

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:
| Rory O'More ~ Scottish | A Cosmo Mitchell, Aberdeen, ~1890 A Guide to Ball Room Dancing The RSCDS attributes this to Mitchell's A Guide to Ball Room Dancing, a work I haven't found yet. The earliest I have found are the following: D. Anderson's Ball-Room and Solo Dance Guide, he writes:
Also in Skinner writes:
A quite different dance with this name appeared in the US in 1858 (Elias Howe, Boston). It seems likely to me that a dance appeared before 1897 in Scotland, but I haven't found any earlier sources. Kate Hughes's manuscript, Dancing Book, Ireland, 1867, contains yet another version of the figure.
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| Delvine Side | William Campbell, London, ~1800 Campbell's 15th Book of New and Favorite Country Dances & Strathspey Reels Campbell's 15th book does contain a dance with this name, but I have been unable to find more than a table of contents and can't verify the choreography.
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| Greig's Pipes ~ RSCDS | William Boag, London, 1797† A Collection of Favourite Reels and Strathspeys by the most Eminent Composers I can't track down Boag's publication, but I have found it in Lowes' Ball-Conductor and Assembly Guide in ~1830 published by the Messrs. Lowe who write: First couple turn by the right hand, and the Gentleman passes one couple down the middle; then turn quite round by the left hand, and set, three and three, in lines across the dance; turn round with both hands; then the Lady goes between the second and third Gentlemen, and the Gentleman between the second and third Ladies; set, holding the hands; set corners, and reel. The Lowes title it Greig's Pipes, or the Cameronian Rant.
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| The Eight Men of Moidart | Neil Stewart, Edinburgh, ~1761† A Collection of the Newest and Best Reels or Country Dances The RSCDS attributes this dance to Neil Stewart's A Collection of the Newest and best Reels or Country Dances, c. 1761-1763. The only work with this name and author at the National Library of Scotland was published ~1775 and contains only tunes with no figures. The RSCDS goes on to say that the tune comes from Caledonian Country Dances ~1754 (which Book 10 says was published by Johnson). This work seems to have disappeared. In any case, the tune was published earlier, by Rutherford (in Rutherford's Choice Collection of Sixty of the most Celebrated Country Dances, 1750) and Johnson (in A Choice Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, Vol. 8, 1753). (Neither of those dances matches this figure).
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| The Rock and the Wee Pickle Tow | Lowe, Edinburgh, ~1831 Lowes' Ball-Conductor and Assembly Guide The RSCDS attributes this to Mozart Allan's Allan's Reference Guide to the Ball-Room, Glasgow, ~1895, and a dance with this name and figure is in that work, but it occurred elsewhere earlier. Johnson published a dance called Rock and a Wi Pickle in 1742, but the figure is completely different. The Lowes write: First couple cross over, giving the right hand, and cast off one couple; cross back again, giving the left hand, and up to places; four hands round, and back again; down the middle, and up again, and pousette. If you look at other dances by the Lowes you will find that "down the middle and up" is progressive, and "poussette" is not. This is at variance with the RSCDS which does the reverse, but is quite in keeping with 19th century dances.
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| The Falkland Beauty | Lowe, Edinburgh, ~1831 Lowes' Ball-Conductor and Assembly Guide The RSCDS claims this is "from the Border Country". The Lowes write: The first Lady crosses over, and sets between the second and third Gentlemen; the first Gentleman the same, and sets between the second and third Ladies; the six in hand advance and retire, and hands three round on the sides; pousette by the first and second couples.
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| The Foula Reel | Anonymous, Shetland, date unknown† The RSCDS claims this dance was collected in Shetland.
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| Highland Laddie | Anonymous, date unknown† A dance named Highland Laddie was published by Walsh, Wright and also Johnson in 1740. Its figure is unlike this dance. The RSCDS attributes this dance to Wilson, 1816, but I have my doubts. Wilson Wilson did publish dances called Highland Laddie in both 1809 and 1816. Two of those dances start with a cast down two couples followed by a lead back to the top. In The Treasures of Terpischore, Wilson, on page 43, writes: Single Figure While in Companion to the Ball Room, Wilson, on page 36, writes: SINGLE FIGURE (Tune played straight thro')
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| Duke of Hamilton's Reel | Johnson, London, ~1754†‡ Caledonian Country Dances Vol. II The RSCDS attributes this to "Caledonian Country Dances, c. 1754". Both Johnson and Walsh published books with "Caledonian" in the title in the 1750s, but none of those books has a dance with a name like "Duke of Hamilton's Reel". There may, of course, be other publishers or publications of which I'm not aware. Note: RSCDS Book 10, for the dance The Lady's Breist Knot has a more nearly complete attribution: "Jno Johnson Caledonian Country Dances Vol. II, c. 1754" but I still can't find it. Note: RSCDS Book 28, for the dance Not I contains the comment "The source given is Caledonian Country Dances, 1754 but attempts to trace this manuscript have been unsuccessful. Rutherford (1750 & 1759), Bride (1770), and Longman & Broderip (1781) all published dances with this name, but none matches the RSCDS figure.
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| The Punch Bowl | Anonymous, date unknown† The RSCDS attributes this to Rutherford, but I have my doubts. Playford (1701), Johnson (1751) and Rutherford (1756) published dances called "The Punch Bowl" but none has a figure with matches this one.
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| Scottish Ramble | Johnson, London, ~1752 Two Hundred Favourite Country Dances, Vol. 8 RSCDS Book 5 attributes this to Caledonian Country Dances, ~1754. Several people were publishing works with that title around that time, but I can't find this dance in any of them (or none that I have access to). Note: RSCDS Book 10, for the dance The Lady's Breist Knot has a more nearly complete attribution: "Jno Johnson Caledonian Country Dances Vol. II, c. 1754" but I still can't find it. Note: RSCDS Book 28, for the dance Not I contains the comment "The source given is Caledonian Country Dances, 1754 but attempts to trace this manuscript have been unsuccessful. Johnson calls the dance The Scotch Ramble and writes: First Cu. cast off two Cu. Lead up to the Top and cast off Hands 4 round with the 3d. Cu. Right hands and Left with the 2d. Cu. foot it at both Corners & turn Lead out on both sides and turn
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| The White Cockade - RSCDS | William Campbell, London, ~1788‡ Campbell's Third Collection of the newest and most favorite Country Dances & Cotillions The websites attribute this to Preston and he did publish two dances with this name, the first published in 1790 does not match this figure, the second published in Preston's Selection of the most favorite Country-Dances, Reels, 1798 does match this figure. However, Campbell published that same figure earlier, in about 1788, and Longman & Broderip did so in 1790. All of these seem to start the dance with partner changes without setting, but otherwise they match. The Lowes published a dance with this name, but the figure does not match.
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| I'll Mak' Ye Fain to Follow Me | William Boag, London, 1797† A Collection of Favourite Reels and Strathspeys by the most Eminent Composers I can't track down Boag's publication, but it appears (as "I'll Make You Be Fain To Follow Me") in J.P. Boulogne's The Ballroom from 1827:
Lowes' Ball-Conductor and Assembly Guide in ~1830 published by the Messrs. Lowe who write: The first Gentleman follows his partner round two couples; the first Lady goes down backs two couples, while the Gentlemaan goes down the middle; The Lady then goes up the middle; and the Gentleman up behind the back, passing in between the second and third couples; six hands round; swing corners.
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| Lennox Love to Blantyre | Anonymous, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, ~1730 Holmain MS From the Holmain MS (dated sometime between 1710 and 1750): First Cross hands and go 3/4 round and cast down below the first pair then Cross hands with the third pair set below them and cast up one pair, then right & left, then sett to the 2d woman, She to the first man & turn them then to the 1st woman She to the 2d man & then reel the man with the two women & the woman with the two men then Sett to their partner & turn her. Originally spelled "Lennons Love to Blanter".
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| Lord MacDonald's Reel | William Campbell, London, ~1793‡ Campbell's Eighth Collection of the newest & most favorite Country Dances and Reels According to The Regency Dance site Campbell wrote: Foot it & cast off 2 Cu Foot it & cast up again lead down 2 Cu up again & cast off Sett Corners & turn lead outsides Wallace published a dance with this name, but it has a different figure.
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| Mrs. MacLeod | J. P. Boulogne, Glasgow, 1827 The Ball-Room, or the Juvenile Pupil's Assistant; Containing the Most Fashionable Quadrilles, with Les Lanciers of Sixteen, As Danced in the Public & Private Assemblies in Paris Found in J.P. Boulogne's The Ballroom page 47.
It seems pretty clear here that Down the middle and up again is a progressive move. It is also present in Smyth's A Pocket Companion for Young Ladies and Gentlemen Containing Directions for the Performance of Quadrilles, Scotch, English, Irish, French, and Spanish Country Dances, Reels, &c., Edinburgh, 1830, and in the Lowes's Lowes' Ball-Conductor and Assembly Guide, Edinburgh, ~1831. Like Boulogne, both of them call it "Mrs. McLeod" though. Smyth writes: Four hands across and back again. Down the middle and up again, Set corners, and turn round, Set opposite corners and turn round, a reel of three on each side.
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| Oxton Reel | Anonymous, Oxton, Berwickshire, date unknown† RSCDS Book 6 claims this was "collected in Oxton, Berwickshire."
