and third couples dance a promenade. 9 – 16 Men dance a figure of eight round their partner and the lady on their 25-32 First couple, followed by second, third and fourth couples, cast off to the left, dancing in front of their partner to begin. bottom of the set. First couple make an arch, and the other couples 17 – 24 Ladies dance a figure of eight round their partner and the man on their dance under it and up to new positions. right, dancing in front of their partner to begin. 25 – 28 Joining hands in a large circle, all advance and retire. 29 – 30 All advance and drop hand not attached to partner. Finish in the order 2,3,4,1, ready to start again. 31 – 32 Ladies retire while men turn to face their partner, joining both hands, and chase her out to place. Finish with the ladies facing in and the men Note: this dance may be danced 8 times through if preferred, giving each couple facing their partners. two turns at the top. 33 – 36 All dance back to back with partner, men with hands joined to form arches. 37 – 40 All look to the right for a new partner (the person with whom you have just passed right shoulder) and birl them, finishing back in a large circle around the room, ladies on the right of their new partners, to begin again.

Repeat ad lib.

Devised for Sophia Marriage and Jonathan Pryce in honour of their wedding in St Martin of Tours Episcopal Church in Edinburgh on the 6th of July, 2002 and performed at the ensuing celebrations in The Hub. With much love and best wishes for the future. Sophi and Jonathan both lived in Bruntsfield throughout their courtship, and bought a house together in Bruntsfield as their first marital home.

This dance was devised for Hazel Easey and James Williams and presented to them on the occasion of their wedding in Canonbie, Dumfriesshire on August Tune: Islay Ranter's Reel (Charlie McKerron) 624th, 1996. July 2002 7 With Caroline Bradshaw, May 1996 * or The Pryce of Marriage, but C wouldn't let me call it that. Highland Cathedral The Marmalade Sandwich Dance for couples around the room 8 x 32 bar Reel

1 Moving diagonally forward to the right, step onto the left foot and point with Dance for 4 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 4x48 bar Reel the right foot. 2 Step behind on the right, beside on the left, in front on the right, and beside on 1–8 1st lady, followed by 2nd, 3rd and 4th ladies, dances across the top of the left. the set, behind the men’s line, across the bottom of the set and back to 3 Moving diagonally forward to the left, step onto the right foot and point with place. the left foot. 9-16 1st man, followed by 2nd, 3rd and 4th men, dances across the top of the 4 Step behind on the left, beside on the right, in front on the left, and swing set, behind the ladies’ line, across the bottom of the set and back to round changing grip to face partner, both hands joined. place. 5 Balance away from partner and towards. 17-20 All dance back to back with partners. 6 Moving along line of dance, turn solo away from partner (i.e. lady pulls back 21-24 All turn partners by the right hand. right shoulder and man pulls back left shoulder). 25-32 1st couple, joining both hands, slip down the middle of the dance and 7 Balance towards partner and away. back up to the top. 8 Move towards partner, lady dancing under man’s raised right arm to finish 33-36 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples advance and retire (without giving hands) with lady in front of man facing along line of dance, with lady’s arms crossed, while 1st couple casts off one place and turns by the right hand. man’s arms around lady, hands still joined. 37-40 Repeat bars 33-36. 9-10 In this position, take two side steps to the right and two side steps back again. 41-44 Repeat bars 33-36. 11-12 Repeat bars 9-10, unwinding at the end of bar 12 so the lady faces the man. 45-48 All turn or birl partners. 13-14 Take two side steps to the right (note this is now away from your partner) and two side steps back again, and join with right hand on partner’s waist and left Repeat from new positions. hand on partner’s shoulder. 15-16 Birl.

Repeat ad lib.

At a party after the Edinburgh Branch Festival Fringe Show “Spirit of Scotland” on the 9th of August, 2002, Shona Pearmain was bemoaning the fact that no-one had ever written a dance for her. When asked what she would like, she said it wasn’t to be a 4-couple set, it should include unusual movements, and it should include a birl. When asked for suggestions for tunes, she specified “Highland Devised for Samantha Lyall and Craig Townsend on the occasion of their Cathedral” with the additional restriction that the dance wasn’t to be a strathspey. Wedding in Edinburgh on April 21st, 2001, with love from Ian and Caroline I think this satisfies all the specifications…. Brockbank. I presented her with the first attempt before the matinee performance next day, The name comes about as follows: the original tune is “The Black Bear”, Craig’s and we tried it out in the garden at the end-of-show party that evening. It was not favourite tune, and Craig and Samantha live in Portobello. Paddington was also a particularly danceable. So this is a revised attempt which retains much of the bear, who frequently visited Portobello Road. Paddington was fond of marmalade character of the original while making it (I hope) much easier and more pleasant sandwiches. Two common brands of marmalade are Golden Shred and Silver to dance. Shred – things Samantha often sees in her work as a jeweller. 8Tune: Highland Cathedral (Ro ever/Korb) Tune: The Black Bear (Traditional) 9 August 2002 April 2001 The Packhorse Rant Seeing Purple

Dance for couple facing couple around the room 32 bar Reel Dance for couple facing couple around the room 32 bar Reel 1-8 All dance right hands across and left hands back. 1-4 Joining hands with partner, all advance and retire. 9-12 Ladies dance back to back. 5-8 Dropping hands, all dance back-to-back (do-si-do) with the person 13-16 Men dance back to back. opposite. 17-20 Joining both hands with partner and men passing back to back, slip step 9-16 Joining hands in the sets of 4, all circle 4 hands round to the left and past the other couple and on round the room. back. 21-24 Return to place, ladies passing back to back. 17-20 All set to partner using any setting step (or other step) of choice. 25-28 All advance and retire. 21-24 All turn or spin partners by the right. 29-32 Pass on to the next couple, one couple making an arch and the other 25-32 Joining right hand in right hand, left hand in left hand with partner, couple dancing underneath. ladies on the right of their partner, all promenade at random around the room, finishing facing a new couple ready to start again. Repeat ad lib. Repeat ad lib.

Devised for Cath Millar and Gareth Mathieson for the occasion of their Wedding in Bristol, Sep. 5th 1998, with love from Caroline Bradshaw and Ian Brockbank. Written when I worked for IndigoVision plc, and danced at a company ceilidh in 10“The Packhorses” played for the evening ceilidh. Prestonfield House, Edinburgh, on Saturday 5th May, 2001. 11 August 1998 May 2001 Teviot Square

Dance for 4 couples in a square set 4x48 bar Jig 1-8 All circle eight hands round to the left and back. 9-12 1st and 3rd couples join nearer hands and dance across the set to change places, 1st couple dancing under an arch made by the 3rd couple. Easy SCD dances 13-16 3rd and 1st couples repeat back to place, 1st couple making the arch. 17-20 1st man and 3rd lady spin by the right. 21-22 1st man turns 2nd lady by the left while 3rd lady turns 4th man by the left. (This is the person of the opposite sex on their left.) 23-24 1st man and 3rd lady turn each other ¾ by the right. 25-26 1st man and 3rd lady turn partners by the left. 27-28 1st man and 3rd lady turn each other ¾ by the right. 29-30 1st man turns 4th lady by the left while 3rd lady turns 2nd man by the left. 31-36 1st man and 3rd lady turn each other 1¼ by the right. 37-40 All turn partners by the left. 41-48 In promenade hold, all dance anticlockwise around the set.

