Swashbuckling Iain
By Carolyn Hunt
The San Francisco Collection, Volume 2
32 bar jig for two couples
Music: Not Her First Choice by Kim McGarrity
1–8 1st man dances a reel of three on the women’s side with 1st and 2nd women; 1st man passes 2nd woman by the right shoulder to begin; and he ends in the middle of the set facing down.
9–16 1st man, followed closely by his partner, dances a reel of three across the set between 2nd couple; 1st man passes 2nd man by the right shoulder to begin and ends again in the middle of the set facing down.
17–20 1st man, still followed by his tenacious partner, dances down the middle.
21–24 As 1st man turns around, pulling back right shoulder, he notices his partner andleads her up to the top.
25–32 1st and 2nd couples change places with allemande.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Once when I was teaching Iain Boyd’s “Twa Sparkling E’en”, one of the dancers thought I had said “Swashbuckling Iain”. There was no Swashbuckling Iain, of course, but later I got to thinking, “If there were such a dance, how would it go?”
Dedicated to Iain Boyd but not necessarily describing him, this is it.
The Minister on the Loch
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a three-couple longwise set
Four Dances 2008
Bars Description
1–8 1st and 2nd couples dance a poussette right round.
9–16 1st couple dance down the middle for two steps and, giving both hands, turn once round to finish in the middle facing up. 1st couple dance up the middle for two steps and, giving both hands, turn once round to finish in the middle facing up.
17–24 1st and 3rd couples dance a double figure of eight. To begin, 1st couple cast off and 3rd couple cross up. 1st couple finish in original places, facing out.
25–28 1st and 2nd women, giving right hands, and 1st and 2nd men, giving left hands, turn one and a half times to change places.
29–32 1st and 3rd women, giving left hands, and 1st and 3rd men, giving right hands, turn one and a half times to change places.
Repeat from new positions.
Devised by Roy Goldring for Robert MacKay
Original tune:
Muriel Johnstone’s compliments to Robert MacKay (Muriel A Johnstone)
Originally published in 24 Graded and Social Dances devised by Roy Goldring
The dance takes its name from the painting:
Reverend Robert Walker (1755-1808)
Skating on Duddingston Loch
by Sir Henry Raeburn
John of Bon Accord
Book XXXIII – No. 5
(Reel)
Music Description
Bars
1–16 Four progressive half-reels of three across the dance – danced as follows:
1–4 1st couple with 2nd woman dance a half-reel of three. 1st woman passes her partner with the right shoulder to begin and finishes in the middle of the set facing her own side of the dance. 1st man finishes in 1st woman’s original place and 2nd woman in 1st man’s original place.
5–8 1st couple with 2nd man dance a half-reel of three. 1st woman passes her partner with the left shoulder to begin and finishes in the middle of the set facing the men’s side of the dance. 1st man finishes in 2nd man’s original place and 2nd man in 1st woman’s original place.
9–12 1st couple repeat bars 1-4 with 3rd woman who finishes in 2nd man’s original place.
13–16 1st couple repeat bars 5-8 with 3rd man, who finishes in 2nd woman’s original place. 1st couple finish in third place in the middle of the set.
17–20 1st couple turn with right hands and cast up one place on own sides. 3rd couple step down on bars 19-20.
21–24 1st couple dance half figure of eight round 2nd couple.
25–28 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples turn partners with right hands three-quarters round to finish in a line up and down the dance; facing partners and retaining right hands, all set.
29–32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples turn partners with right hands to finish on own sides and then, joining hands on the sides, set to partners.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Devised by Roy Goldring and inscribed to John Drewry of Aberdeen.
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The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 1-16 In the four progressive half reels across the dance, the 1st woman cuts each reel through the middle
giving her partner, successively, right, left, right and left shoulders.
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TAC Notes:’
1-16 For the four consecutive half reels of three, 1st woman starts by facing her partner, giving him R, L, R, & then L shouders. Note: support dancers all dance up into their half reels & finish one place up on opposite sides.
29-30 This is a tight turn – do not “steal” on bar 28.