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 David Rutherford
(R)SCDS Book 3, 1926
| Lady MacIntosh's Rant | David Rutherford, London, 1756‡ Rutherford's compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both Old and New, Vol. 1 Rutherford spells the dance "Lady McIntosh's Rant" and writes: Cast off one Couple Cast up Again Lead down two Couples up again, foot it foot it & cast off Right Hand and Left Rutherford's music consists of a two bar strain and a four bar strain.
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(R)SCDS Book 10, 1935
| Lady Jean Murray's Rant ~ RSCDS | David Rutherford, London, ~1756‡ Rutherford's compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both Old and New, Vol. 1 Rutherford spells the title "Lady Jane Murray's Rant". Rutherford writes (in dance 139) The first Man casts off, & the 2d Woman casts up at the same time & turns The first Wo. and 2d Man does the same Hands a cross with the 2d Couple & back again Foot to your Partner & right Hands & Left The music consists of 2 four bar phrases, each presumably played at 4 counts per bar. | |
| Lady's Breist Knot | David Rutherford, London, ~1759‡ Rutherford's compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both Old and New, Vol. 2 RSCDS Book 10 attributes this to "Jno Johnson Caledonian Country Dances Vol. II, c. 1754". According to Robert Keller's site, Johnson published "A Choice Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances" Vol. 6&7 in ~1751, and Vol. 8 in ~1753. None of these has a dance called "Briest Knot" or "Breast Knot" or anything similar. Johnson did publish a "24 country dances for the year ..." series. The one for 1755 does not have a dance with this name. (I don't have access to any of the others). He also published "Caledonian Country Dances", the one published in ~1750 does not contain a dance with this name. He may have published other books but I do not have access to them. However, in ~1759, Rutherford published "Rutherford's compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both Old and New, Vol. 2" which contains a dance called "The Ladies Breast Knott" whose figure matches that of the RSCDS. Rutherford writes (in dance 79) First Cu cast off & hands across with the 3d Cu the 2d Cu does the same Hands round 6 lead down two Cu: & cast up into the 2d Cus: Places & turn your Partner Thompson also published a dance called The Breast Knott in 1771, but its figure does not match. |
(R)SCDS Book 14, 1947
| The Crooket Horned Ewie ~ RSCDS | David Rutherford, London, 1758 Twenty Four Country Dances of the Year 1758 Rutherford spells this dance as "The Crocked Horn'd Ewe". Rutherford writes: The first Cu. Lead thro the 2d. Cu. & cross over into ye. 3d. Cu.s Place The 2d. does the same The 3d. Cu. casts off into their own Place, then the 3 Men turns their Partners & the first Cu. cross over two Cu. Lead up to the Top foot it & cast off Lead thro ye. 3d. Cu. cast up into ye. 2d. Cu.s Place & turn your Partner |
(R)SCDS Book 15, 1949
| The Gates of Edinburgh ~ RSCDS | David Rutherford, London, ~1756 Rutherford's compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both Old and New, Vol. 1 Rutherford writes: Hey contrary sides Hey on your own sides Then the Man falls in at Bottom & the Wo. falls In at Top Foot it all six & turn your own Partner Then the Wo. falls in of the Man's side & the Man on the Woman's side foot it all 6 & turn yr. Partner |
RSCDS Book 17, 1953 (Coronation Book)
| A Trip to Aberdeen ~ RSCDS | David Rutherford, London, 1759 Rutherford's compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both Old and New, Vol. 2 Rutherford writes: First Man cast off and turn the 3d. Wo: First Woman cast off and turn the 3d. Man Hands round 6 that back again foot it corners and turn Lead out sides and turn The big problem I have with interpreting this dance is what to make of the strain markers ( , , and . Given the variety of the markers I would expect the tune to have three strains, each to be played twice. But Rutherford prints a rather standard jig with an A and B strain both repeated. Is one of the strains to be repeated four times? AAAABB? but if so why not use , and for the third and fourth markers? I suppose AABBAA could be intended but that doesn't seem likely to me either. AAABBB really doesn't match the markers. The RSCDS interpretation suggests that first four marks should each represent half a strain, and in other dances Rutherford seems to take a relaxed approach to what the marks mean. And it does seem likely this is a normal 32 bar jig given how the music is printed. |
RSCDS Book 18, 1955
| Johnny Groat's House ~ RSCDS | David Rutherford, London, ~1756 Rutherford's compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both Old and New, Vol. 1 The RSCDS interpretation of this dance is basically the same as the original, the only difference being that the circle six, might just have been a circle left. Rutherford writes: The first Cu. Gallop down one Cu. & up again And cast off The same with the 3d. Cu. and Cast off Hands round all six Lead up To the Top Foot it and cast off Johnson published a dance titled Johnny Grot's House in 1750, but with a different figure. |
RSCDS Book 19, 1957