Repeat with 2nd man and 4th lady (2s and 4s making arches), then 3rd man and 1st lady (1s making the arch first), then 4th man and 2nd lady (4s and 2s making arches).

Note: the turns on bars 21-32 should be danced using elbow grasp, as in “Strip the Willow”.

These are easy dances, but due to the style probably more suited to SCD programmes than ceilidhs.

Devised for Stephen Brockbank for the ceilidh celebrating his 21st birthday on the 22nd of June, 2000. The ceilidh was held on the 17th of June in the University of Edinburgh’s Teviot Union and was run by his brother Ian and sister-in-law Caroline. 12Tune: Mpho’s Majority (Ian Brockbank) 13 June 2000 Brodie’s Fancy Cherry Blossom

Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Reel Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Strathspey 1–4 1st couple set and cross over giving right hand. 1– 4 First couple cross across the dance by the right hand and cast off one 5-8 1st and 2nd couples face on the sides, set and change places, with the 1st place. Second couple step up on bars three and four. couple moving into the middle: 1st lady gives right hand to 2nd man 5-8 First lady dances right hands across with the third couple once round while 1st man gives left hand to 2nd lady. Fig. Finish in double while first man dances right hands across with the second couple once triangle formation. round; first couple leave their wheels early and first lady casts up 9-16 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance double triangles. Finish with 1st couple around second man while first man casts down around third lady. facing their 1st corners. 9-16 First lady dances a reel of three across the dance with the second couple 17-24 1st couple turn their 1st corner by the right hand, partner by the left giving left shoulder to second lady to start, while first man dances a reel hand, 2nd corner by the right hand and partner by the left hand to finish of three across the dance with the third couple giving left shoulder to in 2nd place on the opposite side of the dance. third man to start. 25-28 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples join hands on the sides and advance and retire. 17-20 First couple pass by the right shoulder in the middle of the dance to face 29-32 1st couple turn 1 1/2 times by the right hand to finish in 2nd place. their second corners. First couple and their second corners set to each other (ie first lady and third man set to each other while first man and Repeat, having passed a couple. second lady set to each other). 21-22 First couple change places with their second corners giving right hands, to finish with the second corner people in the middle of the dance and first couple in second corner positions on the wrong side of the dance. 23-24 Second corner people turn one and a quarter times round by the left hand to finish facing first corner positions while first couple and first corner people dance on one place clockwise. 25-26 Second corner people change places with first couple (who are now in first corner positions on the wrong side of the dance), giving right hands to finish with first couple in the middle of the dance, second couple in first place on the wrong side of the dance and third couple in third place on the wrong side of the dance. 27-28 First couple turn by the left hand to finish in second place on the wrong side of the dance. 29-32 The three ladies joining hands on the sideline and the three men joining hands on the sideline, all set to partner; all give right hand to their partner to cross back to their own side to finish in the order second couple, first couple, third couple, ready to start the dance again with the first, third and fourth couples.

First couple step to the bottom of the set after dancing twice through the dance, and the second couple become the new first couple, as usual.

This dance was written for New Scotland social dancing early in the year, This is the first dance I wrote. The movements reminded me of the cherry blossom following a class by Caroline on double triangles. My kilt tartan is Brodie. which swirls in the streets in Edinburgh in late spring. 14Tune: Loch Torridon (Traditional) Tune: Manchester Caledonians (???) 15 December 1992 Spring 1992 The Happier Meeting The President’s Dilemma

Dance for couple facing couple around the room 32 bar Reel Dance for 4 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 4 x 32 bar Jig 1-8 Men dance a figure of eight around their partners, passing partners right 1 – 8 1st couple with 2nd couple and 3rd couple with 4th couple dance right shoulders to begin while ladies set and change places right hand, set hands across and left hands back. and change places right hand. 9 – 16 1st and 3rd couples lead down the middle and back up to between 2nd 9-16 Ladies dance a figure of eight around their partners, passing partners and 4th couples respectively, men facing men and ladies facing ladies; left shoulders to begin while men set and change places left hand, set 2nd and 4th couples step up on bars 11 and 12. and change places left hand. 17 – 24 1st couple with 2nd couple and 3rd couple with 4th couple dance reels 17-18 Joining both hands, the couples slip past each other, men passing back of four across the dance. to back. 25 – 28 1st couple followed by 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples casts off to the bottom 19-20 Still with hands joined, all set, men retiring and ladies advancing. of the set. 21-22 The couples slip past each other again back to place, ladies passing back 29 – 32 1st couple form an arch and 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples dance underneath to back. and back up to places. 23-24 Set, dropping the man's left hand, ladies right hand on bar 24 to finish facing across the set. Finish in the order 2,3,4,1 ready to start again from new positions. 25-28 With nearer hands joined, advance and retire, and clap. 29-32 Pass right shoulder to face a new couple.

Repeat ad lib.

Dance written for Sophia Marriage, then president of New Scotland, when she Devised by Caroline Bradshaw. complained that all dances containing reels of four contained other figures which Any resemblance to "The Happy Meeting" (RSCDS book 29) is completely were too complex for beginners. 16intentional. Tune: Davie’s Brae (J. Johnstone) 17 28th June 1998 October, 1996 Upstairs Downstairs

Dance for 4 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 4x32 bar Reel This dance starts with two chords. On the second chord, 3rd and 4th couples cross over to the opposite sides. 1-2 1st man casts off while 4th man casts up (2nd man stepping up and 3rd Moderate SCD dances man stepping down). 3-4 1st and 4th men set to each other. 5-8 1st and 4th men turn once round right hand. 9-16 1st and 4th ladies repeat, turning left hand. 17-20 2nd and 1st couples, and 4th and 3rd couples dance right hands across once round. 21-24 1st and 4th couples dance left hands across once round, to finish back to back in the centre, 1st couple facing 2nd couple and 4th couple facing 3rd couple, all facing someone of their own sex. 25-32 1st and 4th couples dance “hello—goodbye” setting to change places and sides.

Finish in the order 2,4,1,3, 1st and 3rd couples on the opposite side of the dance, ready to start again.

These are dances which, while not suitable for the complete beginner, shouldn't prove too challenging for a moderately experienced dancer.