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| The Braes of Tulliemet | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| The Highland Plaid | William Campbell, London, ~1788†‡ Campbell's Third Collection of the newest and most favorite Country Dances & Cotillions The Regency Dance site confirms that Campbell did publish a dance named "The Highland Plaid, or the Tartan Plaiddie" in his 3rd collection, but it does not describe the figure. In Dale's Selection of the Most Favorite Country Dances and Reels he published a figure similar to the RSCDS's one: Change sides and back again; Hands across and back again; Lead down the middle, up again; cast off and Allemand. | |
| Lady Mary Menzie's Reel ~ RSCDS | Castle Menzies, Scotland, 1749 The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies Quoted from The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies (as transcribed by Jim Healy): 1st pair goes cross hands round with the 2d pair then back again & casts off, then the 1st woman and the 1st man leads up and sets to the 2d pair then leads down and sets to the 3d pair; then the 1st woman turns the 2d man & sets to her partner, then turns the 3d man and sets again to her partner who was doing the same on the woman's side: then reels at the sides, & falls into their places. | |
| Ye'll Aye Be Welcome Back Again ~ RSCDS | Castle Menzies, Scotland, 1749 The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies The Castle Menzies manuscript entitles this "He'll Aye Be Welcome Back Again". Quoted from The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies (as transcribed by Jim Healy): 1st man sets to the 2d woman & turns her the 1st woman does the same then the 1st pair dances down two couple & up again (the woman going down the midle the man behind backs, & returning the contrary way) then casts off; then the 1st man turns the 3d woman, then his own partner half round, then turns the 2d woman, the 1st woman does the same on the man's side att the same time; then the 1st pair leads out at the sides | |
| Ye're Welcome Charly Stuart | Castle Menzies, Scotland, 1749 The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies The Castle Menzies manuscript entitles this "You'r Wellcome Charly Stuart". Quoted from The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies (as transcribed by Jim Healy): 1st pair sets to each other & casts off then the 2d pair does the same then goes cross hands, back again & casts off, then sets cross, & reels att the sides |
| The Bleu Ribbon ~ RSCDS | Castle Menzies, Scotland, 1749 The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies Quoted from The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies (as transcribed by Jim Healy): 1st man goes figure eight round the 2d man & the 3d woman the 1st woman does the same round the 2d woman & 3d man then the 1st pair leads forward to the 2d pair then leads up & casts off, then does the same below and casts up; then the 1st woman goes round the 2d man & turns her partner, who was doing the same round the 3rd woman then she goes round the 2d woman then the 1st pair leads out att the sides | |
| Braes of Athol ~ RSCDS | Walsh, London, 1731 The Compleat Country Dancing Master vol 1 Walsh writes: The 1st Cu. foots it and cast off The 1st Cu. foots it again, 1st Man casts down and the 1st Wo. cast up The 1st Man Heys with the 2d and 3d Wo. 1st Wo. Heys at the same Time with the 2d and 3d Men First Man Heys with the 2d and 3d Men, 1st Wo at the same Time Heys with the 2d and 3d We. The 1st Man foots it with the 3d Wo. and turns her, the 1st Wo. does the same at the same Time with the 2d Man Then the 1st Man foots it with the 2d Wo. and turns her, the 1st Wo. does the same at the same Time with the 3d Man The 1st Cu. leads through the 2d and 3d Men, and turn in the 2d Cu. Place Then the 1st Cu. leads through the 2d and 3d We. and turn in the 2d Cu. Place. Walsh's music consists of four 4 bar strains, each repeated. Walsh spells the title "Athol Brays". | |
| Lassie Wi' the Yellow Coatie | Johnson, London, 1742 A Choice Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, Vol. 2nd The RSCDS attributes this dance to David Rutherford, but John Johnson published the same figure a few years earlier. Rutherford writes: The first Couple casts of two Couple cast up again Cross over & half figure right hand and Left quite round with the second Couple foot it Corners and turn foot it the other Corners and turn Lead through the Mens side and turn your Partner Lead through the Womens side and turn it out | |
| The Lovers' Knot | Anonymous, Galloway, date unknown† RSCDS Book 8 says this was "collected in Galloway." | |
| Peggy's Love ~ RSCDS | Thomas Wilson, London, 1816‡ A Companion to the Ball Room RSCDS Book 8 says this was "collected in Moray." Wilson, on page 54, writes: SINGLE FIGURE 1st strain repeated 2d. played straight thro' & D.C. Wilson usually gives multiple figures for each tune, the RSCDS appears to be following the DOUBLE FIGURE. Wilson defines most of his figures in his An Analysis of Country Dancing. | |
| Tulloch Gorm | William Campbell, London, ~1796†‡ Campbell's 11th Book of New and Favorite Country Dances & Strathspey Reels The RSCDS attributes this to William Campbell, and he did publish a dance named Tulloch Gorum, but I can't check whether the figure matches. In 1796 Skillern published Tulloch Goram and later Skillern (again), and Bland and Wilson all published dances named Tulloch Gorum whose figures do not match. Smyth and the Lowes (~1830) published a dance called Tullochgorum but again the figure does not match that of the RSCDS. Allan (~1895) also published a Tullochgorum but his figure does not match that of the RSCDS. |
| The Birks of Abergeldie | Anonymous, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, ~1730 Holmain MS From the Holmain MS (dated sometime between 1710 and 1750): First sett & cast down, sett & cast down again, then lead up & cast down one pair, then right & left, then sett to the 2d woman, she to the 1st man, & turn them, then set to the 1st woman, she to the 2d man, & turn your partner, then lead down & cast up & turn your partner, lead up & cast down & turn your partner. Skillern (1776), Longman & Broderip (1790), Bartholomew Cooke (1796), Bland & Weller (1800), and Wilson (1809, 1816) published dances with this name, but their figures do not match that of the RSCDS. | |
| Cadgers in the Canongate ~ RSCDS | Walsh, London, 1760 Country Dances Selected, Part 1 RSCDS Book 9 says that Walsh published this in Caledonian Country Dances, ~1748, but the earliest I have been able to find is ~1760. Walsh writes: First Cu. hey contrary sides then on your own sides the 1st Cu. foot it to the 2d Wo. and turn her the same to the 2d Man the 1st and 2d Cu. foot it and Right hands across Foot it and Left hands across back again cross over one Cu. and turn Right and Left at top Walsh spells "Canongate" as "Conongate". Cannongate is a major street in historic Edinburgh (gate=street), and a "cadger" is a carter who brings produce to market. | |
| The Duchess of Atholl's Slipper ~ RSCDS | Longman & Broderip, London, 1790‡ Longman and Broderip's Fourth Selection of...Country Dances, Reels &c. RSCDS Book 9 says "collected in the Border Country." Longman & Boroderip first published a dance called "The Duchess's Slipper" in 1790, and republished it in 1796 (with the same figure) in Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1796. The 1st. Lady hay with her partner and the 2d. Gent: The 1st. Gent: hay with his partner and the 2d. Lady Lead down two Cou: up again one Cou: Allemande The music consists of a four bar strain and an eight bar strain, both repeated. As always, note the lead down and back is progress in the original, while the allemande is not. The instructions say the 1s should lead down, but dancing down with nearer hands joined flows more easily from the two hand turn, and that's what the videos I've watched show, so that's what I'm doing here. | |
| The Jimp Waist | Anonymous, Border Country, date unknown† RSCDS Book 9 says "collected in the Border Country." On the second cord the 1s cross down as the 2s move up. | |
| Madge Wildfire's Strathspey | John Sutherland, Edinburgh, 1820† The Heart of Midlothian, Favourite Dances for 1820 | |
| Miss Clemy Stewart's Reel - RSCDS | Castle Menzies, Scotland, 1749 The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies Quoted from The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies (as transcribed by Jim Healy): [1st man] casts off & turns the 3d woman then the 1st woman the same, then cross hands above & below, the 1st pair sets cross & reels at the sides. | |
| My Love, She's but a Lassie Yet | Anonymous, Perthshire, date unknown† | |
| New Rigged Ship | Anonymous, date unknown† Campbell (~1795), Bland & Weller (~1800), Preston (1804), Wilson (1809 & 1816) and Tegg (1825) all published dances with this name, but none matches this figure. RSCDS Book 9 attributes the dance to Blantyre MS, 1805. A claim I cannot verify. |
| Crief Fair ~ RSCDS | Thomas Wilson, London, 1816‡ A Companion to the Ball Room Wilson writes (on page 76): SINGLE FIGURE Each strain repeated The music consists of three 4 bar strains. I assume the music should be played at 2 beats per bar and that " " indicates two repetitions of each strain. Wilson usually gives multiple figures for a tune, the RSCDS has interpreted the first figure he describes. Wilson defines most of his figures in his An Analysis of Country Dancing. | |
| General Stuart's Reel | Castle Menzies, Scotland, 1749 The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies Quoted from The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies (as transcribed by Jim Healy): 1st man sets to the 2d woman, & casts off, then the 1st woman does the same, then the 1st man turns the 3d woman by the right hand & goes half round his partner, who was turning the 2d man by the right hand then the 1st man turns the 2d woman by the left hand, while the 1st woman turns the 3d by the left hand; then the 1st pair setts cross, & then to each other, & reels att the side. | |
| 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. | |
| Miss Mary Douglas ~ RSCDS | Thomas Wilson, London, 1816‡ A Companion to the Ball Room In his A Companion to the Ball Room, 1816, Thomas Wilson published Lady Mary Douglas:, wherein he writes: SINGLE FIGURE Tune played straight thro and Da Capo The music consists of 2 eight bar strains. The RSCDS has chosen the DOUBLE FIGURE which means the music should be played ABBABB (I think). " " indicates a strain. Wilson defines his figures in his An Analysis of Country Dancing.
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| The Montgomeries' Rant | Castle Menzies, Scotland, 1749 The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies Quoted from The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies (as transcribed by Jim Healy): The 1st pair goes back to back & casts off then back to back again & 2d woman casts up, & the man down, then reels above & below then the 1st pair sets hand in hand to the 2d woman then to the 3d man then to the 3d woman & then to the 2d man; then leads out att the sides. | |
| The Scots Bonnet | Anonymous, Roxburghshire, date unknown† RSCDS Book 10 says "collected in Roxburghshire." Rutherford (~1756) published a dance called Scots Bonnet, while in ~1757 Thompson published the same figure and called it Scotch Bonnet, but their figure does not match this one. Wilson in 1809 published several figures called Scotch Bonnet, but, again, none matches this one. | |
| There's Nae Luck Aboot the Hoose ~ RSCDS | Thomas Wilson, London, 1816‡ A Companion to the Ball Room In his A Companion to the Ball Room, 1816, Thomas Wilson published There's Nae Luck About the House:, wherein he writes: SINGLE FIGURE (Each strain repeated) The music consists of 2 four bar strains, both repeated. The RSCDS has picked the third figure (the one marked "DOUBLE FIGURE") which means the music should be played AABBAABB. " " indicates two repetitions of a strain. Wilson defines his figures in his An Analysis of Country Dancing.
