Threesome Reel ~ Wilson#1

According to the Fletts, the first mention of a threesom reel was in a book published in 1710. But the earliest written description of the dance (that I can find) was published by Thomas Wilson in 1808. In a 1820 publication Wilson claimed that the versions in it are the original versions, whereas the ones he published earlier were of his own invention.

It is worth noting that Wilson here actually describes two different "original" versions of the threesome reel, one in his preparitory description, and one in his detailed description. In the first the setting happens before the reel, and the reel mixes up the dancers. In the second the setting happens after the reel, and the reel leaves the dancers where they started. (The second description matches those of Atkinson and the Fletts, so I shall concentrate on the first).

Wilson writes:

THESE Reels have for a number of years been a very favorite, and most generally approved species of Dancing, not only with the English, but also with the Irish and Scotch, and particularly with the latter, from whom they derive their origin. They have, likewise, been introduced into most of the foreign Courts of Europe, and are universally practised in all our extensive Colonies, and so marked in their favoritism, that not only among the amusements afforded at all Balls, these Reels are invariably introduced, but Assemblies are very frequently held for the purpose of dancing them only, and yet, in their construction, they consist merely of the Country Dance Figure of hey, with alternate setting. The threesome Reel or Reel of three, as will be seen by the Diagram, is composed of three persons, placed in a direct line, and is commenced by the three persons setting; the centre person setting half the time to one, and then turning and setting the remainder of the time to the other, and turning back again the centre person afterwards strikes the hey with the other two, and so finish the strain of the music and the Reel together, leaving one of the other persons in the centre, who commences the Reel &c. as before. The foursome Reel, or Reel of four is composed of four persons, placed in a direct line, facing each other, two and two, who thus begin, and after setting out the time of one strain to their partners, without turning, they hey till the next strain is finished, which also finishes the Reel. These Dances derived their name from the construction of the Figure of hey, of which Figure only they are composed, (see Diagram) representing double S's or serpentine lines, interlacing or intervolving each other, which describe a figure of 8, and exhibiting in the performance (by the dances being taken from the side) a Reeling motion. They may be applied to any Country Dance tune, as they require in their performance byt two strains of music, and if the tune should consist of three or more parts, it is not objectionable, as the setting and the Figure are performed to different strains, and therefore, it is very common for the Musician repeatedly to vary and change the tunes, the novelty thereby produced affording a renovated energy to the Dancer, which is a great requisite in the dancing of Reels.

Reel of three

To be danced by two Ladies and one Gentleman, or two Gentlemen and one Lady.

The Lady at A moves in the direction a, at the same time the Gentleman at B moves in the direction b, and the Gentleman at C in the direction c, they all hey and return to their places; then the Lady sets to each of the Gentlemen alternately till the tune is finished, then the Reel begins again

---

Reel of four.*

To be danced by two Ladies and two Gentlemen

The Ladies and Gentlemen at A B C D move at the same time, in the direction shewn at a b c d, and hey round each other till they return to their places; they then set out the time, the Lady at A setting to the Gentleman at C, and the Lady at B to the Gentleman at D, which finishes the Reel.

* Although the Diagram shews the Ladies striking the hey on the left of the Gentlemen; yet, they may with equal propriety commence by passing the Gentlemen on the right hand.

Wilson says that after the reel, one of the outside dancers is in the middle. He doesn't say how to achieve this, or whether all the dancers are in different places or just two of them.

Normally to get progression in a three couple set you want a permutation that mixes everybody up. You could get the same effect by mixing up the top two dancers the first time through the reel, and starting the second reel with the center dancer facing down, rather than up, and so mixing up the bottom two dancers. After doing the dance twice everyone would be in a new place.

Wilson doesn't say to face the other way the second time through the reel (note: Atkinson does), so I'm going to assume that Wilson wants all the dancers mixed up.

Now 6 changes of a hey for three leaves everyone where they started, 7 changes will leave the two who start the hey in different places, but the last person will be where s/he started, 8 changes puts everyone in a new position (and has the benifit of requiring one change per bar). 5 changes is similar to 7 but mixes up the bottom two dancers, 4, like 8, mixes everyone up.

I'm going to pick 8, but keep in mind this may not be what Wilson intended.

Wilson's diagram shows a left shoulder hey (with a footnote saying that a right shoulder hey is equally proper, but that footnote appears to apply to the foursome reel and not the threesome).