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