Dances in The English Dancing Master (John Playford, 1651, London)

An online copy of the original may be found here.

Table of Contents

A

À la Mode de France À la Mode de France ~ Barraclough John Playford 1651 Michael Barraclogh ~1995 4 Couple Longways À la Mode de France ~ Palmer John Playford 1651 William Palmer 1987 4 Couple Longways permutation: 4312 À la Mode de France ~ Pat Shaw John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1964 4 Couple Longways permutation: 4312 À la Mode de France ~ Playford Ball John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp (mod) 1911 Playford Ball 4 Couple Longways permutation: 4312 À la Mode de France ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 4 Couple Longways permutation: 4312 À la Mode de France ~ Williams John Playford 1651 George Williams 2022 4 Couple Longways
Adson's Saraband Adson's Saraband ~ Playford Ball John Playford 1651 The Playford Ball 1994 Playford Ball Brett Larsen 3 Couple Longways Adson's Saraband ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Brett Larsen 3 Couple Longways
All in a Garden Green All in a Garden Green ~ Modern John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2919 3 Couple Longways permutation: 231 All in a Garden Green ~ Playford John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2919 3 Couple Longways
Aniseseed Water Robin		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912		Duple Minor
Argeers Argeers ~ Playford Ball John Playford 1651 The Playford Ball 1994 Playford Ball At Home Bare Necessities Facing Couples Argeers ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 At Home Bare Necessities Facing Couples
Argeres		John Playford 1651 The Playford Ball 1994 Playford Ball	At Home Bare Necessities	Facing Couples
Ay Me Ay Me ~ Callens John Playford 1651 Philippe Callens ~2018 Playford Ball Colin Hume 4 Couple Longways Ay Me ~ Playford Ball John Playford 1651 The Playford Ball 1994 Playford Ball Colin Hume 4 Couple Longways Ay Me ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Colin Hume 4 Couple Longways
Aye Me Aye Me ~ Callens John Playford 1651 Philippe Callens ~2018 Playford Ball Colin Hume 4 Couple Longways Aye Me ~ Playford Ball John Playford 1651 The Playford Ball 1994 Playford Ball Colin Hume 4 Couple Longways Aye Me ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Colin Hume 4 Couple Longways

B

The Bath		John Playford 1651 George Williams 2021		Duple Minor
The Beggar Boy		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	By Choice Bare Necessities	3 Couple Longways
Blew Cap		John Playford 1651 George Williams 2021		3 Couple Longways
Blew Cap for Me		John Playford 1651 George Williams 2021		3 Couple Longways
Blue Cap for Me		John Playford 1651 George Williams 2021		3 Couple Longways
The Boatman The Boatman ~ Pat Shaw John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1966 A Playford Ball Bare Necessities 3 Couple Longways The Boatman ~ Playford Ball John Playford 1651 The Playford Ball 1994 Playford Ball A Playford Ball Bare Necessities 3 Couple Longways The Boatman ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 A Playford Ball Bare Necessities 3 Couple Longways
Bobbin Jone		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Colin Hume 2013	Colin Hume	Duple Minor
Bobbing Joe Bobbing Joe Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp 1912 Duple Minor Bobbing Joe ~ Hume Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Colin Hume 2013 Colin Hume Duple Minor
Broom, The Bonny, Bonny Broom Broom, The Bonny, Bonny Broom ~ Pat Shaw John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1972 At Home Bare Necessities 4 Couple Longways Broom, The Bonny, Bonny Broom ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball At Home Bare Necessities 4 Couple Longways