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| Dainty Davie ~ RSCDS | Henry Playford, London, 1701 The Dancing Master, 11th ed. The RSCDS attributes this figure to Walsh (who did print it in The Compleat Country Dancing Master in 1718, but Playford published it considerably earlier. Playford (and Walsh) spell the title "Dainty Davy" rather than "Davie". Playford's music is a 32 bar reel rather than a 16 bar strathspey. Playford writes: The 1. cu. clap hands and cross over below the 2. cu. and turn to your own sides The 2. cu. do the same The 1. cu. cross over below the 2. cu. and Figure through the 3d. cu then Figure through the 1. cu. and turn in the 2. cu. place Each Strain twice. Clearly having the 1s figure eight through the 1. cu. is a misprint, presumably the 2s are meant (or perhaps the couple now standing in the 1s place - which is the 2s) | |
| Inch of Perth | Bowman, Scotland, ~1761† The RSCDS attributes this dance to Alexander Bowman. Hugh Thurston's Scotland's Dances, 1954 refers to something called the Bowman MS (held in the Laing Collection at the University of Edinburgh) dated somewhere between 1750 and 1800. Anderson published a dance called Perth Inch in 1897 but the figure is different. | |
| Invercauld's Reel | Bowman, Scotland, ~1761† The RSCDS attributes this dance to Alexander Bowman. Hugh Thurston's Scotland's Dances, 1954 refers to something called the Bowman MS (held in the Laing Collection at the University of Edinburgh) dated somewhere between 1750 and 1800. | |
| Johnny McGill | William Boag, London, 1797†‡ A Collection of Favourite Reels and Strathspeys by the most Eminent Composers | |
| The Long Chase | Blantyre MS, Scotland, ~1805† According to Hugh Thurston's Scotland's Dances, 1954 (on page 98) this dance was taught by Mr. William Seymour for Kilbride in 1805. I do not have a description of the figure so I can't check that it matches the modern one. In many ways this is a three couple dance in a four couple set with the 1s progressing one space down, but there are a number of whole set figures. | |
| Monymusk | Preston, London, 1786 Twenty four Country-Dances for the Year 1786 Monymusk is an estate in Aberdeenshire is 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 this version of the dance appears to be based on those. 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) Werner Book XVIII For the Year 1785 (London, 1785) 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. John Griffiths in The Gentleman & Lady's Companion (Norwich, CT, 1798) has a different figure: Six hands half way round and back, first and second gentlemen balance together and turn round, the 1st and 2nd ladies do the same, down the middle, up again, cast off, right and left 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)
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 | |
| The Moudiewort | Bowman, Scotland, ~1761† The RSCDS attributes this dance to Alexander Bowman. Hugh Thurston's Scotland's Dances, 1954 refers to something called the Bowman MS (held in the Laing Collection at the University of Edinburgh) dated somewhere between 1750 and 1800. | |
| Sleepy Maggie | Bowman, Scotland, ~1761† The RSCDS attributes this dance to Alexander Bowman. Hugh Thurston's Scotland's Dances, 1954 refers to something called the Bowman MS (held in the Laing Collection at the University of Edinburgh) dated somewhere between 1750 and 1800. |
| Earl of Home | Nathaniel Gow, Edinburgh, ~1820 RSCDS Book 12 says "collected in the Border Country." | |
| Grant's Rant ~ RSCDS | Thompson, London, 1770 Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1770 The RSCDS attributes this dance to Rutherford (1775), but the figure is nothing like Rutherford's figure. Thompson (1770) published the same figure as Rutherford, and Bride (1775) published yet another figure (none matching the RSCDS figure). Rutherford writes: Hands four quite round back again cross over two Cu. lead up to the top and cast off hands four at bottom right and left at top | |
| The Laird of Dumbiedykes' Favourite | John Sutherland, Edinburgh, 1820† The Heart of Midlothian, Favourite Dances for 1820 | |
| The Reel of Glamis ~ RSCDS | Walsh, London, ~1735 Caledonian Country Dances, 2d Edition RSCDS Book 12 attributes this to Johnson's Caledonian Country Dances of 1748 but it appears earlier. According to Robert Keller's site in Walsh's Caledonian Country Dances, 2d Edition he published a dance called The Reel of Glames with essentially this figure. Then in his The Second Book of the Compleat Country Dancing-Master, The 3d. Edition, ~1736, he published a dance called The Cleaver Lad, or The Gin I was a Bonny Lad with the same figure. In Wright's Compleat Collection of Celebrated Country-Dances, Vol. 1 he published a dance called The Reel of Glamis with the same figure. And this one I can find online. Later Johnson published the same figure and called the dance The Reel of Glamis. Wright writes:
The music consists of 2 four bar strains, both repeated. Given that they need to be played at four counts per bar to fill out the figure. There is one big problem with this description of the figure: both the 1s and the 2s end the corner changes progressed by improper, and there is nothing in the description to get them proper. But the description doesn't quite fill up the music, and there is easily room to throw in hole in the wall cross with partner. | |
| Sodger Laddie ~ RSCDS | Walsh, London, 1731 The Compleat Country Dancing Master vol 1 Walsh writes: The 1st Man Heys with the 3d Cu. his Partner at the same Time heys with the 2d Cu. Then the 1st Man Heys with the 2d Cu. 1st Wo. at the same Time Heys with the 3d Cu. First Cu. leads thro' the 2d and 3d We. and turn in the 2d Cu. Place First Cu. leads through the 2d and 3d Men and turns at Top The 1st Cu. Back to Back and cast off and turn The 2d Cu. does the same First Man leads the 2d Wo. off and turns her First Wo. leads the 2d Man off and turns him, 1st Man cast off at the same Time. Walsh spells the dance "Soldier Ladie" rather than "Sodger Laddie". Walsh uses a 32 bar jig tune repeated twice, while the RSCDS has cut the dance length in half. | |
| The Yellow-Haired Laddie | Walsh, London, ~1737 Caledonian Country Dances. Book the Second RSCDS Book 12 attributes this to Johnson's Caledonian Country Dances of 1748 but it appears earlier. According to Robert Keller's site Walsh published a dance called The Yellow Hair'd Laddie in his Caledonian Country Dances. Book the Second published ~1737. Some years later Johnson published a dance with the same name and figure in his Caledonian Country Dances...ye 3d. Edition with Additions. A copy of this is online. Johnson writes: The 1st. Cu. lead thro' the 2d. Cu. & turn in their own Places, then Back to Back and turn The 2d. Cu. do the same with the 3d. Cu. Then the 1st Cu. cast behind the 3d. Cu. and lead up to the Top and turn then Back to Back and Right Hand & Left to the end of the Tune — The music consists of 2 eight bar strains, both repeated. What to make of The 1st. Cu. lead thro' the 2d. Cu. & turn in their own Places? What are "their own Places"? Sometimes that means their original places, and sometimes it means their progressed places. The RSCDS thinks it means their progressed places (which means the 2s must move up), but the next instruction The 2d. Cu. do the same with the 3d. Cu. suggests that the 2s and 3s are adjacent, which won't happen if the 2s have moved up. RSCDS seems to assume that's a misprint, and that Walsh means "1s" instead of "3s". But if we assume Walsh meant what he wrote we still get a consistent dance. I think The 1st. Cu. lead thro' the 2d. Cu. is probably an abreviation for "1s lead down and cast back to place". We've got 4 bars of music at 3 counts a bar, and even at minuet pacing that's a lot of music just to lead down one couple, but it's about right to lead down and cast up. Then the 1s can do their turns and back-to-back "in their own Places" at the top of the set. And then the 2s can do the same with the 3s. In the second half of the dance Walsh says Then the 1st Cu. cast behind the 3d. Cu. and lead up, but the RSCDS has them casting down 1 couple and leading up, not the 2 couple cast Walsh asks for Some sources say the turns in the first 32 bars should be right hand, and some say both hand. The crib diagram shows the "down the middle" to be with near hands joined but the online instructions say "lead". |
| Barley Bree | Anonymous, Borders, date unknown† RSCDS Book 13 says "collected in the Borders. | |
| Bridge of Nairn | Robert Bremner, Edinburgh, ~1765 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. Cast off two couples lead up to the Top and cast off set cross corners swing corners and swing your partner and lead outsides | |
| Fly Not Yet | Lowe, Edinburgh, ~1831 Lowes' Ball-Conductor and Assembly Guide RSCDS Book 13 says "collected in Fife. Goulding published a dance of this name in his Twenty-four Country Dances for the Year 1812, but the figure is different and the music is shorter. In about 1831, the Lowes wrote: The first Lady turns off, and goes half round two couples; at the same time her partner follows her, and (bringing her back by the promenade) turns her into her place; she then goes down the middle, her partner following her, and bringing her back by the promenade; they join hands four round with the second couple, and advance and retire; then cross hands fully round, and turn partners half round by the right hand; they join hands round again, and advance and retire, then pousette. The Lowes call this an "Irish Country Dance". | |
| A Kiss for Nothing | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| 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 Reel of the 51st Division | Atkinson, Oflag VII-C prison camp, Germany, 1940 RSCDS Book 13 | |
| 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). |
| 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 | |
| Jimmy's Fancy ~ RSCDS | Thompson, London, ~1757 Thompson's Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, Vol I Thompson writes: The 1st. and 2nd. Cu. hands across Left hands back again 1st. Cu. cast off. the Man hands round with the 3rd. and the Wo. with the 2nd. the 1st. Man heys with the 3rd. Cu. and the Wo. with the 2nd. Cu. Set contrary corners and turn lead thro' Bottom & Top and turn | |
| Keep the Country, Bonnie Lassie ~ RSCDS | John Rutherford, London, 1775‡ Rutherford's Compleat Collection of 200 of the most Celebrated Country Dances, both Old and New | |