Devised for Diana Fair and Sandy Small and presented to them on the occasion of their Wedding in Birmingham, Oct. 24th 1998, with love from Ian Brockbank. Diana and Sandy met when Diana lived in the flat immediately above Sandy’s in a Marchmont tenement. Tune: Sandy’s New Chanter (Tom MacAllister jnr, published in “Marking Time” 18Book 1) 19 October 1998 Auld Mahoun’s Revenge The BAMFAD or The Exciseman Returned or Peutherer’s Garrett Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x40 bar Reel

1-4 1st couple cast off 1 place and turn right hand once round. Remain Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Reel facing out ready for… 5-8 1st couple cast round the person on their right (3rd corner, or partner’s 1st 1-2 First couple lead down the middle of the set. corner) to finish in lines of three across the dance, 1st lady between 2nd 3-4 First couple turn half way right hand. couple facing down, and 1st man between third couple facing up; all set. 5-8 First couple lead up to the top of the set, cross and cast off one place 9-16 1st man with 2nd couple and 1st lady with 3rd couple dance reels of three while second couple step up. across the dance, 1st couple giving right shoulder to the person on their 9-12 First lady dances half a reel of three across the dance with second couple right to begin. At the end, 1st couple pass left shoulder to face 1st corner. while first man dances half a reel of three across the dance with third 17-20 1st couple set to 1st corner and turn them both hands to finish in lines of couple. three across the dance, 1st lady between 2nd couple facing down, and 1st 13-16 Second, first and third ladies, and second, first and third men dance half man between third couple facing up. reels of three on the sidelines. 21-24 In the lines of three, all advance and retire. 17-20 First couple pull back right shoulder and cast round the person on their 25-32 1st lady with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple dance reels of three left (their first corner position) to finish in the middle of the set, lady across the dance, 1st couple again giving right shoulder to the person on facing down, man facing up, while third and second ladies, and third their right to begin. At the end, 1st couple pass left shoulder to face 2nd and second men advance towards each other and retire. corner. 21-22 Third and second ladies, first couple, and third and second men change 33-36 1st couple set to 2nd corner and turn them both hands to finish in lines of places giving right hands. three on the sides, 1st couple in second place on the opposite side of the 23-24 First couple set to each other while second and third couples set facing dance. up or down for one bar and then set facing across for one bar. 37-40 In the lines of three, 2s, 1s and 3s advance, 1st couple swiftly change 25-28 First couple pull back right shoulder and cast round the person on their places giving both hands, and all retire. left (their second corner position) to finish second place on their partner’s side of the set, while second and third couples advance Repeat, having passed a couple. towards partners and retire. 29-30 Second, first and third couples cross over giving right hands. Note: The phrasing of the first four bars is deliberately left ambiguous. 31-32 Joining hands on the sidelines, second, first and third couples set to partners.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

The deil cam fiddlin’ through the toon an’ he danced awa’ wi’ th’exciseman, and ilka wife cried “Auld Mahoon, I wish ye luck o’ the prize, man!” The deil’s awa’, the deil’s awa’, the deil’s awa’ wi’ th’exciseman. He’s danced awa’, he’s danced awa’, he’s danced awa’ wi’ th’exciseman. I wrote this dance for the tune The Deil’s Awa’ Wi’ th’Exciseman after hearing Iain Devised for Brian and Marion Peutherer (née Garrett) for the first anniversary of MacPhail play his set The Deil’s Conundrum on the regular Radio Scotland their wedding. We thought it was a shame no-one wrote a dance to celebrate their programme Take the Floor. I have since learned that there are several dances to wedding, so this was at least is a dance in honour of it. Hence the name “Brian this tune, called either by the full name of the tune or by the shortened form “The And Marion’s First Anniversary Dance”, or the BAMFAD for short. Deil’s Awa’,” so I decided to call this one “Auld Mahoun’s Revenge” instead. It is Tune: Welcome to Tyneside (David Findlay), published in The Newcastle 20a lively dance, as befits a dance with the devil. Collection of Country Dance Tunes. 21 Tune: The Deil’s Awa’ Wi’ th’Exciseman, played AABAB. August 1996 May 1999 The Broderer Dancing Dustbins

Dance for 4 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 4x40 bar Strathspey Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Jig 1-2 First couple set advancing towards each other. 1-4 1st couple set and cast off two places. 2nd and 3rd couples step up 3-4 First couple turn once round with both hands. on bars 3 and 4. 5-6 Retaining nearer hands, first couple dance down one place while second 5-8 1st couple turn right hand and lead up one place while 2nd couple couple step up. set and cast off two places. 3rd couple step up on bars 7 and 8. 7-8 First couple turn half way giving both hands, finishing facing first 9-12 1st and 2nd couples turn right hand and lead up one place while corners. rd 9-10 First couple set to first corners. 3 couple set and cast off two places. 11-12 First couple turn first corners by the left hand. 13-16 1st couple cast off one place and set advancing, pulling right 13-14 First couple turn second corners by the right hand, finishing in second shoulder back to finish back to back in 2nd place facing own sides place on the opposite side of the dance. while 2nd couple turn right hand and lead up one place while 3rd 15-16 All four couples set to partners. couple turn right hand. 17-24 All dance reels of four on the sidelines. 17-24 1st couple dance double triangles with 2nd and 3rd couples. 25-26 First couple set to each other. 25-32 1st couple dance reels of three across the dance, 1st man with 2nd 27-28 First couple cast off one place while third couple step up. couple and 1st lady with 3rd couple. 1st man gives right shoulder 29-32 First couple dance half a figure of eight around fourth couple. nd st rd 33-34 First and fourth couples turn once round giving both hands, opening to 2 man and 1 lady gives right shoulder to 3 lady to begin. out into… 35-36 First and fourth couples dance four hands round to the left half way. Finish in the order 2,1,3, with everyone on their own side of the dance. 37-40 Fourth and first couples turn one and a half times with both hands. Repeat, having passed a couple. Finish in the order 2,3,4,1, ready to start again.

Written at 5am while sitting with my 3 week-old daughter Lorna trying to get her off to sleep. We were listening to George Meikle on Highlander Music CD 10, (because dancing music lulled her) and the tune Donald Iain Rankin came up in the set for Spiffin’, and I started thinking about how it makes my wife think of dustbins dancing around, and of the song she has put to it: What will I do with the fuss and the bother And what will I do when the budgie escapes? Written for Joy Bradshaw, Christmas 1998. In 1998 Mrs Bradshaw was awarded Presented to her on our third wedding anniversary on the 23rd of October The Broderer's Prize for her services to The Embroiderers' Guild. 2002 (when Lorna was 5½ weeks old), with much love. 22Tune: The Thistle (tra ditional, from Kerr’s collection) Tune: Donald Iain Rankine (Andrew Rankine) 23 December 1998 October 2002 Gloomy Winter’s Noo Awa’ Maple Dancing Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Strathspey

1- 2 1st lady casts off below 2nd lady while 1st man dances across the dance Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Reel into 1st lady’s place. 3-4 1st man casts off one place while 1st lady dances across the dance to 2nd 1– 4 1st couple turn once round by the right hand while 2nd couple set and man’s place while 2nd couple step up. turn half way with the right hand into… 5-8 1st couple turn 1½ times by the left hand. 5-8 1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across once round, remaining in 9-12 1st lady with 2nd couple, 1st man with 3rd couple dance right hands across the centre. once round. 9-16 1st and 2nd couples dance a ladies chain, 1st man casting off, 2nd man 13-16 1st couple pass right shoulder to dance left hands across once round, 1st casting up and 1st and 2nd ladies continuing their right hand turn to man with 2nd couple and 1st lady with 3rd couple. start. 17-20 1st couple pass left shoulder in the centre to start half a diagonal reel of 17-20 1st couple followed by 2nd couple lead down the middle, right hands four with their first corners. At the end of the half reel, 1st couple pass joined (2nd couple dancing up the side to start). right shoulder in the middle of the dance and 1st man curves round to 21-24 2nd couple lead back up the middle right hands joined, cross over and follow behind 1st lady (see Figure 1), into… cast off to 2nd place while 1st couple lead up to 1st place, finishing with 21-24 1st lady, followed by 1st man, gives right shoulder to 3rd man to start half both hands joined in the middle ready for … a diagonal reel of three with second corners. 1st couple dance this half 25-32 1st and 2nd couples dance a poussette. reel as a unit. 25-28 1st lady, still followed by 1st man, gives right shoulder to 2nd man (in 3rd Repeat, having passed a couple. lady’s place) to start half a diagonal reel of three with first corners. Again, 1st couple dance this half reel as a unit. 29-32 1st lady casts round 1st man (passing right shoulder), and gives right shoulder to 2nd lady (in 3rd man’s position) while 1st man gives right shoulder to 3rd man (in 2nd lady’s position), to start half a reel of four with partner’s second corners. See Figure 2. At the end of the reel, 1st couple pass right shoulders to return to 2nd place on their own sides of the dance. 1st lady remains facing out, ready for her cast…

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Note (from CB): in the reels, the funny reel is 180° opposite the one it is supposed to be. For the woman it is the 4th reel, and for the man it is the 2nd.

