FATHER CONNELLY’S JIG

THE DONSIDE BOOK of Scottish Country Dances, 1989-1990 by John Drewry

Dance devised January 1990

1–8    1st and 2nd couples “Set and Rotate”.

9–12    1st couple and their first corners dance half right and left on the diagonal. Meanwhile second corners set to each other and then change places giving right hands. At the end, 3rd and 2nd couples stay facing out.

13–16    3rd, 1st and 2nd couples dance half reels of three on opposite sides. To begin:- 1st and 3rd men, and 1st and 2nd women, pass by the right. At the end:- 2nd and 3rd couples veer into place (i.e. no extra loops).

17–20    1st couple and their second corners dance half right and left on the diagonal (1st couple begin by giving right hands to second corners in person). Meanwhile first corners set to each other and then change places giving right hands. At the end, 3rd and 2nd couples stay facing out.

21–24    3rd, 1st and 2nd couples dance half reels of three on the sides.To begin:- 1st and 2nd men, and 1st and 3rd women, pass by the right. At the end:- 2nd and 3rd couples dance round loops on the corners to enter the reels across the dance.

25–32    1st woman dances a reel of three across the dance with 2nd couple (left shoulder to 2nd man) while 1st man dances a reel of three across the dance with 3rd couple (left shoulder to 3rd woman).

33–40    1st couple, giving right hands, dance down between 3rd couple crossing over to opposite sides; 1st woman casts up round 3rd man while 1st man cast off round 4th woman. 1st couple, giving left hands, change places up and down the dance; 1st woman casts up round 4th woman while 1st man cast off round 3rd man. 3Rd couple step up on bars 39-40. (1st couple are now in third place on own sides.)

41–56    3rd, 1st and 4th couples dance the figures danced by 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples during bars 9-24.

57–64    3rd, 1st and 4th couples six hands round and back – (2nd couple could join in too to make it eight hands round and back).

Repeat with a new top couple.

NOTE   The dance is really two dances each of 32 bars. Bars 9-24 of each dance are similar. 1st couple dance the first part with 2nd and 3rd couples and the second part with 3rd and 4th couples. Either part could be danced separately as a normal 8 X 32  bar dance. The reason for this unusual structure is that the tune contains 64 bars and it was thought that this arrangement would make it less tiring for the dancers than a 8 X 64 bar dance.

In the half right and left on the diagonal it is essential for the dancers to be in the side lines before changing places with the left hand to leave the centre of the set free for the other dancers.

McLaughlin’s Reel, 32R 3C (4C Set)                        B. Zobel, Whitadder Coll.
1-6    First Couple lead down the middle, cross over and cast up round third couple, dance up to the top behind the sidelines on the opposite side and in to meet each other to join hands.
7-8    First couple turn each other half way round with two pas de basque steps to finish ready for poussette, second couple stepping in.

9-16    First and second couples dance poussette, on bars 15 & 16 first couple stay in the middle and continue to turn an extra quarter of a turn opening out back to back  with first man facing the top and first lady facing the bottom of the set.

17-24    First couple dance round second corners passing right shoulder and turn each other with right hand one and a half times to finish on their own side in second place. At the same time second and third couples set and cross over with right hand, set and cross back with right hand.

25-32    Second, first and third couples dance six hands round and back

ON THE QUARTER-DECK
Scottish Country Dances from THE HARBOUR CITY.
A 32 bar hornpipe for 2 couples in a 4 couple longwise set.

1–4        1st couple set once and cross over giving right hands.

5–8        1st couple set once and turn with right hands just over halfway round.

9–12    1st couple and 2nd man dance right hands across once round.

13–16    1st couple and 2nd woman dance left hands across once round.

17 – 20    1st woman, followed by her partner, dances down the middle for two steps, both turn right about and 1st man, followed by his partner, dances back up the middle.

21–24    1st man casts down behind 2nd woman and crosses over into 2nd man’s place while 1st woman dances up the middle and casts down behind 2nd woman to finish in 2nd woman’s place. 2nd couple move up on bars 23 and 24.

25–32    2nd and 1st couples dance right and left.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

“On the Quarter-deck” was devised by Iain Boyd.