The Black Nag ~ Sharp
The Galloping Nag ~ 2
The Black Nagg ~ Sharp
The Black Nag ~ Sharp or The Galloping Nag ~ 2 is an English Country Dance. It was published by John Playford (website) in 1657 in The Dancing Master, 3rd ed., London. It was interpreted by Cecil Sharp (website) in 1911 and published in The Country Dance Book (Part 2). Found in The Playford Ball. It is a proper 3 Couple Longways dance. There is no progression in this dance. It is a USA dance. The dance lasts 72 bars. It is in the key: D Minor.
In the 7th and 8th editions this was spelt "The Black Nag", in the 3rd-6th "The Black Nagg", in the 9th-11th "The Gallopping Nag", and in the 12th-18th "The Galloping Nag". The 18th edition gives a different choreography (see Bolton's interpretation). Millison's Jig is similar.
Lead up a D. forward and back That again First Cu. take both hands and 4 slips up and stand, the 2 Cu. as much, the 3.Cu. slip up, turn all S Last Cu. slip down, the 2. as much, the first as much, turn all single Sides all That again First man and last wo. change places, first wo. and last man change, the 2. change with his own All this back again Arms all That again The men single hey We. as much
The tune was published by Playford with the dance, and the music was synthesized by Colin Hume.
The animation plays at 116 counts per minute. Men are drawn as rectangles, women as ellipses. Each couple is drawn in its own color.
| I.A | 1-4 | Up a Double, back |
| 5-8 | Up a Double, back (repeat) | |
| I.B1 | 1-2 | 1st couple, join hands, sashay up 4 steps |
| 3-4 | 2nd couple, the same | |
| 5-6 | 3rd couple, the same | |
| 7-8 | All turn single right | |
| I.B2 | 1-2 | 3rd couple, join hands, move down 4 steps to place |
| 3-4 | 2nd couple, the same | |
| 5-6 | 1st couple, the same | |
| 7-8 | All turn single right | |
| II.A | 1-4 | Right Siding |
| 5-8 | Left Siding | |
| II.B1 | 1-2 | 1st man, 3rd woman (long 1st corners) change places with four slip steps, leading with right shoulder passing back to back |
| 3-4 | 1st woman, 3rd man, same | |
| 5-6 | 2nd couple, same | |
| 7-8 | All turn single right | |
| II.B2 | 1-2 | 1st man, 3rd woman change places (return home) |
| 3-4 | 1st woman, 3rd man, same | |
| 5-6 | 2nd couple, same | |
| 7-8 | All turn single right | |
| III.A1 | 1-4 | Right Arming |
| 5-8 | Left Arming | |
| III.B1 | 1-8 | Men hey for 3, skipping. 1st man start with right shoulder |
| III.B2 | 1-6 | Women hey for 3 |
| 7-8 | Men turn single right (women finish the hey) |
If you find what you believe to be a mistake in this animation, please leave a comment on youtube explaining what you believe to be wrong. If I agree with you I shall do my best to fix it.
If you wish to link to this animation please see my comments on the perils of youtube. You may freely link to this page, of course, and that should have no problems, but use one of my redirects when linking to the youtube video itself:
https://www.upadouble.info/redirect.php?id=BlackNag
The dance itself is out of copyright, and is in the public domain. The interpretation is out of copyright, and is in the public domain. My visualization of this dance is copyright © 2020 by George W. Williams V and is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This website is copyright © 2021,2022,2023,2024 by George W. Williams V
My work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Most of the dances have more restrictive licensing, see my notes on copyright, the individual dance pages should mention when some rights are waived.