Pete Clark auctioned a tune at a charity ceilidh in aid of the Kisoro School for the Blind in May 2001, and I was fortunate enough to be the highest bidder. The tune he wrote was a lively reel, which I named for our cat Maple. The back of a fiddle This is a variant on the dance “Gloomy Winter” which I gave to Sophi for her 25th is made of maple wood, and the bow dances across it during the tune, so there is a birthday. Bars 9-16 didn’t really work, so it never caught on and wasn’t going to*. pleasing musical tie-in. I hope this version catches on better. I wrote this dance to go with the tune (which I gave to my wife Caroline for her Written for Sophia Marriage and presented to her on the occasion of her 30th birthday). It is relatively simple, and is my first foray into the world of two-couple birthday in December, 2001, with love from Ian Brockbank. dances. 2Tune:4 Gloomy Winter (Traditional) Tune: Maple Dancing (Pete Clark) 25 December 2001 October 2001, revised February 2002 The Mara New Scotland Gold

Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Strathspey Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Jig 1-4 1st couple set and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3 and 4. 1-2 1st man and 3rd lady change places giving left hands. 5-8 1st couple dance half a figure of eight around 2nd couple. 3-4 3rd lady casts off one place while 1st man casts up one place while 2nd 9-10 1st couple advance and retire, joining right hand for as long as possible man and 2nd lady step up and down respectively. while 2nd and 3rd couples cross over giving right hand. 5-8 All turn or birl the person opposite left hand to finish back on own 11-12 1st couple turn half way giving right hand remaining in the centre while sides. 2nd and 3rd couples chase one place clockwise around the set. 9-10 1st lady and 3rd man change places giving right hands. 13-16 1st couple dance out the side and cast to the right around 3rd corner 11-12 3rd man casts off one place while 1st lady casts up one place while 3rd position while 2nd and 3rd couple dance left hands across. lady and 1st man step up and down respectively. 17-24 1st man dances a reel of three with 2nd and 3rd ladies while 1st lady 13-16 All turn or birl the person opposite right hand to finish back on own dances a reel of three with 2nd and 3rd men. sides. 25-26 1st couple advance and retire, joining right hand for as long as possible 17-24 3rd and 1st couples join in promenade hold with partners and pass left while 2nd and 3rd couples cross over giving left hand. shoulders to start a reel of four up and down the centre of the set; 2nd 27-28 1st couple turn half way giving right hand remaining in the centre while man and 2nd lady dance across the ends of the set ready to enter the reel 2nd and 3rd couples chase one place anti-clockwise around the set. by passing 1st and 3rd couples respectively right shoulder. Finish in the 29-32 1st couple dance out the side and cast to the right around 3rd corner order 3,2,1, hands joined with partner ready for … position while 2nd and 3rd couple dance right hands across. 25-32 3rd, 2nd and 1st couples dance a three-couple poussette — 3rd couple moving down and 2nd and 1st couples moving up. Finish in the order Repeat, having passed a couple. 2,1,3.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Note 1: The length of the turns on bars 5-8 and 13-16 are deliberately not specified, but all should be at least a full turn. The dancing couple have to incorporate a half turn to get back to their own sides (ie 1½, 2½, 3½ or … turns). Note 2: The reel on bars 17-24 is not quite a full reel. It finishes when 2nd couple meet in the middle for the second time.

This dance was written for Caroline and given to her on our first wedding anniversary. We were sponsoring the mara at Edinburgh Zoo at the time – mara are a sort of cross between a rabbit and a deer. The first 16 bars show the partner swapping for which New Scotland is noted. We stayed in a bed and breakfast called Ferryman’s Cottage in Pitlochry to Then the reel symbolises a trip, wandering all over the continent and eventually celebrate. When I was booking the B&B it sounded like it was called “Fairy Mines returning back to where it started, and the three–couple poussette is an Cottage” so I decided to try my hand at writing a strathspey tune and to call it amendment to second times through the dance “Muirland Willie” (to get 1st that. I’m still waiting for a tune I’m happy with, but I like the name… couple to the bottom and out of the way) which is popular in New Scotland. 26Tune: Fairy Mines Cottage (Ian Brockbank) Tune: Davie’s Brae (Traditional) 27 August 2002 August 2002 Nifty Shiftin’ Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Reel Note: Throughout the description I will refer to "in" and "out". "In" means towards the middle of the dance (ie down from 1st place and up from 4th place) and "out" means away from the middle of the dance (up from 2nd place and down from 3rd place). This dance has two chords. On the second chord, 3rd and 4th couples change sides. 1-4 1st and 4th couples cross over givng right hands and cast in. 2nd and 3rd couples step out on bars 3 and 4. 5-8 1st and 4th couples turn half way giving left hands and melt into left hands across half way. Finish in a St. Andrews cross formation, left hands joined in the centre, right hands joined with corners. 9-16 1st and 4th couples dance a double spoke - set joining hands with each corner in turn, rotating one place anticlockwise each time (2 bars per corner). 17-20 4th man followed by 4th lady dances out the men's side and casts up while 1st man followed by 1st lady dances out the ladies' side and casts off while 2nd and 3rd couples cross over giving right hands and set. Finish with 4th couple side by side at the top of the dance, facing down, and 1st couple side by side at the bottom, facing up, men on the left of their partners. 21-22 All change place with the facing person giving right hands (2L with 3L, 4L with 1M, 4M with 1L, 2M with 3M). 23-24 1st lady followed by 1st man cast to their right and off while 4th lady followed by 4th man cast to their right and up while 3rd and 2nd couples set. Finish with (from 1M position) 3L, 4L, 4M, 2L facing 3M, 1M, 1L, 2M. 25-26 All cross with the facing person giving right hands. 27-28 1st man followed by 1st lady cast up and to their right while 4th man followed by 4th lady cast off and to their right while 3rd and 2nd couples set. Finish with 1st couple side by side at the top of the dance, facing down, and 4th couple side by side at the bottom, facing up, men on the left of their partners. 29-30 All change place with the facing person giving right hands (3M with 2M, 1L with 4M, 1M with 4L, 3L with 2L). 31-32 4th and 1st couples separate and cast off or up respectively while 2nd and 3rd couples set.

Finish in the order 2,4,1,3 ready to start again.