C

Cast a Bell		John Playford 1651 George Williams 2021		Duple Minor
Cheerily and Merrily Cheerily and Merrily ~ Bolton John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 1991 Playford Assembly 4 Couple Longways Cheerily and Merrily ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 4 Couple Longways
The Cherping of the Lark		John Playford 1651 George Williams 2021		4 Couple Longways
Chestnut		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	3 Couple Longways
The Chirping of the Lark		John Playford 1651 George Williams 2021		4 Couple Longways
Chirping of the Nightingale - Playford		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2919		Circle as many as will
Confesse, his Tune Confesse, his Tune ~ Cecil Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Colin Hume Custom3 permutation: 121 Confesse, his Tune ~ Palmer John Playford 1651 William Palmer 1987 Playford Ball Colin Hume Custom3 permutation: 121 Confesse, his Tune ~ Pat Shaw John Playford 1651 Colin Hume Custom3 permutation: 121
The Country Coll		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		Duple Minor
The Court Lady The Court Lady ~ Cecil Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Colin Hume Custom3 permutation: 121 The Court Lady ~ Palmer John Playford 1651 William Palmer 1987 Playford Ball Colin Hume Custom3 permutation: 121 The Court Lady ~ Pat Shaw John Playford 1651 Colin Hume Custom3 permutation: 121
Cuckles all a Row		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 George Williams 2022	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	Facing Couples
Cuckolds all a Row Cuckolds all a Row ~ Barraclough Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Michael Barraclough ~2017 A Playford Ball Bare Necessities Facing Couples Cuckolds all a Row ~ Lovelace Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 George Williams 2022 A Playford Ball Bare Necessities Facing Couples Cuckolds all a Row ~ Sharp Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball A Playford Ball Bare Necessities Facing Couples
Cuckolds all Awry Cuckolds all Awry ~ Barraclough Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Michael Barraclough ~2017 A Playford Ball Bare Necessities Facing Couples Cuckolds all Awry ~ Sharp Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball A Playford Ball Bare Necessities Facing Couples

D

Daphne		John Playford 1651 Tom Cook Playford Assembly		4 Couple Longways permutation: 2413
Dargason		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	Custom
Dissembling Love		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1922		3 Couple Longways
Don Pedro		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		Duple Minor
Dove's Figary		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	3 Couple Longways
Drive the Cold Winter Away Drive the Cold Winter Away ~ Bolton John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 2003 Colin Hume 3 Couple Longways permutation: 231 Drive the Cold Winter Away ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1922 Colin Hume 4 Couple Longways
Dull Sir John		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911		Square
Durham Stable		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		3 Couple Longways

E

Edinburgh Castle Edinburgh Castle ~ Hume John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 2023 Colin Hume 3 Couple Longways Edinburgh Castle ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball Strong Roots Bare Necessities 3 Couple Longways

F

Fain I Would Fain I Would ~ Hume John Playford 1651 Colin Hume At Home Bare Necessities Square Fain I Would ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball At Home Bare Necessities Square
The Fine Companion		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball		Square
The Friar and the Nun		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912	Colin Hume	Duple Minor
The Friar in the Well		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1922 Playford Ball		6 Couple Longways
The Fryar and the Nun		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912	Colin Hume	Duple Minor

G

Gathering Peascods		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	Circle as many as will
The Glory of the West The Glory of the West ~ Bolton John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 2000 Facing Couples The Glory of the West ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Facing Couples
Goddesses		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Assembly		4 Couple Longways
Graies Inne Maske		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Fried de Metz Herman 1995 Playford Assembly		3 Couple Longways
The Green Man ~ Playford		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		3 Couple Longways
Greenwood		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp 1916		3 Couple Longways
Grimstock Grimstock ~ Hume John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 2020 Colin Hume 3 Couple Longways Grimstock ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball Colin Hume 3 Couple Longways
The Gun		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		Duple Minor

H

Half Hannikin Meets Lord of Carnarvan		John Playford 1651 Bob Lilley 2013		Duple Minor
Half Panickin'		John Playford 1651 Bob Lilley 2013		Duple Minor
Halfe Hannikin Halfe Hannikin John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp (mod) 1916 Playford Assembly Circle as many as will Halfe Hannikin ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Assembly Circle as many as will
Harts Ease		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball	Strong Roots Bare Necessities	Facing Couples
Have at thy Coat, Old Woman		John Playford 1651 George Williams 2021		Duple Minor
The Health The Health ~ Pat Shaw John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1964 Colin Hume 4 Couple Longways The Health ~ Sharp#1 John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Colin Hume 4 Couple Longways The Health ~ Sharp#2 John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball Colin Hume 4 Couple Longways
An Health To Betty		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Charles Bolton 1985		4 Couple Longways permutation: 2413
Heart's Ease		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball	Strong Roots Bare Necessities	Facing Couples
Heartsease		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball	Strong Roots Bare Necessities	Facing Couples
Hemp-Dresser		John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 1986		4 Couple Longways permutation: 2413
Hey, Boys, up Go We (Sharp)		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	Facing Couples
Hide Parke		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball	At Home Bare Necessities	Square
Hit and Misse Hit and Misse ~ Hume John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 2023 Colin Hume Facing Couples Hit and Misse ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball A Playford Ball Bare Necessities Facing Couples
Hit or Miss Hit or Miss John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 2023 Colin Hume Facing Couples Hit or Miss John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball A Playford Ball Bare Necessities Facing Couples
Hockley in the Hole		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		4 Couple Longways permutation: 2341
The Huntsman		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp 1916		3 Couple Longways
Hyde Park		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball	At Home Bare Necessities	Square