| Miss Nancy Frowns ~ RSCDS | Johnson, London, ~1752 Two Hundred Favourite Country Dances, Vol. 8 May be found in the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library online collection: Johnson Vol. 8. Johnson writes: First and 2d. Cu. foot Partners then foot sideways Cross over 2 Cu. Lead up to the Top and cast off the Man whole figure at Bottom and Wo. the same at top at the same time Hands across at Bottom Right and Left at Top The original music consists of a 4 bar A strain and an 8 bar B strain. The A music appears to be repeated 4 times, the B twice. Johnson's book is undated, Robert Keller provides 1752 as a date. The RSCDS attributes this dance to Thompson, 1755, but Johnson probably published the figure (the same words even) earlier. The RSCDS has changed Cross over 2 Cu. Lead up to the Top and cast off (which means, 1s cross by right, go below 2s, cross by left, go below 3s, then lead up and cast down) into a weaving pattern through the other couples which catches the spirit of the movement if not the exact nature of it. They also changed the figure of eights into reels, which basically follow the same tracks for the 1s but give the others something to do. Finally they have changed Right and Left at Top to a "left hands across". The right and left would have needed to fit into four bars, instead of the normal 8, and 70% of the time Johnson follows a right hands across with a left hands back, so RSCDS may be right to consider this a misprint. | |
| She's Ower Young to Marry Yet ~ RSCDS | Thompson, London, ~1757 Thompson's Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, Vol I Thompson writes: The 1st. Cu. Foot it to the 2nd Wo. hands three round Foot it to the 2nd Man hands all four round lead down two Cu. and the 2nd. and 3rd. follows cross over and turn your Partner Rutherford published an earlier version of this dance: Foot it all four & Hands across quite Round Foot it and the same back again Gallop down the Middle & up again & Cast off Right Hand & Left | |
| Willie with his Tartan Trews ~ RSCDS | Johnson, London, 1750 A Choice Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, Vol. 5th Johnson published this in his 5th volume of Country Dances (1750), and Rutherford published essentially the same figure in 1759. Both Johnson and Rutherford spell this dance as "Willie with his tartan Trues". The RSCDS credits this dance to Rutherford Rutherford writes: Hey Contrary sides Hey on your Own sides Cross over two Couple Lead up to Top, foot it And Cast off Foot it Corners & turn Foot it the Other Corners & turn Lead out Each side & turn your Partner |
| 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 | |
| I'll Gang Nae Mair Tae Yon Toon | Thomas Wilson, London, 1825‡ Analysis of the London Ballroom The crib diagram attributes to Wilson, 1825. According to The Regency Dance site Wilson didn't publish anything in 1825. The Scottish Country Dance Database also gives a date of publication as 1825, but gives no devisor. Quite a number of people published dances named I'll gang nae mair to yon town but none matches the RSCDS figure: Thomas Wilson, 1809, Hime, 1810, Chivers, 1821, Chivers, 1821 (different work), J.P. Boulogne, 1827, R. Hill, 1830. | |
| Lochiel's Awa' To France | Blantyre MS, Scotland, 1805 The crib diagram attributes this to the Blantyre MS which is dated ~1805. I cannot verify this claim. | |
| Lord Rosslyn's Fancy | Thomas Wilson, London, 1815‡ Le Sylphe, An Elegant Collection of Twenty four Country Dances, for the Year 1815 | |
| Theeket Hoose ~ RSCDS | Thompson, London, ~1757‡ Thompson's Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, Vol I Thompson writes: The 1st. Cu. gallop down two Cu. up again and cast off the 2d. Cu. do the same the two Men lead between the two We. and turn the We. do the same between the two Men the 1st. Cu. heys with the 2d. Wo then with the 2d Man cross over half figure Right and Left |
| The Birks of Invermay | Thomas Skillern, London, 1776‡ Skillern's Compleat Collection of Two Hundred & Four Reels and Country Dances | |
| The Caledonian Rant ~ RSCDS | Thomas Wilson, London, 1816 A Companion to the Ball Room Wilson, on page 101, writes: SINGLE FIGURE Each strain repeated This is an interpretation of the DOUBLE FIGURE. The music is two 4 bar strains. The strain marks suggest to me that the music should be played ABABABAB, while the text suggests AABBAABB. The figures suggest that each bar has two beats, not four. Wilson defines foot corners on page 75 of An Analysis of Country Dancing as the four dancers move to the center and foot together. He does not say so but presumably they must return to places. | |
| The Duke of Atholl's Reel | Thomas Skillern, London, ~1776‡ Skillern's Compleat Collection of Two Hundred & Four Reels and Country Dances | |
| Lady Harriet Hope's Reel ~ RSCDS | Thomas Wilson, London, 1816‡ A Companion to the Ball Room In his A Companion to the Ball Room, 1816, Thomas Wilson published Lady Harriet Hope's Reel:, wherein he writes: SINGLE FIGURE (1st. strain repeated 2d. played straight thro') The music consists of a four bar strain and an eight bar strain. The RSCDS has picked the third figure (the one marked "DOUBLE FIGURE") which means the music should be played AABAAB. " " indicates two repetitions of a of the first strain, and " " indicates one repetition of the second (each accounting for 8 bars of music). Wilson defines most of his figures in his Analysis of Country Dancing, but he does not define what he means by set 3 hands 6 round & back again. It seems unlikely that he would have people do two bars of setting, then three bars circling left and three right; the RSCDS's suggestion of set, circle left half, set, circle right half seems better. The RSCDS has changed the first figure eight into a reel of four, and made it progressive. Wilson's lead down the middle up again takes only four bars, not the 6 given to it by the RSCDS and doesn't involve changing sides. Wilson's set should be for four bars, not two (he liked things in four bar chunks). Wilson's whole figure contrary corners means half figure eight down around the 3s then half figure eight up around the 2s (see his description). The RSCDS has turned this into a finishing reel with a cross by the right. |
| Bonnie Kate of Aberdeen ~ RSCDS | Thompson, London, 1771 24 Country Dances for the Year 1771 Thompson writes: Hey contrary sides Hey your own sides cross over 2 Cu. Lead up the middle and cast off Hands 6 round and right and left at Top | |
| The Countess of Crawford's Reel | Johnson, London, ~1754†‡ Caledonian Country Dances Vol. II RSCDS Book 17 attributes this to "Caledonian Country Dances", 1754. Walsh published books with "Caledonian Country Dances" in their titles in about 1735, 1737, 1740, 1745, 1748, 1751 and 1755, and Johnson published one in 1750. None of these works contains a dance with anything approaching this name. Note: RSCDS Book 10, for the dance The Lady's Breist Knot has a more nearly complete attribution: "Jno Johnson Caledonian Country Dances Vol. II, c. 1754" but I still can't find it. Note: RSCDS Book 28, for the dance Not I contains the comment "The source given is Caledonian Country Dances, 1754 but attempts to trace this manuscript have been unsuccessful. | |
| The Gentle Shepherd | Anonymous, date unknown† RSCDS Book 17 says "from an old book of Scottish-Irish dances (title page lost). | |
| Keppoch's Rant ~ RSCDS | Johnson, London, 1750 A Choice Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, Vol. 5th Johnson published this in his 5th volume of Country Dances (1750), and Rutherford published essentially the same figure in 1756. The RSCDS credits this dance to Rutherford Rutherford writes: Hands four all round with the 2d Couple & cast off The same with the 3d Couple foot it & right Hand & left up into the 2d Couple's Place. & turn your Partner Hands round all six & turn your Partner Rutherford's music has a 4 bar A part and an 8 bar B, both repeated. | |
| Lucy Campbell | Anonymous, date unknown† RSCDS Book 17 says "from an old book of Scottish and Irish dances (title page lost). Bartholomew Cooke published a dance called Lucy Campbell in about 1790 in his book Tracy's Selection Of The Present Favorite Country Dances, but his figure does not match that of the RSCDS. Campbell and Dale both published a Miss Campbell's Reel but it doesn't match either. | |
| Miss Heyden | Anonymous, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, ~1730 Holmain MS From the Holmain MS (dated sometime between 1710 and 1750): First Sett & cast off Sett again & turn your partner he sets to the man & she to the woman & turns them then Cross over & clap by turns; & the next pair does the same then Dance four hands half round & back again then set to the 2d woman & she to the 1st Man then sett & turn your partner. | |
| The Perthshire Highlanders | William Campbell, London, ~1796†‡ Campbell's 11th Book of New and Favorite Country Dances & Strathspey Reels The RSCDS attributes this to William Campbell, and he did devise and publish a dance named The Perthshire Highlanders, but I can't check whether the figure matches. |
| Longwise Eightsome Reel | Hill MS, Aberdeenshire, 1841† RSCDS Book 18 says "collected in Aberdeenshire (Hill MS - adapted)." | |
| Off She Goes In the North | Hill MS, Aberdeenshire, 1841† RSCDS Book 18 says "collected in Aberdeenshire (Hill MS - adapted)." Preston, Thompson, Wilson and Tegg all published dances named "Off She Goes", but none matches the figure. | |
| Prince of Wales | William Campbell, London, 1795†‡ Campbell's 10th Book of New and Favorite Country Dances & Strathspey Reels Although my copy of RSCDS Book 18 gives no attribution for this dance, both the Scottish Country Dance Dictionary, and the Scottish Country Dance Database attribute this dance to William Campbell, 1795. According to the Regency Dance site's paper on Campbell's dances, Campbell never published a dance called Prince of Wales, but in 1795 he did publish (and indeed devised) a dance called The Princess of Wales's Strathspey, perhaps that is the origin of this dance. (I do not have access to Campbell's book to check the figure so I can't be sure. This is one of the few books by Campbell which can actually be dated, he took it in to the Stationer's Hall in 1795 to register the copyright. |
| 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. | |
| The Sandal | Thomas Wilson, London, 1813†‡ No. 21 of Button & Whitaker's Selection of Dances, Reels and Waltzes According to the the Regency Dance site Wilson devised, and Button & Whitaker published, a dance with this name but whether its figure matches the RSCDS's, I cannot say. Since the dance contains double triangles, it seems likely Wilson was its deviser. | |
| A Trip to Holland | William Campbell, London, ~1793†‡ Campbell's Eighth Collection of the newest & most favorite Country Dances and Reels According to the the Regency Dance site William Campbell published a dance with this name but whether its figure matches the RSCDS's, I cannot say. Straight & Skillern published a dance with this name in 1769, but its figure does not match. |
