Video: Lady Mary Menzies’ Reel
Lady Mary Menzies’ Reel
Book 7 – No. 5
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set
1–8 1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across for three steps and left hands back. 1st couple cast off one place on own sides and 2nd couple dance up to first place.
9–12 1st couple lead up the middle to finish back to back between 2nd couple, 1st man facing 2nd woman and 1st woman facing 2nd man. 1st and 2nd couples set.
13–16 1st couple lead down the middle to finish back to back between 3rd couple, 1st man facing 3rd woman and 1st woman facing 3rd man. 1st and 3rd couples set.
17–20 1st couple turn first corners with the right hand 1st man finishing between 3rd couple facing up and 1st woman between 2nd couple facing down. 1st couple set and advance toward second corners.
21–24 1st couple turn second corners with the right hand finishing between corners. 1st couple set to each other.
25–30 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance reels of three on the sides. 1st couple pass first corners by the left to begin.
31–32 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over to second place on own sides.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies, 1749.
Original tune: Lady Mary Menzies’ Reel (Bremner, 1761)
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TACNotes:’
13-16 Nearer hand lead. 1st woman, maintaining eye contact with 3rd man, finishes first setting step facing up towards 2nd man & uses the second setting step to advance towards him a little. 1st man moves slightly up on second setting step.
19-20 Set to partner while advancing to face 2nd corner.
Video: Strathglass House
Video: Strathglass House
Strathglass House
Book 13 – No. 9
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set
1–4 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples set and dance six hands round to the left halfway.
5–8 3rd, 2nd and 1st couples repeat bars 1-4 to original places, again moving to the left.
9–12 1st couple lead down, cross over below 2nd couple and dance behind 3rd couple to meet below them facing up.
13–16 1st couple lead up to the top and cast off one place on opposite sides to face first corners. 2nd couple step up on bars 15-16.
17–24 1st couple turn first corner with right hand, partner with the left hand, second corner with the right hand, partner with the left hand to finish between corners.
25–28 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples advance and retire.
29–32 1st couple, giving both hands, turn one and a half times to finish in second place on own sides.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
R Bremner:
A Second Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances c. 1765.
Original tune:
Mr Muir Mackenzie’s Favourite (Mr Sharpe of Hoddom)
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TACNotes:’
1 – 8 On second setting step (bars 2 & 6) 1st man & 3rd woman must begin to move into circle shape so that the half circle is completed in two steps (bars 3-4 & 7-8).
13 – 16 Nearer hand lead. 2nd cpl step up on bars 15-16.
Sorry, no video.
SKIPPIN’ BARFIT THRO’ the HEATHER
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set by Barbara Anglin
1–8 1st couple cross, giving right hands, and cast off one place as 2nd couple step up.
1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 3rd couple to finish in second place on own sides.
9–12 1st couple dance right hands across with the couple on their right; i.e. 1st woman with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple.
1st couple finish in the middle, left shoulder to left shoulder.
13–16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance a snake pass, as follows: 1st man, followed by 3rd man and 3rd woman, dances out to the women’s side and up, across the top of the set, and down to second place on his own side. 3rd couple finish in top place. Meanwhile, 1st woman, followed by 2nd woman and 2nd man, dances out to the men’s side and down, across the bottom of the set, and up to second place on her own side. 2nd couple finish in 3rd place. The two ‘snakes’ pass by the left. All finish on own sides in order 3, 1, 2 with women facing up and men facing down.
17–24 All chase counter clockwise round the set. On bar 24, all dance into the middle to take promenade hold, facing up.
25–32 3rd, 1st and 2nd couples dance an allemande.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
As I was walkin’ doon yon hill, O but she was neatly dressed,
It was on a summer’s evening, She neither needed hat nor feather,
T’was there I met a bonnie lass, She was a queen amang them a’,
Skippin’ barfit throw the heather. Skippin’ barfit throw the heather.
“Skippin’ Barfit Thro’ the Heather”,
traditional Scottish folk song
While the traditional song tune is not a jig, I thought that jig tempo better suited my image of
“skipping barefoot through the heather.” BA