No. 23 – Espie McNabb
Miss Milligan’s Miscellany of Scottish Country Dances
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set
1– 4 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples set to partners and, giving right hands, cross over.
5–8 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples repeat bars 1-4.
9–16 1st couple lead down the middle and up to finish in original places.
17–20 1st couple set to each other and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 19-20.
21–24 1st couple, giving right hands , turn once round to finish in second place on own sides.
25–32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round and back.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
The Black Leather Jig
Delaware Valley Silver
32 Bar Reel for 3 Couples
1–8 1st couple set, turn once round by the right, cast off one place, and turn by the left three quarters to finish with 1st woman facing 3rd woman and 1st man facing 2nd man. 2nd couple step up on bars 5-6.
9–16 1st couple dance reels of three across the dance, giving left shoulder to the dancer they face. At the end of the reels, 1st couple turn quickly by the left hand to finish 1st woman facing 2nd man and 1st man facing 3rd woman. Supporting couples dance wide, slow reels across the dance, finishing in original places.
17–24 1st couple repeat the same left shoulder reels across the dance as in bars 9-16, 1st woman dancing with the 2nd couple and 1st man dancing with the 3rd couple. At the end of the reels, 1st couple pass right shoulders to finish facing first corners. Supporting couples dance continuously from the first reel to the second.
25 – 32 1st couple dance Hello-Goodbye setting with turns:
25-26 1st couple set to first corners, pulling right shoulder back to finish on opposite sides in second place.
27-28 1st couple turn by the right three quarters to face second corners.
29-32 Repeat bars 25-28 with second corners, finishing on own sides in second place.
Repeat having passed a couple.
Devised by Geoffrey Selling of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Inscribed to Heather Petit and Will Hurd on the announcement of their engagement, December 14, 1991. The title, which puns on the name White Heather Jig, refers to the black leather kilts, jackets and boots which Heather and Will are known to wear to Scottish dance events. Though called a jig, the dance is intended to be a reel.
Suggested Music: “Sleepy Maggie,” from RSCDS Bk. 11 recording, by Alastair Hunter and the Lorne Scottish Dance Band
SHIFTIN’ BOBBINS
A Reel for Three Couples in a
Four Couple Longways Set
1–2 First couple cross giving right hands moving down the set to finish back to back facing second couple on the wrong side. Second couple step up.
3–4 Giving hands as in Double Triangles, first, second and third couples set.
5–8 First couple dance out on wrong side and cast up, meet, give nearer hands and dance down to places
9–12 First lady with second and third men dances right hands across while First man with second and third ladies dances left hands across once round.
13–16 First couple meet, and giving inside hands, lead down centre followed by second and third couples.
17–24 All turn about and third couple lead back, casting off so all dance hands across with opposite hand. Now back at, with first couple facing up.
25–28 First couple, giving inside hands, lead up and cast off to second place on the wrong sides.
29–32 First couple dance half a figure of eight round second couple to finish in second place.
Repeat from second place
Tune: Shiftin’ Bobbins (M. Rimmer)
The Birks of Invermay
Book 16 – No. 2
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set
1–4 1st man and 2nd woman, giving both hands, turn once round.
5–8 1st woman and 2nd man, giving both hands, turn once round to places. On bar 8, 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance into the middle of the set to join both hands and face up.
9–16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance a promenade.
17–24 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over and cast off one place, lead up between 2nd couple, cross over to own sides and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 23-24.
25–32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round and back.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Skillern’s compleat Collection of Two Hundred & four Reels and Country Dances c. 1789 as Birks of Endermay.
Original tune: The Birks of Invermay (Surenne)