| The Deuks Dang ower my Daddie | David Rutherford, London, 1756 Rutherford's compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both Old and New, Vol. 1 Rutherford calls this dance Just as I am in the Morning. Rutherford writes: The 1st Cu. casts of one Cu. cast up again cross over and turn · the 2d Cu. does the same the 1st Man Leads his Partner off and Leaves her in the 2d Mans Place then turns the 2d Wo then Leads her thro the Mens side and turns her then the 1st Cu. half figures Round the 2d Cu. and turns The Lowes published a dance called "The Deuks dang o'er my Daddie" in ~1831 but it has a different figure. | |
| Lochiel's Rant ~ RSCDS | David Rutherford, London, ~1756 Rutherford's compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both Old and New, Vol. 1 On page 64 Rutherford writes: The first Man sets to the 2d. Wo. & turns her with his right Hand, & his Partner with his Left First Wo. does the same Lead down between the 2d. Cou. & without Side the 3d. turn your Partner, lead up to the Top, foot it, & cast off foot it Corners & turn foot it ye other Corners & turn yr. own Partner The music consists of a four bar strain and an eight bar one. They both need to be played at four counts per bar to fit in all the movements. |
RSCDS Book 20, 1959
| The Drummer - Rutherford ~ RSCDS | David Rutherford, London, ~1756 Rutherford's compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both Old and New, Vol. 1 Rutherford writes: The first Cu. sets to the 2d. Wo. & Hands round all three The same to the Man Hands round all four with the 2d. Cu. Right Hand & Left into the 2d. Cu.s place Foot it Corners & turn Hey Contrary sides Foot it to your Partner and turn it out | |
| Quiet and Snug ~ RSCDS | David Rutherford, London, ~1756 Rutherford's compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both Old and New, Vol. 1 Rutherford writes: The first Cu. sets to the 2d Wo. and turns his own Partner Then sets to the 2d Man & turn his Own Partner Gallop down the Middle & up again And cast off Right Hand & Left Johnson and Walsh earlier published dances with this name, but a different figure. This is almost the same as the original, except that, in turning the music into a strathspey, the two hand turns have become turn twice rather than once. |
RSCDS Book 27, 1975
| Sally's Fancy | David Rutherford, London, ~1750‡ Rutherford's Choice Collection of Sixty of the most Celebrated Country Dances Rutherford (on page 55, dance 109) writes: Gallop down one Cu: up again & cast off down another Cu: up again & Cast off Hands round 6 back again Lead to the top & cast off Right & Left at top The music consists of three four bar strains. Playford published (and Walsh copied) a Salley's Fancy in 1718, but the figure is different. |
Miss Milligan's Miscellany 1, ~1977
| Espie McNabb ~ RSCDS | David Rutherford, London, 1759 Rutherford's compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both Old and New, Vol. 2 Rutherford calls this dance Epie McNabb, and writes: All the Company foot it & change sides Foot it & change sides back again First Cou. cast off & turn Hands round all Six | |
| Kiss under the Stairs | David Rutherford, London, 1756‡ Rutherford's compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both Old and New, Vol. 1 Rutherford writes: The first Cu. cast off & Hands round with the 3d. Cu: Cast up Again & Hands round with the 2d. Cu: Gallop down two Cu. Up again cast off & turn Lead thro' the 3d. Cu. cast up into the 2d. Couple's Place & turn your Partner |
Miss Milligan's Miscellany 2, ~1977
| Edinburgh Jigs | David Rutherford, London, ~1756‡ Rutherford's compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both Old and New, Vol. 1 Rutherford writes: the first Man cast off & turn the 3d. Wo. and stand in the 2d. Man place The first Wo. does the same to the 3d. Man & stand in the 2d. Wos. place Hand round all six Right Hand and Left at Top Rutherford spells the title "Edinburgh Jigg" rather than "Jigs". | |
| The Lads of Saltcoats | David Rutherford, London, ~1759‡ Rutherford's compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both Old and New, Vol. 2 Rutherford spells this dance "Lads of Saltcots" and writes: The first Cu. Hey with the 2d. Man Then with the 2d Wo. Gallop down the middle up again & cast off Right & Left at Top | |
| The New Highland Laddie | David Rutherford, London, ~1756‡ Rutherford's compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both Old and New, Vol. 1 |
Statistics
Number of dances published by city (or region)
| London | 17 |
Number of dances published by semi century
| 1750-1799 | 17 |
Number of dances by early publisher/devisor
| David Rutherford | 17 |
References
| David Rutherford | Rutherford's Choice Collection of Sixty of the most Celebrated Country Dances, London, about 1750. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the National Library of Ireland, Dublin |
| " | Rutherford's compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both Old and New, Vol. 1, London, 1756 |
| " | Twenty Four Country Dances of the Year 1758, London, 1758. May be found in the Library of Congress, and the Havard University Library |
| " | Rutherford's compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both Old and New, Vol. 2, London, about 1759. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the National Library of Ireland, Dublin |
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.