| Captain McBride's Hornpipe ~ RSCDS | William Campbell, London, ~1795 Campbell's 10th Book of New and Favorite Country Dances & Strathspey Reels Campbell writes: The 1st. Lady sets to the 2d. Gent & turn at the same time the 1st. Gent sets to the 2d. Lady & turn The 1st. Lady set to the 3d. Gent & turn Lead up to the top & foot it & cast off hands 4 round & back again Right & Left at top Campbell titles this Admiral McBride's Hornpipe, and he is said to be its devisor. The interpretation seems close to the original. | |
| The College Hornpipe - RSCDS | William Boag, London, 1797 A Collection of Favourite Reels and Strathspeys by the most Eminent Composers | |
| The Express | Thomas Wilson, London, 1814†‡ Le Sylphe, An Elegant Collection of Twenty four Country Dances, for the Year 1814 According to the the Regency Dance site Wilson devised, and Button & Whitaker published, a dance with this name but whether its figure matches the RSCDS's, I cannot say. Since the dance contains double triangles, it seems likely Wilson was its deviser. | |
| Miss Bennet's Jig | William Campbell, London, ~1793†‡ Campbell's Eighth Collection of the newest & most favorite Country Dances and Reels According to the the Regency Dance site Campbell did publish a dance with this name (well, he spelled Jig with two "g"s). Whether the figure matches I cannot check. The Regency Site claims that Mr. Pollock was the devisor. | |
| Miss Devon's Reel | D. Mackenzie, London, 1795‡ Campbell's 10th Book of New and Favorite Country Dances & Strathspey Reels The RSCDS attributes this dance to William Campbell, and he did publish it, but he attributes it to "D. Mackenzie". On page 17 of book 10, Campbell writes: The 1st. & 2d. Cu Reel on the Ladys side the same on the Gents. side the 1st. Cu. lead down the middle up again to the top and Allemande. The music consists of a four bar strain and an eight bar strain. I assume it is intended to be played AABB. I think the RSCDS's interpretations of the reels is unlikely, given how crowded that would make the duple minor set. | |
| Miss Jessie Dalyrymple's Reel | T. Straight, [Unknown City], 1783 24 Favourite Dances the Year 1783 Straight writes: The 1st & 2d Cu set & change sides back again hands across quite round back again cross over 1 Cu right & left at top |
| The Buchan Eightsome Reel | Anonymous, date unknown† Book 21 has a note: "Collected in Aberdeenshire." | |
| The Maid of the Mill | Anonymous, date unknown† Book 21 has the comment "Collected from an old manuscript." Playford published a dance called "The Maid in the Mill" in 1698, Thompson published a different figure in 1780. Walsh published a dance called "Maid of the Mill" in 1766, and Hime published a different figure in 1795. None of these matches the RSCDS figure. | |
| Muirland Willie | Anonymous, date unknown† Book 21 says "Collected from an old manuscript." Both Walsh and Jackson published a dance with this name but a different figure (several publications between 1735 and 1755). | |
| The Stoorie Miller | Anonymous, date unknown† Book 21 has the comment "Collected from an old manuscript." | |
| Within a Mile o Edinburgh Toon | Cahusac, London, 1795‡ Cahusac's Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1795 John Young (Playford) published a dance called 'Twas Within a Furlong of Edinborough Town in 1696, but its figure does not match this one. Cahusac published Within a Mile of Edenburgh in 1795 with a figure which does match. The RSCDS attributes this to Skillern (with the SCDDB giving a date of 1795). I am aware of two dance books published by Skillern in 1795 (For the Year 1795 Twelve Country Dances & Cotillions, and Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1795) and neither contains a dance with a name like this one. Nor can I find any dances with a name like this in any of the other works by Skillern of which I'm aware. The RSCDS may know of other works, or they may have changed the name beyond my ability to guess. |
| Balmoral Strathspey | John A. Charles, Kawerau, NZ., ~1963 RSCDS Book 22 | |
| The Hamilton Rant | Robert M. Campbell, Ontario, Ca., 1963 RSCDS Book 22 | |
| Holyrood House | RSCDS Publications Committee, [Unknown City], 1962 RSCDS Book 22 | |
| The Laird of Milton's Daughter | Lord Craigmyle, India, 1950 RSCDS Book 22 | |
| The Last of the Lairds | Hugh A Thurston, Bristol, 1963 RSCDS Book 22 | |
| The Reel of Mey | George Smail, Belfast, 1963 RSCDS Book 22 |
| The Auld Alliance | Jacques and Liliane Chamoin, Paris, 1967 RSCDS Book 23 | |
| The Dean Bridge of Edinburgh | Alec Hay, Auckland, NZ, 1967 RSCDS Book 23 | |
| The Glens of Angus | Douglas Henderson, Dundee, ~1967 RSCDS Book 23 | |
| Mrs. Hamilton of Wishaw - Drewry | John Drewry, Aberdeen, 1967 RSCDS Book 23 | |
| The Swilcan | James B Cosh, Glasgow, 1967 RSCDS Book 23 |
| Balquidder Strathspey | John Rutherford, London, ~1775‡ Rutherford's Compleat Collection of 200 of the most Celebrated Country Dances, both Old and New, Vol. 3 | |
| I Canna Buckle To | Anonymous, date unknown† Ladies New Pocket Companion The RSCDS attributes this to Ladies New Pocket Companion (with no date nor publisher). I have been unable to find this work. | |
| The Mairrit Man's Favourite | Anonymous, date unknown† Book 24 has the comment: "Collected by Miss Jenny MacLaghlan." | |
| Oh Whistle and I'll Come Tae Ye, My Lad | Anonymous, date unknown† Book 24 has the comment: "Collected by Miss Jenny MacLaghlan." Bourne, ~1820 in Admired Cottillions for Balls and Private Parties, 4th Sett (New York) published a dance with this name, but a different figure. | |
| The Sailor | Anonymous, date unknown† |
| The Braes of Mellinish | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| The Bramble Bush | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| Miss Dumbreck | Hill MS, Aberdeenshire, 1841† | |
| Saw Ye My Wee Thing | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| The Three Bonnie Maidens | Anonymous, date unknown† The Scottish Country Dance Dictionary attributes this to "D Gracie". |
| Airdrie Lassies | Anonymous, Mr. W Brown, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, date unknown† RSCDS Book 26 says "collected from Mr. W Brown, Airdrie, Lanarkshire." | |
| Fairly Shot O' Her | Anonymous, date unknown† Walsh, and then Johnson, published a dance named Fairly Shot on Her, but the figure does not match this one. Johnson also published Fairly Shut of Her, but, again, the figure doesn't match. | |
| Lady Mary Cochrane's Reel | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| Lord Elgin's Reel | Anonymous, date unknown† In his 9th book (~1794) William Campbell published a dance called Lord Elgin's Strathspey, but its figure does not match this one. (Bartholomew Cooke republished that figure in 1797) | |
| A Mile to Ride | Anonymous, date unknown† Johnson in ~1751 published a dance called A Mile to Ride, but it did not match this figure. Thompson, in 1771, Goulding, in 1808, and Wilson in 1809 and 1816 published dances called Ride a Mile, but none matches this figure. | |
| The New Waterloo Reel | R. Owen, [Unknown City], date unknown† RSCDS Book 26 says "the source previously given for this dance is The Collection of Robert Owen but we have not been able to verify this." | |
| Old Nick's Lumber Room | Thompson, London, 1759‡ Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1759 Thompson writes: Swing right hands & cast off one Cu the same again lead to the top & cast off lead to the bottom & cast up one whole figure at top & bottom then the same on your own sides 4 hnds round at bottom right and left at top . Also published in The London Magazine: Swing right hands and cast off one couple , the same again , lead to the top and cast off , lead to the bottom and cast up one , whole figure at the top and bottom , then the same on your own sides , four hands round at bottom , right and left at top . | |
| Sugar Candie | Anonymous, date unknown† |
| Duchess of York | Preston, London, 1797†‡ Preston's New Country Dances | |
| Miss Nellie Wemyss | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| Nineteenth of December | Thomas Collett, London, 1775†‡ Twenty four New Country Dances. Published by Subscription | |
| Tayport Beauty | D. Anderson, Dundee, 1897 Ball-Room and Solo Dance Guide D. Anderson's Ball-Room and Solo Dance Guide, he writes:
On page 117 Anderson claims to be the devisor of this dance. |
| Bonnie Lass ~ RSCDS | John Young, London, 1710 The Dancing Master, Vol. the Second John Young calls the dance The Bonny Lass and writes:
The original music is in cut time and consists of an 8 bar strain and a 16 bar strain, intended to be played AAB. | |
| The Cumbrae Reel | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| Euan's Jig | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| Miss Shaftesbury's Fancy | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| Mrs. Hill's Delight | Nathaniel Kynaston, London, 1710 The RSCDS gives no source to this dance, but it appears to be derived from Nathaniel Kynaston's Mrs. Hill's Dance published by both Walsh and Playford in 1710.
| |
| The New Petronella | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| Pretty Polly ~ RSCDS | John Young, London, 1710 The Dancing Master, Vol. the Second John Young calls the dance Pretty Poll and writes:
The original music is in 3/2 time and consists of a 5 bar strain and an 8 bar strain, intended to be played AABA. | |
| The Star | Hilton MS, [Unknown City], date unknown† | |
| A Trip O'er the Tweed | John Young, London, 1710 The Dancing Master, Vol. the Second John Young writes:
The Tweed is a river on the border between Scotland and England, flowing into the North Sea. The original is a 24 bar dance with 3 counts per bar; it has been adapted to a 48 bar jig. | |
| Two to One | Anonymous, date unknown† Thompson published a dance named "Two to One" in 1785, but it's figure does not match. Thompson published another dance named "Two for One" in 1765, which contains the cross and turn corners figure, but does not match the rest of the dance. |
| The Happy Meeting ~ RSCDS | Anonymous, date unknown† Playford published a dance called "The Happy Meeting" in 1696 (and Walsh republished it later). Playford's dance begins with the 1s doing a normal figure eight, and then the 2s doing one, rather than having 1st corners figure eight, followed by second corners. That may be an early form of this dance, but it clearly has evolved a lot since then. Playford writes:
The music is in 3/2 time and there are two 8 bar strains. | |
| Lord Kilmory's Delight ~ RSCDS | Walsh, London, 1710 Twenty Four New Country Dances for the year 1710 I don't have access to the 1710 publication, but the same figure occurs in John Young's Dancing Master and in later publications by Walsh. In 1729, John Young wrote:
The music consists of a 16 bar strain and a 20 bar strain to be played AAB. Walsh (and Young) spell the title Lord Killmurry's Delight. | |
| Ross Meor ~ RSCDS | Walsh, London, 1735 Caledonian Country Dances, 2d Edition First published by Walsh in 1735, later by Johnson, and Wright in 1740, with more publications later.
