Seann Triubhas Willichan ~ RSCDS
Seann Triubhas Willichan ~ RSCDS is a Scottish Country Dance. It was published by Thomas Wilson in 1816 in A Companion to the Ball Room, London. It was interpreted by RSCDS in 1975 and published in RSCDS Book 27. Originally a Triple Minor this version is S8×32 2C/4C, a proper Duple Minor dance. St32.
Wilson, on page 59, spells this dance Shon Truish Willichan and writes:
SINGLE FIGURE Each strain repeated
Set & change sides with 2d. Cu: set & back again swing with right hands round the 2d. Cu: then with left set 3 across set 3 in your places lead thro the bottom & lead outsides
SINGLE FIGURE (Each strain repeated)
Set & hands across quite round with 2d. Cu: set & back again promenade 3 Cu: whole poussett & set contrary corners
OR THUS Cast off 2 Cu: & back again set & half right & left with 2 Cu: set & back again lead down the middle up again set to the top Cu: hands 6 round & back again
* This is the Scotch & the only real Shon Truish _ the other tune usually confounded with this derives its name from the french words Chant Russe signifying a Russian Song or Air _ each has a particular dance Composed to it, the above is more a favorite among the Scotch, but the Chant Russe is more prevalent in the English ball room. _ these dances consist of a number of steps necessary to be taught by a master & therefore the figure here set to them are only to adapt them for country dances
The music consists of four four-bar strains, to be played AABBCCDD. Wilson expects a reel, not a strathspey.
The RSCDS appears to be interpreting the third figure (the one titled OR THUS).
Wilson defines most of his figures in his An Analysis of Country Dancing, 3rd Edition.
- Cast off 2 Cu: & back again may be found on page 25 and means: top couple cast ending below the third couple, cast up and back to original places.
- Set, and half right and left may be found on page 50 and means: Everyone sets in his or her place (he doesn't say whether this is to partner, neighbor or corner) then L1+M2 change by left, then M1+L2 change by right.
- lead down the middle up again set to the top Cu: may be found on page 8 and means: Top couple leads down to between the third couple, 1s turn and lead up to 2nd place as the second couple move up (Wilson's pictures show them moving up the sidelines and not leading), then actives set (or foot it) to the second couple. (This seems to take 8 bars)
- hands 6 round & back again may be found on page 5 and means what you expect. All take hands and circle left then right.
The animation plays at 120 counts per minute normally, but the first time through the set the dance will often be slowed down so people can learn the moves more readily. Men are drawn as rectangles, women as ellipses. Each couple is drawn in its own color, however the border of each dancer indicates what role they currently play so the border color may change each time through the minor set.
An online description of the dance may be found here.
The dance contains the following figures: hand turn (allemande), set, circle, cast, lead (and probably others).
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=SeannTriubhasWillichan-RSCDS
The dance itself is out of copyright, and is in the public domain. The interpretation is copyright © 1975 by RSCDS. My visualization of this dance is copyright © 2024 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.