Nifty Shiftin

For Brian and Clare East, our role models. Brian suggested the title to me at the New Scotland Annual Ball at the end of January, 1999, and the tune Tam Lin fitted the name, but it took me more than a year to find the steps to go with them. 28Tune: Tam Lin (???) 29 5th March 2000 Skagits in Stockbridge Skye Barbecue

Dance for 4 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 4x32 bar Strathspey Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Reel This dance starts with two chords. On the second chord, 3rd and 4th couples cross over to 1-8 1C cross down (no hands) between second and third couples to start the opposite sides. reels of three on the opposite side of the dance. 1-2 1st and 4th couples set. 9-16 1C cross down (no hands) between second and third couples to start 3-4 1st couple cast off one place while 4th couple cast up one place. reels of three on their own sides. Finish with 2nd couple in 1st place and 5-8 1st and 4th couples dance right hands across, finishing in promenade 1st couple flowing into... hold with partner, 1st couple facing 2nd man and 4th couple facing 3rd 17-20 First couple turn right hand, moving down to second place, and cast to man. second place own side while 2nd and 3rd couples set and cross over 9-12 1st and 4th couples dance half a diagonal reel of four with 2nd and 3rd giving right hands. men, finishing with 1st and 4th ladies dancing ¾ of the way round each 21-24 1st couple dance clockwise half way round the set while 2nd and 3rd other by the right shoulders to join in promenade hold with the other couples dance right hands across. man, 1st lady and 4th man facing 2nd lady, and 1st man and 4th lady facing 25-28 First couple turn right hand and cast to second place on opposite side 3rd lady. while 2nd and 3rd couples set and cross over giving left hands. 13-16 Repeat bars 9-12 with 2nd and 3rd ladies. 29-32 1st couple dance clockwise half way round the set while 2nd and 3rd 17-24 Repeat bars 9-16 to finish on the sidelines in the order 2,4,1,3, 1st and 3rd couples dance left hands across. couples on the opposite sides of the dance. 23-32 2nd and 4th couples, and 1st and 3rd couples dance a strathspey poussette Repeat, having passed a couple. once round.

Finish in the order 2, 4, 1, 3, 1st and 3rd couples on the opposite side of the dance, ready to start again.

Dedicated to Leslie (née Henderson) and Peter Hastings. Peter and Leslie got Iain MacPhail played the Alastair Fraser tune "Skye Barbecue" in one of the sets he married on the 26th of March, 2001 in the company of members of the Skagit SCD played for the RSCDS Edinburgh Branch show "Strictly Scottish" in August 2001. I group in Annacortes, WA, and held a ball in celebration on the 27th of July, 2002, was one of the dancers in the show, and was so taken by the tune that I felt it in Cluny Church Hall, Edinburgh. At the time of the celebration they were living deserved its own dance. This is the result. It's a lively, showy tune, so it's a lively, in Stockbridge in Edinburgh. showy dance. 30Tune: Miss Lyall () Tune: Skye Barbecue (Alastair Fraser) 31 July 2002 August 2001, revised March 2003. Triskelion

Dance for 3 couples in a triangular set 3x32 bar Strathspsey + 3x32 barReel This dance is danced through 3 times in Strathspey time, followed by 3 times in Reel time. 1-2 Men dance across the set to the position of the lady on their right, For connoisseurs passing left shoulders in the middle, while ladies cast into their partner’s place. 3-4 Ladies dance across the set to the position of the lady on their right (currently being occupied by a man), passing left shoulders in the middle, while men cast into the man’s place. 5-8 Repeat bars 1-4. 9-12 1st and 3rd couples (in 2nd and 1st places respectively) dance half a men’s chain. 13-16 1st man, 3rd lady and 2nd couple (in 1st and 3rd places respectively) dance half a men’s chain. Men have now all progressed one place anticlockwise from their original position. 17-24 Ladies dance a petronella turn to the position on their right, and set with the man in that place. Repeat. All are back with original partners. 25-32 All circle 6 hands round and back.

Finish in the order 2,3,1 ready to start again.

Note: bars 1-8 are like 8 bars of Schiehallion reels in a triangular set.

These are dances which will take a bit of thought or practice, or possibly careful phrasing.

For Clare Lyddon and Peter Edwards on the occasion of their wedding on 16th March 2002. Tune: Strathspey: The Lass o’ Corrie Mill (Traditional) 32 Reel: Alasdair of the Dun (Traditional) 33 February 2002 joined and cross down left hand to 5th place. 3rd and 2nd couples step up The Gairloch Hornpipe on bars 47-48.

The dancers should now be in the order 4,3,5,2,1, ready to start again. Dance for 5 couples in a 5 couple longwise set 5 x 48 bar Reel Note: The reels should flow from the previous movement. 1-2 Joining hands on the sides, all set. 3-4 1st couple with 2nd couple and 4th couple with 5th couple dance half right hands across in a wheel while 3rd couple cross over giving right hands. 5-8 Joining hands on the sides again, all set, and cross over giving left hands. 9-12 1st and 5th couples turn once round right hand. 1st man and 5th lady remain facing out ready for … 13-16 1st man followed by his partner casts up round 2nd man and dances down the dance while 5th lady followed by her partner casts off around 4th lady and dances up the dance. Finish with 1st lady between 2nd couple, 1st man and 5th lady back to back between 3rd couple, and 5th man between 4th couple, 1st couple facing the men’s side and 5th couple facing the ladies’ side. See Figure 1. 17-24 1st lady with 2nd couple and 5th man with 4th couple dance reels of three across the dance while 1st man and 5th lady with 3rd couple dance a reel of four across the dance. Finish with 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples on the sidelines where they started the reel, and 1st and 5th couples in a line up and down the dance, hands joined, in order 1st lady, 5th lady, 1st man, 5th man, (see Figure 2) ready for … 25-26 1st lady, 5th lady, 1st man and 5th man, balance in line. 27-28 1st lady changes places left hand with 5th lady while 1st man changes places left hand with 5th man. 29-30 5th lady, 1st lady, 5th man and 1st man balance in line. 31-32 1st lady and 5th man change places right hand while 5th lady and 1st man set. Finish with the dancing couples, left hands joined with partner, facing 2nd corners. See Figure 3. 33-34 Dancing couples set to partners (left hands still joined) while their 2nd corners set advancing to join them. 35-36 Dancing couples and 2nd corners dance right hands across in a wheel half way. Finish with corners having swapped places and dancing couples turning a little further to face their 1st corners. See Figure 4. 37-40 Repeat bars 33-36 with 1st corners and hands reversed: dancing couples set to partners, holding right hands while 1st corners set advancing to join them; dancing couples dance left hands across in a wheel half way with 1st corners to finish with corners having swapped places and dancing couple turning a little further to face 2nd corner positions again (note there will be new people here now). 41-44 Repeat bars 33-36. 45-48 5th couple set to each other with right hands joined and cross down left hand to 3rd place while 1st couple set to each other with right hands This dance is dedicated to Dougie, the Fireman of Gairloch, who very kindly broke into our car for us after we locked the keys inside on stopping in Gairloch 34 for lunch during a whirlwind tour of friends in Scotland. 35 Tune: The Inside-oot Fish Eater (Peter Wood) The Geese in the Bog The Gloomy Winter Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8 x 32 bar Strathspey

Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Jig 1 – 4 1st lady casts off below 2nd lady and dances across to 2nd man’s place while 1st man dances across to 1st lady’s place and casts off into 2nd place. 2nd 1-4 1st couple and 2nd couple dance half a rights and lefts. couple step up on bars 3 and 4. 5-8 2nd and 1st couples set, 2nd couple cross over giving left hand while 1st 5 – 8 1st couple turn 1¾ times by the left hand. couple turn by the left hand to face their 1st corners. 9 – 10 1st lady and 2nd couple dance right hands across half way while 1st man casts 9-16 1st couple dance half a diagonal reel of four with their 1st corners, up on the ladies’ side. followed by half a diagonal reel of four with their 2nd corners. 11 – 12 1st couple passing left shoulder, 1st man takes 1st lady’s place and dances left 17-18 1st man with 3rd couple (at the top) and 1st lady with 2nd couple dance hands across half way with 2nd couple while 1st lady casts off on the ladies’ right hands across in a wheel half way round. side. 19-22 3rd and 2nd couples dance left hands across in a wheel once round, 13 – 16 1st couple repeat bars 13–16 with 3rd couple, lady with the left hand and man while 1st couple chase half way clockwise round the set. with the right hand. 23-24 1st lady with 3rd couple and 1st man with 2nd couple dance right hands 17 – 20 1st couple pass left shoulder in the centre to start half a diagonal reel of four across in a wheel half way round. with their 1st corners. At the end of the half reel, 1st couple pass right shoulder 25-28 3rd man and 2nd lady lead a snake pass: 3rd man followed by 3rd and in the middle of the dance and 1st man curves round to follow behind 1st lady, 1st ladies dances down to 2nd lady's place, across to 2nd man's place, into… down to 3rd man's place and across to 3rd lady's place while 2nd lady 21 – 24 1st lady followed by 1st man gives right shoulder to 3rd man to start half a followed by 2nd and 1st men dances up to 2nd man's place, across to diagonal reel of three with 2nd corners. 1st couple dance this reel of 3 as a unit. 2nd lady's place, up to 1st lady's place and across to 1st man's place. 25 – 28 1st couple give right shoulder to 2nd man (in 3rd lady’s place) to start half a The "snakes" pass by the left shoulder. Effectively what happens is that diagonal reel of three with 1st corners. the wheels unwind, with 1st couple tagging on at the ends of the 29 – 32 1st lady casts round 1st man (passing right shoulder) and gives right shoulder respective wheels. Finish in the order 2,1,3, all on the opposite side of to 2nd lady (in 3rd man’s position) while 1st man gives right shoulder to 3rd the dance. man (in 2nd lady’s position), to start half a diagonal reel of four. At the end of 29-32 All set and cross over giving right hands. the reel, 1st couple pass right shoulders to return to 2nd place on their own sides of the dance. 1st lady remains facing out, ready to cast off again Repeat, having passed a couple. Repeat, having passed a couple.

This dance and 'The Mill of Towie' came out of the concept of the alternating wheels (sorry, hands across), with 1st couple throwing the others into a muddle in the middle and drifting safely round the outside before taking pity and bringing them back out to place. They were my first Sunday-morning dances. I heard the tune on a 'Boys of the Lough' recording, and it seemed to fit the dance, conjuring up images of strings of geese meandering aimlessly yet purposefully, all the time lost. Of course, it helps that it's a good tune. This dance was written for Sophia Marriage and presented to her on the occasion of This dance was published in Dunedin Dances 4. her 25th birthday. 36Tune: The Geese in the Bog (Traditional) Tune: Gloomy Winter (Traditional, from Kerr’s Collectio37n) 1993, or thereabouts November 1996 the right shoulder, dance clockwise round the outside of the set to the The Golden Thistle next corner, dance all the way round that corner by the right shoulder, and dance on, to finish with 4th couple in 2nd place and 1st couple in 3rd place. See Figure 2. 2nd and 3rd couples step back out to place on Dance for 4 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 4 x 48 bar Jig bars 39 and 40. Finish in the order 2,4,1,3, with 4th and 3rd couples on the opposite side of the dance. 1 – 8 1st and 3rd couples cross down (no hands) while 2nd and 4th couples dance out and up, to start reels of four on the sidelines. See Figure 1. Note this is a right shoulder reel of four on the men’s side, but a left shoulder reel on the ladies’ side.

TOP Figure 2 41 – 42 In lines on the sides, all set. 43 – 46 4th and 3rd couples cross up, giving right hands, and cast off on their TOP own sides. Figure 1 47 – 48 All set on the sidelines. 9 – 10 1st lady and 2nd man, and 3rd lady and 4th man (on the men’s side of

the dance) change places giving right hand while 1st man and 2nd lady, Finish in the order 2,4,1,3 ready to start again from new positions. and 3rd man and 4th lady change places giving left hand. Finish with

1st and 4th couples in the centre facing diagonally in. Note: The figure The Loop first appeared in the Strathspey Tom’s Friends, 11 – 12 1st and 4th couples set. devised by Roy Goldring. 13 – 14 1st and 4th couples dance left hands across half way. 15 – 16 4th and 1st couples set to 2nd and 3rd couples respectively, who set In Scottish Spirit back. Everyone should be facing someone of the opposite sex. 17 – 28 All dance diagonal interlocking reels of four. Finish with 4th and 1st Dance for 4 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 4 x 48 bar Reel couples facing diagonally in. 29 – 30 4th and 1st couples dance left hands across half way. This dance was written to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the 31 – 32 All set, 1st and 4th couples facing 2nd and 3rd couples respectively. 2nd Edinburgh University New Scotland Society, and was first performed as part of a and 3rd couples advance towards 1st and 4th couples while setting. medley of dances at the Inter-Varsity Folk Dance Festival in Cambridge in 1997. 33 – 40 1st and 4th couples dance The Loop—pass the corner they are facing by Its public debut was at the “50th Anniversary” Ball in The Assembly Rooms on the 3rd of May, 1997. 38 Tune: Tartan Andy’s Half Pint Shandy (W.J.A. Gray) 39 With James M. Williams, December 1996 1-2 Joining hands on the sides, all set. 3 3 3 3-4 1st couple casts off while 4th couple casts up while 2nd and 3rd couples step up or down respectively. 5-8 1st and 4th couples dance left hands across once round. 9-16 2nd, 1st, 4th and 3rd couples dance reels of four on the sides. 4th and 1st couples cut the reel short before the final left shoulder pass to join left hands 1 1 1 in the centre and right hands with the couples on the corner. See figure 1. 17-24 All dance a counter-rotating spoke: 2 1 4 3 17 Pas de basque right, balancing in line. 18 Pas de basque left, all advancing half a place (4th and 1st couples 4 4 4 anticlockwise and 2nd and 3rd couples clockwise) to meet the next dancer, forming a large cross up and down/across the set. See figure 2. 19-24 Repeat three more times, (set and move, set and move, set and move), forming the cross alternately on the diagonal and up and down/across. 2 2 2 The dancers should now be in the order 3, 1, 4, 2, with 3rd and 2nd couples on the opposite side of the set, and 1st and 4th couples back to back in the centre facing 3s and 2s respectively. 25-32 1st and 4th couples pass the person they are facing by the right shoulder to start a figure of eight around that person and the next person clockwise. See TOP TOP figure 3. Figure 1 Figure 2 33-36 1st and 4th couples dance left hands across once round, finishing on the opposite side lines (dancers are still in the order 3, 1, 4, 2). 37-38 Joining hands on the side, all set. 39-40 All four couples, giving right hands cross over to return to own side. 41-48 All dance eight hands round to the left and back.

