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.
The Silver Tassie
RSCDS Leaflet – No. 1
(Strathspey)
1 – 4 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, giving right hands to partners, cross over and joining hands on the sides, set.
5 – 8 Repeat bars 1 – 4.
9 – 16 1st couple dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple, who stand still. 1st couple dance down between 2nd couple, crossing over, to begin the figure. 3rd couple also dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple, beginning by casting up to top place, then dancing down crossing over.
17 – 24 1st couple, followed by 2nd and 3rd couples, dance down the middle for four steps. 1st couple dance up the middle, while 2nd and 3rd couples divide to allow 1st couple through. 2nd couple meet and dance up between 3rd couple, who then meet and dance up.
25 – 32 1st and 2nd couple Rondel, i.e.
25 1st couple dance down under the arch made by 2nd couple, who dance up.
26-27 2nd and 1st women cross in front of partners, then all cast to meet the other woman or man on the opposite sides and join nearer hands.
28 2nd and 1st women and at the same time 2nd and 1st men cross to own sides, the women passing under the arch made by the men.
29-30 1st man and 1st woman cross in front of 2nd man and 2nd woman, then all cast to meet partners in original places as in bar 25.
31-32 1st couple dance under the arch made by 2nd couple and all dance out to own sides, having changed places.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Devised by John Drewry
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The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 17 – 24 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples give nearer hands throughout, i.e. they dance down and dance up.
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TACNotes:’
17-24 Note use of word “dance”, i.e. all 3 cpls use nearer hands, down and up.
25-32 On bar 32, cpls dance straight into places.
THE PLANTATION REEL
A 32-bar reel for 5 couples
1–4 First and third couples cross by the right and cast off one place, second and fourth couples stepping up.
5–8 First (third) couple lead down between fourth (fifth) couple and cast back up to second (fourth) place, still on wrong sides.
9–12 First and second couples, half rights and lefts; third and fourth couples, the same.
13–14 First and second couples dance a Petronella turn one place to the right around their square; third and fourth couples, the same.
15–16 Repeat bars 13–14; this brings you all back to where you were at the end of bar 8.
17–20 Right hand wheels: first man with second couple; first lady and third man with fourth couple; and third lady with fifth couple. All end on the sidelines.
21–24 Left hand wheels: first lady with second couple; first man and third lady with fourth couple; and third man with fifth couple. Again, end on the sidelines.
25–28 First and third couples cross by the right and cast off one place on your own side, fourth and fifth couples stepping up.
29–32 All turn partners once by the right hand.
Repeat with a new top couple.
The fifth time through, “birl as you will” on bars 29–32.
Tony Moretti
Auburn, N.H.
Dedicated to Andrew Rankine for his contributions to Scottish Country Dancing.
Suggested music: “The Plantation Reel” on Andrew Rankine’s record “Westering Home” (Emerald GES 1141) –a medley of folk tunes from the southern U.S.A., played in S.C.D. style!
The Pinewoods Collection of Scottish Country Dances, Vol. 2