The Glory of the West ~ Sharp
The Glory of the West ~ Sharp is an English Country Dance. It was published by John Playford (website) in 1651 in The English Dancing Master. It was interpreted by Cecil Sharp (website) in 1911 and published in The Country Dance Book (Part 2). It is a Facing Couples dance. There is no progression in this dance. It is a USA dance. The dance lasts 84 bars. It is in the key: G Minor.
Playford writes:
Meet a D. fall back, open and close Fall back a D. meet, open and close Back men, we. turn S. back we. men turn S. men cross over, we. cross over hands round, and go half to your places Sides with the co. we. set to them Sides with your own wo. set to her ·: Men turn off to the left-hand, and fall behind your we. back to back, turn back again in you places, we. as much, change PLaces round till you come to your own places, then take right-hands a-cross, and go round to your places Arms as you sided Men meet, we. meet, and give right-hands across, men go under their arms to your own places, men hands a-cross, and we. go under as the men did, men right-hands to the co. we. then left-hands to their own and fall into the contrary places, hands in a ring, and go half round to your places, fallig all a-breast to the presence
Sharp has taken a number of liberties with Playford's original here. I, in turn, have not followed Sharp precisely in the final figure. Playford says "falling all a brest to the presence", Sharp says "All face up and, standing in line, first couple to left, honour the Presence." Having the first couple both on the left is very awkward after a half circle, I think it more natural to split them to the ends of the line.
The animation plays at 120 counts per minute. Men are drawn as rectangles, women as ellipses. Each couple is drawn in its own color.
| I.A | 1-4 | In a double to meet opposite, back |
| 5-8 | Fall back a double, come forward | |
| I.B1 | 1-2 | Men fall back a double, women turn single |
| 3-4 | Women fall back while men turn single | |
| 5-6 | Men change | |
| 7-8 | Women change | |
| 9-10 | Circle half | |
| I.B2 | 1-10 | That again: men back, women back, men change, women change, circle half |
| II.A | 1-4 | Right Siding with opposite |
| 5-8 | Left Siding with partner | |
| II.B1 | 1-2 | Men cast left each ending back to back with his partner |
| 3-5 | Couples turn counter-clockwise back to places | |
| 6-7 | Women cast right | |
| 8-10 | Couples turn clockwise back to places | |
| II.B2 | 1-4 | Single file clockwise circle |
| 5-10 | Right hands across | |
| III.A | 1-4 | Opposite arm right |
| 5-8 | Partner arm left | |
| III.B1 | 1-2 | Women meet in center making an arch with right hands |
| 3-5 | Men cross under the arch, turn left, loop opposite back to place as women fall back | |
| 6-7 | Men meet, making an arch | |
| 8-10 | Women left cross under the arch, turn right, loop opposite back to place as women fall back | |
| III.B2 | 1-5 | Facing opposite two changes of rights and lefts |
| 6-7 | Circle half | |
| 8-10 | Face up, form a line, honour the presence |
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.
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 © 2021 by George W. Williams V and is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This website is copyright © 2021,2022,2023 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.