Repeat from new positions. 2 2

4 4

1 1

Edinburgh Branch’s annual show of dancing in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe changed producer and venue in 2002, moving to Edinburgh Academy in Henderson Row, Edinburgh, with Peter Edwards as producer. One of Peter’s key new concepts 3 3 was to have the show “in the round” with the audience on all sides, and the new venue is well suited to this, having the stage in the centre with the audience all the way round, and also having a balcony. When the rehearsals for the 2003 show were starting, I was thinking about the TOP previous year and the potential offered by the venue, and this dance took shape. Figure 3 This dance is dedicated to the dancers and musicians who have performed in the 4show,0 and to those whose support has kept everything running smoothly. 41 Tune: Itchy Fingers (Robert Mathieson) Mill of Towie The One O’Clock Canon Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Reel Dance for 4 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 4x64 bar overlapping Reel (music: 5x32 bar Reel) 1-8 1st and 3rd couples dance a double figure of eight, 1st couple crossing down and 3rd couple casting up to start. 1-8 1st couple cross giving right hand, cast off two places, cross giving right 9-16 1st and 2nd couples dance the knot: turn partner half-way round with hand, and cast up into second position. 2nd couple step up on bars 3 and 4. the right hand into allemande hold, curve round and up the lady's side, 9-16 1st couple dance right hands across in a wheel with the couple above them release right hands and pass the ladies in front of the men into the (in 1st place) followed by left hands across with the couple below them (in centre, and continue turning left hand. Finish 2nd couple in first place, third place). 1st couple in the centre of the dance facing first corners. 17-24 All dance (right shoulder) reels of four on their own sidelines. 17-24 1st couple with 2nd and 3rd couples dance the millwheel 25-26 1st man turns the man above him (in 1st place) once round with the right 17-18 1st lady with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple dance right hands hand while 1st lady turns the lady above her (in 1st place) once round with across in a wheel half way round. the right hand. 19-20 2nd and 3rd couples dance left hands across in a wheel half way round 27-30 1st couple dance left hands across once round with the couple in third while 1st couple chase 1/4 of the way clockwise round the set. place. 21-22 1st lady with 3rd and 2nd ladies, 1st man with 3rd and 2nd men dance 31-32 1st couple cast off one place to third place. right hands across in a wheel half way round. At this point second couple, who are now in first position, start dancing from bar 23-24 1st couple turn 1 1/4 by the left hand to face first corners. 1 while the original first couple continue as follows. 25-28 1st couple pass first corners by the right shoulder and dance round their 33-40 1st couple and 4th couple dance rights and lefts. position back into the centre, passing their partner by the right shoulder 41-48 1st couple dance right hands across in a wheel with the couple below them to face second corners while 1st corners advance into the middle of the (in fourth place) followed by left hands across with the couple above them dance, turn once round right hand, and return to place. (in second place). 29-32 1st couple repeat the movement with their second corners, passing each 49-56 All dance (right shoulder) reels of four on their own sidelines. other by the right shoulders at the end to finish in second place on their 57-58 1st man turns the man below him (in 4th place) once round with the right own sides. hand while 1st lady turns the lady below her (in 4th place) once round with

the right hand. Repeat, having passed a couple. 59-62 1st couple dance left hands across once round with the couple in second place. 63-64 1st couple cast off into fourth position while 4th couple dance up into second place, or into third place on the last time though the dance.

Third couple now start dancing bars 1-8 while second couple (now in third place) continue with bars 33-40.

This dance and 'The Geese in the Bog' came out of the concept of the alternating wheels, with 1st couple throwing the others into a muddle in the middle and Caroline suggested writing a dance which was a canon, and this is what I came up drifting safely round the outside before taking pity and bringing them back out to with. The 'One O'Clock Gun' can be heard daily at 1pm in Edinburgh, when a gun is place. They were my first Sunday-morning dances. fired from the castle. I didn't realise until the first time I danced it quite how crucial the Bars 17-24 benefit greatly from crisp, accurate phrasing. reel of four is in allowing everyone 8 bars to find themselves again. This dance was published in Dunedin Dances 4, with "The Old Road to Towie" as This dance was originally published in Dunedin Dancers 4, written out as a 160- bar the tune because the name fitted the dance so well. When I heard it played for the dance. I prefer this format. It takes more thought, but makes the canon clear. dance, I realised my mistake, but by then the book had been published. I should Tune: The One O’Clock Cannon (Ian Brockbank) have stuck with my original idea - "Milladen" which has 'Mill' in the name, and is 1993 or thereabouts a nice tune. It's also easier to come by. Some you lose. Consider Milladen now the original tune. 42Tune: Milladen (Traditional) 43 1993 or thereabouts The One O’Clock Canon

Challenging dances

These are dances which are challenging and probably not suited for social dancing, but might prove an interesting challenge for a group of experienced dancers with an hour or two to fill.