The music is in cut time and consists of an 8 bar strain (repeated) and a 12 bar strain |
| The Bawk | Alexander Bowman, [Unknown City], ~1750† Bowman MS | |
| The Cadies Lady | Alexander Bowman, [Unknown City], ~1750† Bowman MS | |
| The Guidman of Balangigh | Henry Playford, London, 1696 The second Part of the Dancing Master Playford writes:
This is basically the same as Sharp's interpretation except that the "Women lead through Men" and "2s lead through 1s" have been switched, and both corners set rather than the 1s setting to their corners in B1. The tune, called Hunt the Squirrel, was published in a later edition of The Dancing Master. It was performed by Bare Necessities (Earl Gaddis, Mary Lea, Peter Barnes, and Jacqueline Schwab) on the album A Playford Ball. The music is used with permission from the Country Dance Society, Boston Centre, Inc. | |
| Short and Sweet | John Rutherford, London, 1775‡ Rutherford's Compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances, both old and new, Vol. 3 Thomas Bray published a dance with this name in 1699, but its figure is very different. Walsh published a different figure in 1745. John Rutherford published a figure which seems to match the RSCDS version in 1775. |
| Margaret Parker's Strathspey | John Drewry, Aberdeen, 1982 RSCDS Book 31 |
| The Clansman | Derek Haynes, Carnforth, 1981 RSCDS Book 32 | |
| Geneviève's Jig | Martin Sheffield, Toulaud, Fr, 1982 RSCDS Book 32 | |
| Johnnie's Welcome Hame | Neil M Grant, Forres, 1982 RSCDS Book 32 | |
| The Lanes of Au | Michael Watson, Munich, Ge, 1982 RSCDS Book 32 | |
| Oriel Strathspey | Ian Simmonds, Wellington, NZ, 1982 RSCDS Book 32 | |
| A Trip to the Netherlands | Anna C Holden, Birmingham, 1982 RSCDS Book 32 |
| It's just for Fun | Roy Fiddler, Stowmarket, 1984 RSCDS Book 33 | |
| MacLeod's Fancy | John Drewry, Aberdeen, 1985 RSCDS Book 33 | |
| Stuttgart Strathspey | Eberhard Müller, Denkendorf, Ge, 1982 RSCDS Book 33 |
| Couteraller's Rant ~ RSCDS | Castle Menzies, Scotland, 1749 The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies Quoted from The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies (as transcribed by Jim Healy): 1st pair joins cross right hands & 1st woman turns under her own right arm, then they join cross left hands & the 1st man turns under his own left arm, then the 1st pair leads down & up between the 2d pair & casts off, then leads down between the 3d pair & casts up, then goes the figure of eight, the man on the womans side & the woman on the man's side, (setting en passant to each other) & then foots it into their own places The full title is "Couteraller's Rant a Strathspey Reel". | |
| Glasgow Lasses - RSCDS | Walsh, London, 1748 Caledonian Country Dances Vol. II Part 1 Walsh writes: First Man foot it to the 2d Wo. and cast off into the 2d Man's Place, and the 2d Wo. cast up at the same time into the 1st Wo. Place — Then the 2d Man foot it to ye 1st Wo. (he being at Top) and cast off into his Place, and the 1st Wo. cast up into her Place then the 1st and 2d Man foot it to their Partners, the 1st Cu. cast off one Cu. take Hands with the 2d. Cu. and lead up, foot it and cast off into the 2d Cu: Place. The music is two eight bar strains, the first repeated, the second not. Walsh spells "Glasgow" as "Glascow". Davis also published this dance in 1748, and also spells "Glascow", I have no idea which published first. | |
| Open the Door to Three - Menzies | Castle Menzies, Scotland, 1749 The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies Quoted from The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies (as transcribed by Jim Healy): 1st & 2d women leads forward then falls back then leads through the 1st & 2d men; then repeats the same & the 1st & 2d man leads through them back to their places again; then the 1st pair crosses over two pair down, & crosses up one pair & falls into their places then the 1st man leads the 2d & 3d man forward, while the 1st woman does the same on the woman's side, then the 1st man turns the 3d woman & falls in between her & the 2d woman, the 1st woman in the meantime turns the 2d man & falls in between him & 3d man & leads forward as before & turns his partner, then they go six hands round with the 2d and 3d pair then back again to their own places. Note: There is a Playford tune and dance with this name from 1652, which is an 4 bar slip jig. This is not it. | |
| Over the Water to Charlie (New Way) | John Wilson, [Unknown City], ~1750† John Wilson's Aide Memoire The Castle Menzies Register of Dances also contains a dance called O'er the Watter to Charly but it's figure does not match this one. Thomas Wilson also published dances with this name, but again, none matches this figure. Elias Howe, in Boston, also published a dance with this name. |
| The Gentleman | Roz Scott Huxley, [Unknown City], 1986 RSCDS Book 35 | |
| Inverneill House | John Drewry, Aberdeen, 1986 RSCDS Book 35 | |
| Mrs. Stewart's Jig | Frans Ligtmans, [Unknown City], 1986 RSCDS Book 35 | |
| The Trysting Place | Ian Boyd, [Unknown City], 1985 RSCDS Book 35 |
| Anniversary Reel - Muir | Sheila Muir, [Unknown City], 1987 RSCDS Book 36 | |
| Gang the Same Gate | Milton Levy, [Unknown City], 1990 RSCDS Book 36 | |
| Portnacraig | Linda Gaul, [Unknown City], 1988 RSCDS Book 36 | |
| Quarries' Jig | Kent W. Smith, [Unknown City], ~1990 RSCDS Book 36 |
| The Nurseryman | Stephen Brown, [Unknown City], 1988 RSCDS Book 37 | |
| The Reverend John MacFarlane | Gary W Morris, [Unknown City], 1990 RSCDS Book 37 | |
| St. Andrew's of Brampton | Ann Campbell, [Unknown City], ~1992 RSCDS Book 37 | |
| Wisp of Thistle | Pat Kent, [Unknown City], ~1992 RSCDS Book 37 |
| Back to the Fireside | Roy Goldring, Leeds, ~1994 RSCDS Book 38 | |
| Follow Me Home | Ellie Briscoe, [Unknown City], ~1994 RSCDS Book 38 | |
| Mr. Robert H Mackay | Jürgen Munz, [Unknown City], ~1994 RSCDS Book 38 | |
| My Friend Joe | Robert M Campbell, Ontario, Ca., ~1994 RSCDS Book 38 | |
| Peggy Dewar | Joan Wright, [Unknown City], ~1994 RSCDS Book 38 |
| Cutty Sark | Anonymous, 1992 RSCDS Book 40 | |
| The Royal Deeside Railway | Ron Arrowsmith, [Unknown City], 1987 RSCDS Book 40 |
| Dancers' Wedding | Jimmie Hill, [Unknown City], 1998 RSCDS Book 41 | |
| Peggy's Strathspey | Eric Finley, [Unknown City], ~1998 RSCDS Book 41 | |
| Pelorus Jack | Barry Skelton, [Unknown City], 1993 RSCDS Book 41 | |
| S-Locomotion | Ken Jones, [Unknown City], 1998 RSCDS Book 41 |
| Anna Holden's Strathspey | John Drewry, Aberdeen, 1991 RSCDS Book 42 | |
| Anna Holden's Waltz | John Drewry, Aberdeen, 1991 RSCDS Book 42 | |
| The Chequered Court | Duncan Brown, [Unknown City], 2001 RSCDS Book 42 | |
| David Russell Hall | Ken Whittle, [Unknown City], ~2002 RSCDS Book 42 | |
| James Gray | Ronella Burrows, [Unknown City], ~2002 RSCDS Book 42 | |
| James Senior of St. Andrews | Jenny Bradley, [Unknown City], ~2022 RSCDS Book 42 | |
| May Yarker's Strathspey | Roy Goldring, Leeds, 1995 RSCDS Book 42 | |
| Ways in New Hall | Richard Adams, [Unknown City], ~2002 RSCDS Book 42 |
| The Argyll Square | Roy Goldring, Leeds, 2000 RSCDS Book 43 | |
| Bea's Delight | May MacFarlane, [Unknown City], 2003 RSCDS Book 43 | |
| A Castle in the Air | Minnie Bänninger, [Unknown City], 2002 RSCDS Book 43 | |
| The Celebration Strathspey | Alan MacPherson, [Unknown City], 2002 RSCDS Book 43 | |
| Fifty Years On | John Drewry, Aberdeen, 2000 RSCDS Book 43 |
| The 51st Travellers | Sandra Turton, [Unknown City], 2001 RSCDS Book 44 | |
| Crathes Castle | Ted Willitt, [Unknown City], 1999 RSCDS Book 44 | |
| Festival Fling | Lily Davison, [Unknown City], 1998 RSCDS Book 44 | |
| Knotwork | Wouter Joubert, [Unknown City], 2001 RSCDS Book 44 | |
| Starlight | Ed Abdill, [Unknown City], ~2004 RSCDS Book 44 |
| Alan J. Smith | Andrew Smith, [Unknown City], 2005 RSCDS Book 45 | |
| The Dream Catcher | Eileen Orr, [Unknown City], 2001 RSCDS Book 45 | |
| Napier's Index | Brian Charlton, [Unknown City], 2005 RSCDS Book 45 | |
| Preston Mill | Margaret Martin, [Unknown City], 2002 RSCDS Book 45 | |
| The Saltire Strathspey | Barbara Anglin, [Unknown City], 2001 RSCDS Book 45 | |
| Sands of Morar | Barry Priddey, [Unknown City], ~2005 RSCDS Book 45 |
| Barbara's Strathspey | Sue McKinnell, [Unknown City], 2006 RSCDS Book 46 | |
| Best Set in the Hall | Helen Greenwood, [Unknown City], 2010 RSCDS Book 46 | |
| The Bonnie Tree | Romaine Butterfield, [Unknown City], 2010 RSCDS Book 46 | |
| Christine M Phillips | John Brenchley, [Unknown City], ~2010 RSCDS Book 46 | |
| The Flower of Glasgow | Ruth Taylor, [Unknown City], 2010 RSCDS Book 46 | |
| The Gardeners' Fantasia | Pamela Cook, [Unknown City], ~2010 RSCDS Book 46 | |
| Scott Meikle | Alice McLean, [Unknown City], ~2004 RSCDS Book 46 | |
| The Zoologist | Duncan Brown, [Unknown City], ~2010 RSCDS Book 46 |
| Aging Gracefully | Carlyn Bromann, [Unknown City], ~2013 RSCDS Book 47 | |
| Glastonbury Tor | Duncan Brown, [Unknown City], 2001 RSCDS Book 47 | |
| It Wasnae Me | Marjorie MacRae, [Unknown City], 2006 RSCDS Book 47 | |
| The Kissing Bridge | Romaine Butterfield, [Unknown City], 2013 RSCDS Book 47 | |
| Linnea's Strathspey | Tim Wilson, [Unknown City], 2001 RSCDS Book 47 | |
| The Mentor | Brian Charlton, [Unknown City], 2007 RSCDS Book 47 | |
| One O'Clock Canon | Ian Brockbank, [Unknown City], 1993 RSCDS Book 47 | |
| Vintage Simon | Dorothy Hargreaves, [Unknown City], ~2013 RSCDS Book 47 | |
