Open the Door to Three

Background Sources

The first question which must be answered is the music. There is a traditional tune called Open the Door for Three which I presume is the intended music. This is a slip-jig, not a jig as the RSCDS would have it. There are several versions of this tune. Playford published a single strain 4 bar tune back in 1652, but by the eighteenth century a B strain had been added so I believe this should be danced to AABBAABB.

Quoted from The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies (as transcribed by Jim Healy):

1^st & 2^d women leads forward then falls back then leads through the 1^st & 2^d men; then repeats the same & the 1^st & 2^d man leads through them back to their places again; then the 1^st pair crosses over two pair down, & crosses up one pair & falls into their places then the 1^st man leads the 2^d & 3^d man forward, while the 1^st woman does the same on the woman's side, then the 1^st man turns the 3^d woman & falls in between her & the 2^d woman, the 1^st woman in the meantime turns the 2^d man & falls in between him & 3^d man & leads forward as before & turns his partner, then they go six hands round with the 2^d and 3^d pair then back again to their own places.

Interpretation

I assume that 1^st & 2^d women leads forward then falls back then leads through the 1^st & 2^d men should all take 4 bars or 12 counts. With the women advancing for two steps, falling back for two, and then leading through the men and casting back in eight steps.

I assume, as the RSCDS also has done, that then repeats the same is a misprint. There is no indication that the men repeat their version of the move. So I throw that line out.

Then then men do what the women did.

then the 1^st pair crosses over two pair down, & crosses up one pair & falls into their places. "crosses over two pair down" probably means "cross, and cast down passing two couples". Then cross again, probably by the other shoulder, and cast up one couple whereupon the 2s will move up. I suspect this takes 8 bars (24 steps) but it might be intended to take only 4, we'll see how the rest of the dance times out.

then the 1^st man leads the 2^d & 3^d man forward, while the 1^st woman does the same on the woman's side, then the 1^st man turns the 3^d woman & falls in between her & the 2^d woman, the 1^st woman in the meantime turns the 2^d man & falls in between him This seems a long-winded way of saying "lines of three on the sides lead in and fall back then 1s turn their 1st corners ending improper." Again I assume this all takes 4 bars, with the forward and back being 2 steps forward and 2 back followed by 8 steps for the turn. The RSCDS rightly uses a left hand turn as that will be easiest for ending improper.

leads forward as before & turns his partner Generally dance instructions from this period are addressed to the 1st man, so "turns his partner" probably means that the M1 should turn W1. RSCDS seems to think it is addressed to L1 and that she should turn the partner of the 2nd man (whom she just turned), and that the 1st man should turn the partner of the 3rd woman (whom he just turned). Again this should take 4 bars.

Then circle left and back to the right. Presumably this involves 4 bars in each direction.

Some dance examples

My interpretation

The RSCDS has changed the "cross over lead down cross back lead up" for no good reason that I can see. On the other hand their change with the hand turns (as mentioned above) gives the dance more symmetry and seems an improvement.

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