I

If all the World were Paper If all the World were Paper ~ P. Shaw John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1964 Playford Assembly Colin Hume Square If all the World were Paper ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Assembly Colin Hume Square
The Irish Lady		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912		Duple Minor
Irish Trot		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912		Duple Minor

J

Jack Pudding Jack Pudding ~ Lovelace Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 George Williams 2021 Colin Hume Custom permutation: 231 Jack Pudding ~ Playford Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Colin Hume 1998 Playford Assembly Colin Hume 3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Jack-a-Lent		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1922		3 Couple Longways
Jenny Pluck Pears		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	3 Couple Circle
Jog On		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp (mod) 1916		Duple Minor
Jog On, My Honey		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp (mod) 1916		Duple Minor
Jogg On		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp (mod) 1916		Duple Minor

K

Kemp's Jigg		John Playford 1651 Douglas & Helen Kennedy (mod) 1929		3 Couple Circle
Kettle Drum		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2919	Old Friends MGM and Reunion	Square

L

Labour in Vain Labour in Vain John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 A Playford Ball Bare Necessities 3 Couple Longways Labour in Vain John Playford 1651 The Playford Ball 1994 Playford Ball A Playford Ball Bare Necessities 3 Couple Longways Labour in Vain ~ Hume John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 1995 Colin Hume 3 Couple Longways
Lady Lye near Me		John Playford 1651 George Williams 2021		Duple Minor
Lady Spellor		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912		4 Couple Longways
Lady Spillers		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912		4 Couple Longways
Lavena		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		Duple Minor
The London Gentlewoman		John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 1986		4 Couple Longways permutation: 2413
The London Maid		John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 1986		4 Couple Longways permutation: 2413
Lord of Carnarvon's Jigg Lord of Carnarvon's Jigg ~ Pat Shaw John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1959 4 Couple Longways permutation: 3412 Lord of Carnarvon's Jigg ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 4 Couple Longways permutation: 3412 Lord of Carnarvon's Jigg ~ Wittman John Playford 1651 Wittman ~1986 Playford Assembly 4 Couple Longways permutation: 3412
The Lost Heart		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1922		3 Couple Longways
Lull Me Beyond Thee Lull Me Beyond Thee John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball At Home Bare Necessities 4 Couple Longways Lull Me Beyond Thee ~ Pat Shaw John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1960 4 Couple Longways

M

Mad Tom		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Fried de Metz Herman 1995 Playford Assembly		3 Couple Longways
Mage on a Cree Mage on a Cree ~ Pat Shaw John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1961 Colin Hume Square Mage on a Cree ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball Colin Hume Square
The Maid Peept out at the Window		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1922 Playford Ball		6 Couple Longways
Maiden Fair		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Pat Shaw 1962		Duple Minor
Maiden Lane		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp (mod) 1912 Playford Assembly	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Mayden Fayre		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Pat Shaw 1962		Duple Minor
The Merry Andrew The Merry Andrew ~ Lovelace Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 George Williams 2021 Colin Hume Custom permutation: 231 The Merry Andrew ~ Playford Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Colin Hume 1998 Playford Assembly Colin Hume 3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
The Merry Frolic ~ Pat Shaw		John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1964	Colin Hume	4 Couple Longways
The Merry Wassail The Merry Wassail ~ Pat Shaw John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1964 Colin Hume 4 Couple Longways The Merry Wassail ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball Colin Hume 4 Couple Longways The Merry Wassail ~ Sharp#1 John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Colin Hume 4 Couple Longways
The Merry, Merry Milkmaids		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball	At Home Bare Necessities	4 Couple Longways
The Milk-maid's Bob		John Playford 1651 George Williams 2021		Duple Minor
The Milke-Mayds Bobb		John Playford 1651 George Williams 2021		Duple Minor
Mill-Field		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1922		Square
Millison's Jigg Millison's Jigg ~ Bolton John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 2000 Colin Hume 3 Couple Longways Millison's Jigg ~ Hume John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 2011 Colin Hume 3 Couple Longways Millison's Jigg ~ Williams John Playford 1651 George Williams 2021 Colin Hume 3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Mr. Webb's Fancy Mr. Webb's Fancy ~ Bolton John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 1991 Playford Assembly 4 Couple Longways Mr. Webb's Fancy ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 4 Couple Longways
Mundesse		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1922	Old Friends MGM and Reunion	3 Couple Circle
My Lady Cullen		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911	Colin Hume	Duple Minor