| Welcome to Ayr | Jill Henricksen and Kathy Stewart, [Unknown City], ~2013 RSCDS Book 47 |
| City of Belfast | Lucy Mulholland, [Unknown City], 2007 RSCDS Book 48 | |
| The Festival Man | Sheila Trafford, [Unknown City], ~2014 RSCDS Book 48 | |
| The Fireworks Reel | Anselm Lingnau, [Unknown City], 2009 RSCDS Book 48 | |
| The Golden Years | Nora Sutherland, [Unknown City], ~2014 RSCDS Book 48 | |
| Lady in Red | Simon Scott, [Unknown City], 2004 RSCDS Book 48 | |
| MacLeod's Wedding | Robert Coupe, [Unknown City], ~2014 RSCDS Book 48 | |
| Monica's Way | Gail Sibley, [Unknown City], 2007 RSCDS Book 48 | |
| Rougemont Castle | Duncan Brown, [Unknown City], ~2009 RSCDS Book 48 | |
| The Rutland Reel | Robert Senior, [Unknown City], 2010 RSCDS Book 48 | |
| Rye Twist | Sue McKinnell, [Unknown City], 2006 RSCDS Book 48 | |
| Sunshine and Sweeties Jig | Mervyn C Short, [Unknown City], 2011 RSCDS Book 48 | |
| The Tri-Mariner | Ann Dix, [Unknown City], 1993 RSCDS Book 48 |
| The Countess of Dunmore's Reel | Deirdre MacCuish Bark, [Unknown City], 2012 RSCDS Book 49 | |
| The First Rain of Spring | Wouter Joubert, [Unknown City], 2015 RSCDS Book 49 | |
| The Library of Birmingham | Kenneth J Reid, [Unknown City], 2015 RSCDS Book 49 | |
| Midsummer Common | Tom and Lindsey Ibbotson, [Unknown City], 2013 RSCDS Book 49 | |
| Neil M Grant | Christine Grant, [Unknown City], 2012 RSCDS Book 49 | |
| Orpington Caledonians | John Brenchley, [Unknown City], 1987 RSCDS Book 49 |
| La Baratte Your Way Home | Geoffrey Wood, [Unknown City], 2014 RSCDS Book 50 | |
| Mathilde Is a Delight | Raphaëlle Orgeret, [Unknown City], 2011 RSCDS Book 50 | |
| The Spring Fling Reel | Samantha Burton, [Unknown City], 2014 RSCDS Book 50 | |
| A Trip to Applecross | Nicola Scott, [Unknown City], 2013 RSCDS Book 50 |
| Bohemian Reflections | Holgar Schuckelt, [Unknown City], 2017 RSCDS Book 51 | |
| Come What May | Romaine Butterfield, [Unknown City], 2010 RSCDS Book 51 | |
| Fair Enough | Liza Halpenny, [Unknown City], 2014 RSCDS Book 51 | |
| Hello-Goodbye | Chris Ronald, [Unknown City], 2012 RSCDS Book 51 | |
| The Somerset Children's Reel | Elizabeth Beckinsale, [Unknown City], 2015 RSCDS Book 51 |
| Farewell to Balfour Road | Andrew Buxton, [Unknown City], 2018 RSCDS Book 52 | |
| The Scallywag | Jennifer Kelly, [Unknown City], 1997 RSCDS Book 52 | |
| The Ullapool Ferry | Pat Houghton, [Unknown City], 2015 RSCDS Book 52 | |
| Ysobel Stewart of Fish Hoek | Mervyn C Short, [Unknown City], 2016 RSCDS Book 52 |
| Baldovan Reel | Douglas Henderson, Dundee, ~1960 RSCDS Book 53 | |
| Bonnie Gallowa' | Bill Little, [Unknown City], 1997 RSCDS Book 53 | |
| Chased Lovers | Tim Wilson, [Unknown City], 2015 RSCDS Book 53 | |
| City of Stirling Reel | Roy Goldring, Leeds, 2005 RSCDS Book 53 | |
| Elspeth Gray's Reel | Tom Toriyama, [Unknown City], 2019 RSCDS Book 53 | |
| The Falkirk Lass | Elaine Brunken, [Unknown City], 2002 RSCDS Book 53 | |
| The Galloping Carousel | John de Chastelain, [Unknown City], 1991 RSCDS Book 53 | |
| Jennifer's Jig | John Drewry, Aberdeen, 1968 RSCDS Book 53 | |
| The Lochalsh Reel | Pat Burnett, [Unknown City], 2001 RSCDS Book 53 | |
| Niles Roberts' Farewell to Pasadena | Doug MacDonald, [Unknown City], 1991 RSCDS Book 53 | |
| Nottingham Lace | Jenny Bradley, [Unknown City], 2011 RSCDS Book 53 | |
| Pinewoods Reel | John Bowie Dickson, [Unknown City], 1970 RSCDS Book 53 | |
| Seton's Ceilidh Band | Bruce Fordyce, [Unknown City], 1961 RSCDS Book 53 | |
| Something in the Air | Pam Stephens, [Unknown City], 2019 RSCDS Book 53 | S8×32 2C/4C |
| Toast to the Mousies | Sara Gratiot, [Unknown City], 2016 RSCDS Book 53 | |
| The Water of Leith | John Wilkinson, [Unknown City], 2014 RSCDS Book 53 | |
| Ysobel | John Drewry, Aberdeen, 1973 RSCDS Book 53 |
| Canadian Landscape | Karen and Scott MacCrone, [Unknown City], 2017 RSCDS Book 54 | |
| Dancing Forth | Bob Grant, [Unknown City], ~1999 RSCDS Book 54 | |
| The Darlington Dancer | John Brenchley, [Unknown City], 2020 RSCDS Book 54 | |
| Donna's Dancing Shoes | Francis Walduck, [Unknown City], 2014 RSCDS Book 54 | |
| A Hundred Years Since | Peter Knapman, [Unknown City], 2023 RSCDS Book 54 | |
| Kinclaven Bridge | Douglas Henderson, Dundee, ~1960 RSCDS Book 54 | |
| Mark and Susie's Jig | George T Watt, [Unknown City], ~2025 RSCDS Book 54 | |
| Miss Lucy Clark | Valerie Farr, [Unknown City], ~2025 RSCDS Book 54 | |
| A Tribute to West Renfrewshire | Vera McKechnie, [Unknown City], ~2025 RSCDS Book 54 | |
| Tullynessle and Forbes Hall | Edna Ewen, [Unknown City], 2008 RSCDS Book 54 | |
| The Waternish Tangle | Andrea Barfoot, [Unknown City], 2001 RSCDS Book 54 | |
| The Yorkshire Rose | Trish Reid Chester, [Unknown City], 2013 RSCDS Book 54 |
| Anderson's Rant | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| The Banks of Clyde | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| Brechin Lassies | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| Charles Stuart | Anonymous, date unknown† Miss Milligan's Miscellany 1 attributes this to Wilkie's The Ladies' Pocket-Book for the Year 1794 but according to Robert Keller's site, that book contains no dance anything like "Charles Stuart" either in name or figure. | |
| The Gathering | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| Gramachie | Straight & Skillern, London, ~1775 204 Favourite Country Dances Straight & Skillernhttps://imslp.org/wiki/204_Favourite_Country_Dances_(Various) calls this dance Gramachree, and writes: 1st. and 2d. Cu. set & change sides the same back again lead down the middle up again & cast off lead out each side | |
| Inveraray | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| Lady Dumfries | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| Lady Glasgow | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| Lady Home's Jig | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| Largo Law ~ Modified | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| Largo Law | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| The Munro Rant | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| Newington Assembly | Wilkie, London, 1794‡ The Ladies' Pocket-Book for the Year 1794 According to Robert Keller's site the original description for this dance is "hands across, lead down and up, poussette". | |
| Odd Thoughts | T. Straight, [Unknown City], 1783 24 Favourite Dances the Year 1783 Straight writes: Change sides & back again lead down the middle up again & cast off allemand with the right & left hand hands 6 quite round | |
| Queen Victoria | Kate Hughes, Dundalk, Ireland, ~1867 Kate Hughes' Dancing Book The RSCDS attributes this to D. Anderson's Ball-Room Guide, ~1880, and to Kate Hughes's Dancing Book, ~1867. Kate Hughes writes:
J. F. Wallace in his The "Excelsior" Manual of Dancing, ~1872 writes:
(I think when Wallace says "partner" at the end of 1) that he means "other partner" or what I'd call neighbor.) D. Anderson's Ball-Room and Solo Dance Guide, he writes:
|
| The Back O' Bennachie | D. Anderson, Dundee, ~1886 D. Anderson's Ball-Room Guide I have not yet found a copy of Anderson's earlier work but this dance also appears in D. Anderson's Ball-Room and Solo Dance Guide, of 1897, wherein he writes:
On page 117 Anderson claims to be the devisor of this dance. | |
| Bonnie Geordie's Wig | G. Goulding, London, 1793‡ Twenty four Country Dances for the Year 1793 | |
| Bonnie Kitty | Thompson, London, 1762‡ Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1762 Thompson writes: Foot it 4 change sides and clap Hands 3 times same back again cross over two Cu: lead to the top cast off and clap Hands 3 times Hands round four at bottom right & left at top clap hands 3 times The original music consisted of a four bar strain and an eight bar strain in 2/4 time. | |
| Happy Returns | Anonymous, 1794 The Ladies' Pocket-Book for the Year 1794 The RSCDS gives no source for this dance, but Robert Keller's site says The Ladies' Pocket-Book for the Year 1794 contained a dance which consisted of two reels, lead down the middle, back and cast off, and then rights and lefts. | |
| Hooper's Jig ~ RSCDS | Johnson, London, 1751 A Choice Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, Vol. 6th Rutherford published the same figure a few years later, and used the same words. His work is online. Rutherford writes: The first Couple Clap & cast off & Hands across with the 3d. Cu. Clap & cast up & Hands across with the 2d. Cu. Cross over figure in Right Hand & Left Both of them spell the name "Hooper's Jigg" (with two "g"s). | |
| The Ladies of Dingwall | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| Miss Betty Boyle's Reel | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| Miss Christy Stewart | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| Miss Margaret Hill | Anonymous, date unknown† | |
| 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 | |
| The Royal Visit | D. Anderson, Dundee, ~1880† D. Anderson's Ball-Room Guide This may be in D. Anderson's Ball-Room Guide of ~1880, but it is not in his later work D. Anderson's Ball-Room and Solo Dance Guide, which is all that I have access to. | |
| La Russe | Kate Hughes, Dundalk, Ireland, 1867 Kate Hughes' Dancing Book The RSCDS attributes this dance to Mozart Allan's Allan's Reference Guide to the Ball-Room, ~1880 with a note that it may also be found in Kate Hughes's Dancing Book.
