Monymusk / Money Musk

Monymusk is an estate in Aberdeenshire in Scotland.

Cracking Chestnuts says the tune was written by Daniel Dow and published in Thirty Seven New Reels and Strathspeys in 1776. Francis Werner set figures to the tune in his 8 Cotillions, 6 Favorite Contry Dances and two Minuets, with their proper Figures for the Harp, Harpsichord and Violin Book xvii for the year 1785. John Preston in 1786 published a different set of figures in 1786 and his version of the dance appears to be the basis of the Scottish Country Dance `Monymusk'.

Hugh Thurston in Scotland's Dances (1954) claims: "'Monymusk' is not a traditional Scottish dance. It was resurrected in 1934 (out of a book published in England in 1786) and there is no evidence that it was ever danced in Scotland before that date." (as quoted in Cracking Chestnuts)

Background Sources

The tune was originally a 32 bar strathspey but has somehow become a 24 bar reel.

Werner writes:

Turn your partner with the right hand; quite round, and cast off one Cu. Turn with the left quite round, Set three and three top and bottom, and turn your Partner, Set three and three sideways and turn your Partner. Hands six quite round and back again Lead out sides and turn your Partner with both hands.

In A Treatise on Dancing (Boston, 1802) Saltator writes:

First couple cross over, down the out side, promenade round the gentleman, fall between the second couple, the lady between the third, six dance address, first couple promenade and fall below the second, six demicircinate, right and left atop.

Wilson Treasures of Terpsichore, page 80 (London, 1809)

Single Figure

Whole figure at top down the middle, up again, and foot it to the top couple .

Double Figure

The top couple swing with right hands round one couple, then with the left set three across and three in your places hands six round and back again , and lead through bottom and top .

Howe Complete Ball-room Hand Book, page 82 (Boston, 1858)

First couple join right hands and swing once and a half round, go below second couple (the first lady goes below second gentleman on the outside) (first gentleman at the same time goes below and between second and third ladies) — forward and back six, first couple swing three quarters round — first gentleman goes between second couple (on the inside) first lady goes between third couple (on the indside) forward and back six, first couple swing three quarters.

Burchenal American Country-dances, page 55 (New York/Boston, 1912)

Swing Once and a Half Around
Cast
Forward and Back Six
Swing Three-Quarters Around
Forward and Back Six
Swing Three-Quarters Around to Place
Right and Left

In 1953, Bicky McLain, published two versions in English Dance & Song, one with 32 bars, and one with 24.

Changes

All of the early sources seem to be 32 bar versions, the contra evolution must have happened in the early 20th century (when I don't have any sources)

Some dance examples

Werner's version

32 bar Contra Version

24 bar Contra Version

Improper 24 bar Contra Version

RSCDS version Monymusk, Book 11, published 1936

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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.