N

New Bo-Peep New Bo-Peep ~ Barraclough John Playford 1651 Michael Barraclough ~2017 Longways as many as will New Bo-Peep ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Longways as many as will
The New Exchange		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		3 Couple Longways
New New Nothing		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		Duple Minor
Newcastle Newcastle ~ Barraclough John Playford 1651 Michael Barraclough 2001 Colin Hume Square Newcastle ~ Hume John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 2016 Colin Hume Square Newcastle ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball Colin Hume Square Newcastle ~ Sharp/Hume John Playford 1651 Comparing Cecil Sharp (1911) Colin Hume (2016) Square
Newcastle United		John Playford 1651 Michael Barraclough 2001	Colin Hume	Square
The Night Piece		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1922		3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Nonesuch Nonesuch ~ Barraclough John Playford 1651 Michael Barraclogh ~1995 4 Couple Longways Nonesuch ~ Palmer John Playford 1651 William Palmer 1987 4 Couple Longways permutation: 4312 Nonesuch ~ Pat Shaw John Playford 1651 Pat Shaw 1964 4 Couple Longways permutation: 4312 Nonesuch ~ Playford Ball John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp (mod) 1911 Playford Ball 4 Couple Longways permutation: 4312 Nonesuch ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 4 Couple Longways permutation: 4312 Nonesuch ~ Williams John Playford 1651 George Williams 2022 4 Couple Longways

O

An Old Man is a Bed Full of Bones		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 George Williams 2021		3 Couple Longways
The Old Man with a Bed Full of Bones		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 George Williams 2021		3 Couple Longways
An Old Man, a Bed Full of Bones		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 George Williams 2021		3 Couple Longways
The Old Mole		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways
Once I Lov'd a Maiden Faire		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Pat Shaw 1962		Duple Minor
The Oyle of Barley		John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 1989		3 Couple Longways

P

Parson's Farewell Parson's Farewell ~ Hume John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 2020 At Home Bare Necessities Facing Couples Becket Parson's Farewell ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball At Home Bare Necessities Facing Couples
Parthenia Parthenia ~ Hume John Playford 1651 Colin Hume At Home Bare Necessities Square Parthenia ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Playford Ball At Home Bare Necessities Square
The Passionate Lovers		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		Duple Minor
Paul's Steeple		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		Duple Minor
Paul's Wharfe		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		Duple Minor
Pepper's Black		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp (mod) 1922		Circle as many as will
Petticoat Wag		John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 1989	Fast Friends Bare Necessities	4 Couple Longways
Pickadilla Pickadilla ~ Barraclough John Playford 1651 Michael Barraclough ~2017 Longways as many as will Pickadilla ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Longways as many as will
Pickadilly Pickadilly ~ Barraclough John Playford 1651 Michael Barraclough ~2017 Longways as many as will Pickadilly ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Longways as many as will
Picking of Stickes		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball		3 Couple Longways
Picking Up Sticks		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball		3 Couple Longways
Prince Rupert's March		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916		4 Couple Longways
Punk's Delight		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		Duple Minor
The Punk's Delight (The New Way)		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		Duple Minor