J. F. Wallace also published it in about 1872 in his The "Excelsior" Manual of Dancing:
Note: Wallace is using the quadrille system for numbering couples. The second couple is the one directly across from the 1st. While Allan says:
This Figure is repeated other three times, 3 and 4 being done by alternate couples. Courtesy of National Library of Scotland, licensed under: | |
| Sandy o'er the Lea | Thomas Skillern, London, ~1776‡ Skillern's Compleat Collection of Two Hundred & Four Reels and Country Dances | |
| What You Please - Skillern ~ RSCDS | Thomas Skillern, London, 1780‡ Skillern's Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1780 The RSCDS attributes this to Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1781 but according to Robert Keller the 1781 publication contains on such dance, however, the 1780 publication did. So I presume someone miscopied the date. Playford published a dance with this name in 1657, but it has a completely different figure. Skillern writes: First and 2d. Cu Set change & Right hands across The same back again & Left hands across lead down the middle up again and cast off Hands 4 at bottom Right and Left at top The music consists of two 8 bar strains of a jig. | |
| Willie's Rare and Willie's Fair | Anonymous, date unknown† The RSCDS attributes this to Thomas Skillern's Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1781 but according to Robert Keller that work does not contain any dance with a name like "Willie's Rare and Willie's Fair", nor does it contain a dance whose figure matches this one. The RSCDS claims the dance "What You Please" is also found in the 1781 work, when, in fact, it is in the 1780 publication, so I checked that as well and found no dance with this name nor with this figure. |
| Unknown | 58 |
| 1650-1699 | 1 |
| 1700-1749 | 25 |
| 1750-1799 | 64 |
| 1800-1849 | 23 |
| 1850-1899 | 6 |
| 1900-1949 | 1 |
| 1950-1999 | 63 |
| 2000-2049 | 82 |
| D. Anderson | D. Anderson's Ball-Room Guide, Dundee, about 1886. May be found at Trinity College Library, Hartford CT, or the National Library of Scotland, or Cambridge University Library |
| " | Ball-Room and Solo Dance Guide, Dundee, 1897. May be found at Württembergische Landesbibliothek, Stuttgart |
| Anonymous | Holmain MS, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, about 1730 |
| " | Blantyre MS, about 1805. Found in "The Atholl Collection" at the A K Bell Library of Perth. |
| " | Hill MS, 1841. I don't know where to find it. |
| " | Ladies New Pocket Companion, undated. I don't know where to find it. |
| " | Hilton MS, undated. I don't know where to find it. |
| William Boag | A Collection of Favourite Reels and Strathspeys by the most Eminent Composers, London, 1797. I don't know where to find it. |
| J. P. Boulogne | The Ball-Room, or the Juvenile Pupil's Assistant; Containing the Most Fashionable Quadrilles, with Les Lanciers of Sixteen, As Danced in the Public & Private Assemblies in Paris, Glasgow, 1827. Found in the RSCDS Archives. |
| Alexander Bowman | Bowman MS, about 1750. May be found in the Laing Collection of the University of Edinburgh |
| Robert Bremner | A Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances, Edinburgh, about 1765. May be found at Sir Duncan Rice Library, University of Aberdeen |
| " | 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 |
| Cahusac | Cahusac's Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1795, London, 1795. I don't know where to find it. |
| William Campbell | Campbell's Third Collection of the newest and most favorite Country Dances & Cotillions, London, about 1788. May be found at the Cardiff University Library |
| " | Campbell's Eighth Collection of the newest & most favorite Country Dances and Reels, London, about 1793. I don't know where to find it. |
| " | Campbell's 10th Book of New and Favorite Country Dances & Strathspey Reels, London, 1795 |
| " | Campbell's 11th Book of New and Favorite Country Dances & Strathspey Reels, London, about 1796. May be found in the Havard University Library |
| " | Campbell's 15th Book of New and Favorite Country Dances & Strathspey Reels, London, about 1800. I don't know where to find it. |
| Castle Menzies | The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies, Scotland, 1749. Found at the A K Bell Library, Perth |
| Thomas Collett | Twenty four New Country Dances. Published by Subscription, London, 1775. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the British Library. |
| G. Goulding | Twenty four Country Dances for the Year 1793, London, 1793. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the British Library |
| Kate Hughes | Kate Hughes' Dancing Book, Dundalk, Ireland, about 1867 |
| Johnson | A Choice Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, Vol. 2nd, London, 1742. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the Mitchell Library, Glasgow. |
| " | A Choice Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, Vol. 5th, London, 1750. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the Library of Congress. |
| " | A Choice Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, Vol. 6th, London, 1751. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, Harding Mus. |
| " | Two Hundred Favourite Country Dances, Vol. 8, London, about 1752. Found in the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library (EFDSS, Cecil Sharp House). |
| " | Caledonian Country Dances Vol. II, London, about 1754. I don't know where to find it. |
| Longman & Broderip | Longman and Broderip's Fourth Selection of...Country Dances, Reels &c., London, 1790. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, Mus. |
| Lowe | Lowes' Ball-Conductor and Assembly Guide, Edinburgh, about 1831 |
| A Cosmo Mitchell | A Guide to Ball Room Dancing, Aberdeen, about 1890. I don't know where to find it. |
| Henry Playford | The second Part of the Dancing Master, London, 1696 |
| " | The Dancing Master, 11th ed., London, 1701 |
| John Young | The Dancing Master, Vol. the Second, London, 1710 |
| Preston | Twenty four Country-Dances for the Year 1786, London, 1786. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the British Library |
| " | Preston's New Country Dances, London, 1797. I don't know where to find it. |
| David Rutherford | Rutherford's compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both Old and New, Vol. 1, London, about 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 |
| John Rutherford | Rutherford's Compleat Collection of 200 of the most Celebrated Country Dances, both Old and New, Vol. 3, London, about 1775. May be found in Bibliothèque nationale de France, or Württembergische Landesbibliothek, Stuttgart |
| " | Rutherford's Compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances, both old and new, Vol. 3, London, 1775. I don't know where to find it. |
| " | Rutherford's Compleat Collection of 200 of the most Celebrated Country Dances, both Old and New, London, 1775. I don't know where to find it. |
| Thomas Skillern | Skillern's Compleat Collection of Two Hundred & Four Reels and Country Dances, London, 1776. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the Mitchell Library, Glasgow. |
| " | Skillern's Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1780, London, 1780 |
| Neil Stewart | A Collection of the Newest and Best Reels or Country Dances, Edinburgh, about 1761. May be found in the British Library |
| T. Straight | 24 Favourite Dances the Year 1783, 1783 |
| Straight & Skillern | 204 Favourite Country Dances, London, about 1775. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, Mus. |
| John Sutherland | The Heart of Midlothian, Favourite Dances for 1820, Edinburgh, 1820. I don't know where to find it. |
| Thompson | Thompson's Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, Vol I, London, about 1757 |
| " | Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1762, London, 1762 |
| " | Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1770, London, 1770. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the Mitchell Library, Glasgow. |
| " | 24 Country Dances for the Year 1771, London, 1771. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, Mus. |
| Walsh | Twenty Four New Country Dances for the year 1710, London, 1710. I don't know where to find it. |
| " | The Compleat Country Dancing Master vol 1, London, 1731. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the British Library |
| " | Caledonian Country Dances, 2d Edition, London, about 1735. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh |
| " | Caledonian Country Dances. Book the Second, London, about 1737. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh |
| " | Caledonian Country Dances Vol. II Part 1, London, 1748 |
| " | Country Dances Selected, Part 1, London, 1760. I don't know where to find it. |
| Thompson | Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1759, London, 1759. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the Mitchell Library, Glasgow. |
| Wilkie | The Ladies' Pocket-Book for the Year 1794, London, 1794. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the Lewis Walpole Library, Yale University |
| John Wilson | John Wilson's Aide Memoire, about 1750. RSCDS Archives |
| Thomas Wilson | No. 21 of Button & Whitaker's Selection of Dances, Reels and Waltzes, London, 1813. I don't know where to find it. |
| " | Le Sylphe, An Elegant Collection of Twenty four Country Dances, for the Year 1814, London, 1814. I don't know where to find it. |
| " | Le Sylphe, An Elegant Collection of Twenty four Country Dances, for the Year 1815, London, 1815. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the Library of Congress. |
| " | A Companion to the Ball Room, London, 1816. Robert Keller's site says this may be found in the British Library |
| " | Analysis of the London Ballroom, London, 1825. May be found at the Huntington Library, UC Berkeley Libraries, UNC Chapel Hill, Harvard University, New York Public Library, National Library of Scotland |
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.