Early Sources of RSCDS dances
None of the dances published by the RSCDS before book 13 were devised by the RSCDS, instead they were considered "traditional" dances. Many dances published in subsequent books fall into that category as well. I have tried to track down the sources of these dances and display here the earliest published versions of the dance's figure which I've been able to find.
In some cases the RSCDS mentions a source. Often I have found earlier examples of the dance. Sometimes I have been unable to find the RSCDS source and will present the earliest source I have found.
When I know the deviser, I mark the name in italics. In most cases for these old dances I only know the publisher.
When a dance source is marked with "†" it means I have been unable to verify the source of the dance, when it is marked with "‡" it means I have been unable to find any Scottish dance manual containing this dance (prior to 1924).
Hovering the mouse over a dance's devisor/publisher will (often) produce a popup containing the text of the original.By default the list below shows only traditional dances interpreted by the (R)SCDS. I believe that Book 34 (1986) was the last book to contain any traditional dances. Before Book 13 all (R)SCDS dances were traditional, but Book 13 contains The Reel of the 51st Division, the first published modern dance. No further modern dances were published until Book 22 (1963), and after that some books contained modern and some traditional dances until Books 31&34, which contains both.
At the end I have several tables of statistics.
Order by:
Include:
(R)SCDS Book Range:
Containing figure:
(R)SCDS dances devised by Robert Bremner
(R)SCDS Book 13, 1945 (Victory Book)
| Miss Cahoon's Reel | Robert Bremner, London, 1769‡ For the Year 1769. A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances The RSCDS attributes this to Bremner's work: A Second Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances, which they date variously to ~1757 and ~1765. In ~1765 Bremner published A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances; a work which only contains tunes with no figures. According to Hugh Thurston the second collection was published in London in 1769. As far as I can tell, what was published in London was actually titled: For the Year 1769. A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances. At any rate, that work contains this dance. Robert Bremner writes: The 1st Cu: cast off one Cu: hands four round with the 3d. Cu: cast up and hands four round with the 2d. Cu: cross over two couples lead up to the Top, foot it and cast off turn corners with your right hands and turn Partner with your left the other corners the same Hey contrary sides then your own sides The RSCDS claims this comes from A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances and it may be in that, but I know it is in For the Year 1769. A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances (both by Bremner). | |
| The Nether Bow has Vanished | Robert Bremner, London, 1769‡ For the Year 1769. A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances The RSCDS attributes this to Bremner's work: A Second Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances, which they date variously to ~1757 and ~1765. In ~1765 Bremner published A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances; a work which only contains tunes with no figures. According to Hugh Thurston the second collection was published in London in 1769. As far as I can tell, what was published in London was actually titled: For the Year 1769. A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances. At any rate, that work contains this dance. Robert Bremner writes: The first Cu: foot it to the 2d. Wo: and hands round 3 the same to the 2d. Man lead down one Cu: up again and cast off foot it ℵ hands round 4 with the 3d. Cu: foot it and hands round 4 with the 2d Cu: lead up to the Top ℵ cast off right ℵ left at top The RSCDS claims this comes from A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances and it may be in that, but I know it is in For the Year 1769. A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances (both by Bremner). | |
| Strathglass House | Robert Bremner, London, 1769‡ For the Year 1769. A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances The RSCDS attributes this to Bremner's work: A Second Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances, which they date variously to ~1757 and ~1765. In ~1765 Bremner published A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances; a work which only contains tunes with no figures. According to Hugh Thurston the second collection was published in London in 1769. As far as I can tell, what was published in London was actually titled: For the Year 1769. A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances. At any rate, that work contains this dance. Robert Keller Bremner titled this dance Straglass House - Strathspey. Robert Bremner writes: The 1st, 2d, and 3d Cu: foot it and hands round Six the same back again cross over two Cu: lead up to the Top and cast off Turn corners with your right hands ℵ turn partner with your Left the other corners the same lead outsides and turn The RSCDS claims this comes from A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances and it may be in that, but I know it is in For the Year 1769. A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances (both by Bremner). |
RSCDS Book 25, 1970
| The Deacon of the Weavers | Robert Bremner, London, 1769‡ For the Year 1769. A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances Robert Bremner writes: The first and 2d. Cu: foot it and right and left half round the same back again lead down two Cu. up again ℵ cast off set corners lead outsides and turn |
Miss Milligan's Miscellany 2, ~1977
| The New Town of Edinburgh | Robert Bremner, London, 1769‡ For the Year 1769. A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances Miss Milligan's Miscellany 2 says the tune for this dance comes from Bremner, but it doesn't mention that the figure also does. Robert Bremner writes: The first and Second Couple foot it and change sides the same back again foot it all four Right hands across foot it Left hands back again lead down two couple foot it to your partner lead up to the Top foot it and cast off hands Round four with the third Couple Right and Left at Top |
Statistics
Number of dances published by city (or region)
| London | 5 |
Number of dances published by semi century
| 1750-1799 | 5 |
Number of dances by early publisher/devisor
| Robert Bremner | 5 |
References
| Robert Bremner | For the Year 1769. A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances, London, 1769. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh |
Scans of old dance manuals are scattered about the internet. The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, International Music Score Library Project, Scott Pfitzinger's Playford site, Richard Powers' website, Library of Congress, and The Library of Dance all provide primary sources. A number of other sites provide indeces of these sources: The Regency Dance site, The Library of Dance again, and my own site have all proven useful for finding old sources. Finally there is Robert Keller's index which does not provide sources directly but lists thousands of dances, the publications containing them, dates and a brief coded description of the figures. This last has proven invaluable for tracking down dances for which I had no complete sources.
And, of course, both the Scottish Country Dance Database and the Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary provide online descriptions of all the RSCDS books and often hint at early sources.
This website is copyright © 2021-2026 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.