R

Rose is White, and Rose is Red		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp (mod) 1922		Circle as many as will permutation: 456123
Roses White, and Roses Red		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Cecil Sharp (mod) 1922		Circle as many as will permutation: 456123
Row Well, Ye Mariners Row Well, Ye Mariners ~ Bolton John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 1992 Playford Assembly Strong Roots Bare Necessities Circle as many as will Row Well, Ye Mariners ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Strong Roots Bare Necessities 7 Couple Longways Row Well, Ye Mariners ~ Sharp/Bolton John Playford 1651 Comparing Cecil Sharp (1912) Charles Bolton (1992) Square
Rufty Tufty		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	By Choice Bare Necessities	Facing Couples

S

Saint Martin's		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball		Facing Couples
St. Paul's Steeple		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		Duple Minor
The Saraband		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		Duple Minor
Saturday Night and Sunday Morn		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1922		Duple Minor
Scotch Cap Scotch Cap ~ Hume John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 2023 Colin Hume 3 Couple Longways Scotch Cap ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball Strong Roots Bare Necessities 3 Couple Longways
Sedany		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911 Playford Ball	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	Custom
The Shaking of the Sheets		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1922		3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Shepherd's Holiday Shepherd's Holiday ~ Hume John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 1995 Colin Hume 3 Couple Longways Shepherd's Holiday ~ Playford Ball John Playford 1651 The Playford Ball 1994 Playford Ball A Playford Ball Bare Necessities 3 Couple Longways Shepherd's Holiday ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 A Playford Ball Bare Necessities 3 Couple Longways
Sir Nicholas Cully		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		Duple Minor
Skellamefago		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		Duple Minor
The Slip		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1922		4 Couple Longways
A Soldier's Life		John Playford 1651 George Williams 2022		Duple Minor
Spanish Gypsie Spanish Gypsie ~ Longways Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Bernard Bentley 1971 4 Couple Longways Spanish Gypsie ~ Square John Playford 1651 Bernard Bentley 1971 Square
The Spanish Jeepsie		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Bernard Bentley 1971		4 Couple Longways
The Spanyard		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		4 Couple Longways
Staines Morris		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911		Longways as many as will
Stanes Morris		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1911		Longways as many as will
Step Stately Step Stately John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Ball Colin Hume 3 Couple Longways Step Stately ~ Hume John Playford 1651 Colin Hume 1995 Colin Hume 5 Couple Longways Step Stately ~ Old Style Progression, 7 Couple John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 7 Couple Longways Step Stately ~ Palmer John Playford 1651 William Palmer 1987 3 Couple Longways Step Stately ~ Part 3, Quadruple 7 Couple John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Quadruple Minor Step Stately ~ Part 3, Triple 7 Couple John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Triple Minor Step Stately ~ Part 3, Whole Set 7 Couple John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 7 Couple Longways permutation: 2345671
Stingo		John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 1989		3 Couple Longways
The Symphony The Symphony John Playford 1651 Philippe Callens ~2018 Playford Ball Colin Hume 4 Couple Longways The Symphony ~ Playford Ball John Playford 1651 The Playford Ball 1994 Playford Ball Colin Hume 4 Couple Longways The Symphony ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Colin Hume 4 Couple Longways

T

The Taylor's Daughter		John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 1989	Fast Friends Bare Necessities	4 Couple Longways
Tom a Bedlam		Lovelace Manuscript ~1649 Fried de Metz Herman 1995 Playford Assembly		3 Couple Longways
Tom Tinker		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		Duple Minor

U

Up Tails All Up Tails All John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Circle as many as will Up Tails All ~ Bolton John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 1985 Square Up Tails All ~ Sharp #1 John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Circle as many as will Up Tails All ~ Sharp #2 John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Circle as many as will

Up Tayles All Up Tayles All John Playford 1651 Charles Bolton 1985 Square Up Tayles All John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Circle as many as will Up Tayles All John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Circle as many as will Up Tayles All John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Circle as many as will

Upon a Summer's Day Upon a Summer's Day ~ Playford Ball John Playford 1651 The Playford Ball 1994 Playford Ball Colin Hume 3 Couple Longways Upon a Summer's Day ~ Sharp John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1912 Colin Hume 3 Couple Longways

V

The Valiant Captain

John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019

Duple Minor

W

The Wedding Night		John Playford 1651 The Playford Ball 1994 Playford Ball	At Home Bare Necessities	Facing Couples
The Whirligig		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1916 Playford Assembly		3 Couple Longways
The Whish		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1922		3 Couple Longways
The Wish		John Playford 1651 Cecil Sharp 1922		3 Couple Longways
Woodycock		John Playford 1651 Scott Pfitzinger ~2019		3 Couple Longways

This list contains all dances in the book which I have animated (and which first appeared in this edition of the Dancing Master) for a complete list of dances in the book see here.