44 45 Summer 1993 3rd couple cast up and dance right hands across half way with 2nd The Cotton Reel couple while Dance for 4 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 4x40 bar Reel 4th couple dance up the middle to 3rd place. 37-40 4th couple turns once right hands while 1st couple turn 1 1/2 right 1-4 1st couple cross down one place (2s step up) and cast off (3s step up). hands while 3rd and 2nd couples dance right hands across half way and 5-8 1st couple cross down one place (4s step up) and set while turn right hands (2nd couple once, 3rd couple half way). 2nd couple cross down one place (3s step up) and cast off (4s step up). 9-12 1st couple cast up one place and cross up while Finish in the order 2,3,4,1, ready to start again. 2nd couple cross down one place (3s step up) and set while 3rd couple cross down one place (4s step up) and cast off. 13-16 1st couple cast up one place and turn half way giving right hands, finishing in the middle of the set facing down while 2nd couple cast up one place and cross up while 3rd couple cross down one place and set while 4th couple cross down one place and cast off. 17-20 1st couple dance down the middle while 2nd couple cast up one place and turn half way giving right hands, finishing in the middle of the set facing down while 3rd couple cast up one place and cross up while 4th couple cross down one place and set. 21-24 1st couple dance up the middle to 3rd place (dancing under an arch made by 2nd couple) while 2nd couple dance down the middle, making an arch to let 1st couple through while 3rd couple cast up one place and turn half way giving right hands, finishing in the middle of the set facing down while 4th couple cast up one place and cross up. The dance's origins go back to the American civil war and the blockades against 25-28 1st couple cast up and turn half way giving right hands, moving up to British ships who wanted to trade with the southern cotton growers. Sailors 1st position (ie cross up) while waiting for cargoes started to amuse themselves by dancing hornpipes and other 2nd couple dance up the middle to 3rd place (dancing under an arch dances, one of which was called a Cotton Reel in honour of the crop which they made by 3rd couple) while waited for. 3rd couple dance down the middle, making an arch to let 2nd couple Well, actually that's a load of codswallop (generously provided by a friend of through while Shiobhan O'Donnell). Shortly after I wrote this dance, one of the members of the 4th couple cast up one place and turn half way giving right hands, highland-dance mailing list was persuaded by her boyfriend to ask the list about finishing in the middle of the set facing down. "The Cotton Reel". From the responses received on the list, she realised she had 29-32 1st couple set and dance right hands across half way with 2nd couple been had, so to turn the tables on him, it was suggested that a "Cotton Reel" be while written. Given I hadn't yet come up with a name for this dance, I offered its 2nd couple cast up and dance right hands across half way with 1st services in this regard. couple while As you will see, this is yet another experiment with repetition. This time I decided 3rd couple dance up the middle to 3rd place (dancing under an arch to try having the repetition within each turn, so have 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples made by 4th couple) while repeating the same set of movements starting 4 bars apart (with a bit of a fudge to 4th couple dance down the middle, making an arch to let 3rd couple collect them all again in the right places on bars 37-40). Although I originally through. called this a canon as well, Anselm Lingnau suggested a fugue would be more 33-36 1st couple cross down and cast off into 4th place while consistent with other devisors' terminology (particularly Hugh Foss's collection of 2nd couple set and dance right hands across half way with 3rd couple fugues on Waverley, of which Fugal Fergus is probably the best known). So I while concur. This is not a canon, it's a fugue. 46 Tune: Pick a Bale o’ Cotton (???) 47 June 1998 The Palindrome Xaxanaka Dance for 4 couples in a square set 64 bar Strathspey + 64 bar Reel Dance for 4 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 4x40 bar Reel Strathspey Note: Throughout the description I will refer to "in" and "out". "In" means towards 1-8 All circle eight hands round to the left and back. the middle of the dance (ie down from 1st place and up from 4th place) and "out" 9-10 1C and 3C set. means away from the middle of the dance (up from 2nd place and down from 3rd 11-12 1M and 3L, and 1L and 3M cross giving RH and retain hands. place). 13-14 3C and 1C dance right hands across half way. This dance starts with 2 chords. On the second chord, 3rd and 4th couples change 15-16 1C and 3C pull back right shoulder and chase 1 further place clockwise, to sides. finish 1C facing 2C and 3C facing 4C, all facing someone of the opposite sex. 1-4 1st and 4th couples set and cast in. 2nd and 3rd couples step out on bars 17-18 1C and 3C pass facing person LS and loop round ACW to face back the 3 & 4. other way while 2C and 4C pass facing person LS and do a reverse 5-8 1st and 4th couples dance right hands across once round (remaining in petronella turn to pass the opposite person RS. the centre) while 2nd and 3rd couples set and cast in. 19-20 Repeat bars 17-18 from new positions. 9-12 Passing right shoulder with the person of the same sex, 1s with 2s and 21-24 Repeat bars 17-20. Finish back in the positions from the end of bar 16. 3s with 4s, 1st lady dances out the top of the dance and casts off on the 25-26 Joining nearer hands, all set. ladies' side while 1st man casts up on the men's side and dances down 27-28 1C & 2C, and 3C & 4C dance LH across half way. while 4th lady dances out the bottom of the dance and casts up on the 29-30 Joining nearer hands, all set. men's side while 4th man casts off on the ladies' side and dances up 31-32 1C and 3C pull back LS and chase ACW round the set back to original while 2nd and 3rd couples dance right hands across once round. positions while 2C and 4C pull back LS and chase ACW round the small In effect, 1st and 4th couples are dancing around an imaginary person square back to original positions. standing in their original place. 33-64 Repeat bars 1-32 with 2C and 4C as the dancing couples. 13-16 Passing right shoulder with the person of the same sex, 1s with 2s and Reel: Repeat bars 64-1 in reverse (note 2C and 4C are dancing couples first) 3s with 4s, 2nd lady dances out the top of the dance and casts off on the 65-66 1C and 3C pull back RS and chase CW around a small square to finish in the ladies' side while 2nd man casts up on the men's side and dances down middle facing their partner's place while 2C and 4C pull back RS and chase while 3rd lady dances out the bottom of the dance and casts up on the CW around the set to finish 2C facing 3C and 4C facing 1C. men's side while 3rd man casts off on the ladies' side and dances up 67-68 Joining nearer hands, all set. while 1st and 4th couples dance half a reel of four across the dance, 1st 69-70 4C and 1C, and 2C and 3C dance RH across half way. lady and 4th man, and 1st man and 4th lady giving right shoulders to 71-72 Joining nearer hands, all set. start. 73-80 4M, 1L, 3M & 2L, and 4L, 1M, 3L & 2M dance a reel of four, "twiddling" in 17-20 1st and 4th couples dance a further half reel of four while 2nd and 3rd the middle. couples dance half a reel of four across, 2nd lady following 4th lady, 2nd 81-82 4C and 2C pull back LS and chase 1 place clockwise around the small man following 4th man, 3rd lady following 1st lady, 3rd man following square in the middle. 1st man. 83-84 4C and 2C dance LH across half way. 21-24 1st and 4th couples dance anti-clockwise half way around the outside of 85-86 4M and 2L, and 4L and 2M cross over LH to return to original place. the set back to their original places, 1st and 4th ladies pulling back left 87-88 Joining nearer hands, 2C and 4C set. shoulders and dancing out the sides, and 1st and 4th men dancing out 89-96 All circle 8 hands round to the right and back. the ends to start that movement, while 2nd and 3rd couples dance a 97-128 Repeat bars 65-96 with 1C and 3C as dancing couples. further half reel of four across.

25-28 1st and 4th couples set advancing and turn partners once round with both hands, progressing towards the centre of the set during the turn and finishing ready for a half poussette while 2nd and 3rd couples dance anti-clockwise half way around the outside of the set back to 1st and 4th couples original places, 2nd and 3rd ladies pulling back left shoulders and dancing out the sides, and 2nd and 3rd men dancing out This dance was devised as part of a demonstration containing dances which are 48rou ghly palindromic (the same backwards as forwards). I decided to see whether I 49 could write a dance which was comAutumnpletely p1998alindromic, and this was the result. the ends to start that movement. 29-32 1st and 4th couples dance half a poussette while 2nd and 3rd couples set advancing and turn once round with both hands. 33-40 2nd and 4th couples, and 1st and 3rd couples dance a full poussette.

Finish in the order 2,4,1,3, ready to start again.

Xakanaxa (pronounced Kakanaka unless you can do the Bushman clicks repesented by the 'x's) is a camp in the Moremi game reserve in the Okovango delta in Botswana. I had trouble sleeping on the plane on the way out to Botswana, so I devised this dance to pass the time. I had some sleepless nights in Xakanaxa camp as well, but I was too busy watching the elephants and hyaenas which woke us up to write any more dances. As you will see, it is a further experiment with canons. This time I decided to try having the canon within each repetition, so had 2nd and 3rd couples repeating what 1st and 4th couples had done 4 bars earlier. To get a valid progression, you will notice I had to break the canon slightly after bar 31 - 2nd and 3rd couples don't move into the centre on their turns, and they dance a full poussette with the 50same couple. 51 April 1998