John Playford's The Engliſh Dancing Maſter of 1651 is the first published book in the English language presenting both the figures of dances and the tunes for dancing them. This is all the more surprising because it was published in the Parlementary War when theaters were closed and later Christmas was banned.

This is not to say that Playford invented these dances, some of them, for instance Sellenger's Round, Sedanny, and Stanes Morris are mentioned in Shakespeare's time (see The Lively Shape of Dancing: Dances of Shakespeare's time). Playford, or more likely some nameless dancing master (or two) simply recorded the dances that were current in his time.

It is clear from the complexity of some of the dances, and some of the figures that they were part of a long tradition and did not spring de novo from Playford's brow.

You should not expect to find here the correct way these dances were danced in Playford's time. To some extent that is something we cannot ever know. But also there was no single way of dancing even then. If you look at The Lovelace Manuscript — an annonymous, undated manuscript from a library at Harvard, which appears to have been written in the 1640s — you will find some of Playford's dances described differently. Sometimes the differences are minor, sometimes major. Clearly, even in 1651 there were different ways of dancing the same dance.

Not only was there no correct way of dancing these dances in 1651, but the language has changed since then, we don't even know what Playford is telling us to do. When Cecil Sharp reconstructed many of these dances in 1912 he found many terms which had fallen out of use. What does "Sides All" mean? Sharp came up with a figure, and later came up with a different figure. Is either correct? Who knows?

Or take the word "salute", Sharp interprets it as an honour (bow/courtesy) — which certainly fits the modern meaning of the word, but if you look at The Lovelace Manuscript it becomes clear that, at that time and in the context of dancing, "to salute" meant "to kiss"

Furthermore, Playford is not always a clear as he might be. My favorite example is from Row well ye mariners, Playford describes the dance as:

Lead up a D. forwards and back · That again :

First man two slips cross the Room one way, the woman the other · Back again to your places :

Fall back both · Meet again :

Clap both your own hands, then clap each other's right-hands against one another's; clap both your own hands again, then clap left-hands, then clap both hands again, then clap your breasts, then meet both your hands against one-another · The same again, only clap left-hands first :

---

First man sides with the next wo. and his wo. with the next man, doing the like till you come to your own places, the rest following and doing the same.

The dance consists of two 16 bar parts. The first is well defined, but for the second we have only that people should "side" (whatever that is) with their neighbors and then (somehow) progress. Now siding is a move which takes 4 bars and leaves one where one started. It does not progress and it leaves 12 bars of music unaccounted for.

So Playford's dances must be reinterpreted, and different modern interpreters have different ideas. Many of the dances shown here have multiple modern interpretations. Probably none is exactly the dance Playford knew, but don't hold that against them, they are still fun to dance.

The dances here are rather different from the dances which evolved 100~150 years later in the Regency Period. There are very few triple minor dances in this list (perhaps only Step Stately and it's a very odd triple minor).

Most of these dances contain the three standard introductory figures: "Up a Double", "Siding", and "Arming" — or USA dances. This idiom of dancing is also found in the Lovelace Manuscript, but the last example I have animated dates to 1670. Many of the dances are not progressive. Regency dances were almost entirely longways, but Playford's dances run the gamut from longways to circles, squares to lines and to strange triangles. Even when Playford does use a standard duple minor longways format he usually has multiple different figures for the same tune, and the dance consisted of dancing each figure until everyone was back where s/he started before the next figure would begin. This idiom also died out, and the last example I have animated is Devonshire House from 1698.

The scans of all of Playford's dance descriptions can be found:

• Scott Pfitzinger-Kumle's website released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license. This version is easier to use and the scans are often easier to read.
• The CDSS hosts Robert Keller's version. This version is more scholarly and shows how the dance changed across the different editions of the Dancing Master.

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.