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Playford Ball 2001
The Dances


Apley House
 duple minor.

1702, reconstructed by Cecil Sharp 1922.

 

 

A1

4

Gentlemen, taking hands with neighbor, fall back a double

 

4

and turn single moving forward;

A2

4

Ladies, taking hands with neighbor, fall back a double

 

4

and come forward while turning single.

B

4

Right hand star halfway,

 

4

and all turn single up;

 

8

couple 2 casts down and comes in towards the middle to form the center of a line of four across the set

WHILE couple 1 move up the center and casts to the outside of this line of four.

C

4

All lead up a double (in lines of four),

 

4

fall back (at the last bar couple 1 curl up to meet in original place);

 

8

couple 1 cast into progressed place and change places with partner

WHILE couple 2 cross to own side as they move up to progress.

 

 

 

Draper's Gardens
 (tune "The Margravaine's Waltz")
duple minor.

1702, reconstructed by Bernard J. Bentley 1965.

 

 

A1

6

First corners set forwards,

 

6

turn single right back to place,

 

12

turn once around with both hands.

A2

6

Second corners set forwards,

 

6

turn single right back to place,

 

12

turn once around with both hands.

B

6

Gentlemen turn neighbors both hands, halfway around;

 

6

ladies turn neighbors both hands, halfway around;

 

12

all four circle halfway and fall back into lines on the side (with neighbor);

 

12

facing partner to start, two changes rights and lefts (with hands),

 

12

couple 1 lead up and and cast back to progressed place.

 

 

Fair and Softly
 longways for as many as will.

1728, reconstructed by Tom Cook, 1979

 

A

6

taking hands along lines, all step set up and down;

 

6

couple 1 cast down (couple 2 move up),

 

6

couple 1 lead through new couple below,

 

6

and cast back up to progressed place - end all facing the familiar neighbor on the last beat.

B1

3

Rights and lefts, etc. with original neighbor: R hand to pass current neighbor,

 

3

L hand to pass partner,

 

3

R shoulder (no hands) to pass current neighbor,

 

3

turn partner with both hands, only halfway;

 

12

couple 2 (the couple above) lead down through couple 1 and cast back to place - end all facing a new neighbor on the last beat.

B2

3

Rights and lefts, etc. with the new neighbor: R hand to pass new neighbor,

 

3

L hand to pass partner,

 

3

R shoulder (no hands) to pass new neighbor,

 

3

turn partner with both hands, only halfway;

 

12

couple 1 (the couple above) lead down through couple 2 and cast back to place - end taking hands with old and new neighbors in lines on the side.

 

 

Geud Man of Ballangigh
 (tune "Hunt the squirrel")
duple minor.

1696, reconstructed by Cecil Sharp 1922.

 

A1

8

Couple 1 lead down between couple 2 and cast back to place;

 

8

gentlemen lead through the ladies and cast back to place;

A2

8

Couple 2 lead up between couple 1 and cast back to place;

 

8

ladies lead through the gentlemen and cast back to place.

B1

8

First gentleman sets to his corner and turns single back to place;

 

8

first lady sets to her corner and turns single back to place;

B2

4

Circle four halfway,

 

4

falling back with neighbor along the sides;

 

8

all set forward to partner and change places with partner.

 

 

Jack's Maggot
 duple minor.

1702, reconstructed by Cecil Sharp 1922.

 

A1

16

First gentleman and ladies hey for three on the ladies' side of the set, starting with the right shoulder, ending with the first gentleman returning to place;

A2

16

First lady and gentlemen hey for three on the gentlemen's side of the set, starting with the

left shoulder, ending with the first lady returning to place.

B1

8

Right hand star once around (skipping);

 

8

left hand star back (skipping).

B2

4

First corners change places,

 

4

second corners change places

 

8

Circle four half way around

couple 1 cast

WHILE couple 2 lead up into progressed places.

 

 

The Jovial Beggars
 large circle (mixer)

1651, reconstructed by Cecil Sharp 1922.

 

Part I

A1

8

Slipping circle left;

 

 

4

turn single.

 

A2

8

Slipping circle right;

 

 

4

turn single.

Chorus

B1

4

With partner, fall back a double and

 

 

4

come forward a double;

 

 

8

Gentlemen cast left and move around circle one place counter-clockwise

WHILE ladies turn single left, all skipping.

 

B2

4

With a new partner, fall back a double and

 

 

4

come forward a double;

 

 

8

Ladies cast right and move around circle one place clockwise

WHILE gentlemen turn single right, all skipping (change partners yet again).

Part II

A1

8

With next partner, swirl siding (Sharp siding)

 

 

4

turn single;

 

A2

8

swirl siding (Sharp siding)

 

 

4

turn single.

Chorus

B1

 

As before.

 

B2

 

As before.

Part III

A1

8

Arm right with next partner,

 

 

4

turn single.

 

A2

8

Arm left with partner,

 

 

4

turn single.

Chorus

B1

 

As before.

 

B2

 

As before.

 

 

 

Juice of Barley
 duple minor.

1686, reconstructed Cecil Sharp 1916.

 

A

8

Back-to-back partners all;

 

8

all turn partner once around with both hands.

B1

8

Gentlemen half figure eight through the ladies, with the first gentleman crossing first;

 

8

all clap and circle four once around.

B2

8

Ladies half figure eight through the gentlemen, with the first lady crossing first;

 

8

all clap and circle four once around.

 

 

Kelsterne Gardens
 three couple longways set.

1727, reconstructed by Tom Cook 1975.

 

A1

16

Mirror hey for three, starting with couple 1 between couple 2.

A2

16

Top two couples do a full double figure eight, couple 1 crossing down and casting up to

start WHILE couple 2 cast up and cross down to start; ending in original place.

B1

8

Top two couples circle 4 once around, briskly;

 

4

couple 1 cast as couple 2 move up.

B2

8

Bottom two couples circle 4 once around, briskly;

 

4

couple 1 cast as couple 3 move up.

 

 

Mr. Isaac's Maggot
 duple minor.

1695, reconstructed by Cecil Sharp 1916.

 

A1

12

First corners turn right hand, letting go when they have turned halfway but continuing

their course, the gentleman going below and behind second gentleman and back up the

outside of the set to his place, the lady looping inside the set and back to her place.

A2

12

Second corners turn left hand, letting go when they have turned halfway but continuing

their course, the lady going below and behind second lady and back up the outside of the

set to her place, the gentleman looping inside the set and back to his place.

B

6

In lines on the sides, all fall back;

 

3

come forward;

 

3

all turn single right;

 

12

facing partner, three changes rights and lefts (no hands) with couple 1 ending close together in the center of the set and couple 2 ending further apart to form a line of four across the set, facing up.

 

3

Lines of 4 lead up;

 

3

fall back;

 

6

couple 1 gate up through the center and back around to progressed place.

 

 

Mount Hills
 duple minor.

1721, reconstructed by Bernard J. Bentley 1965.

 

A1

8

Couple 1 cross and go below, skipping (couple 2 move up);

 

8

couple 1 half figure-eight up through couple 2.

A2

8

Couple 2 cross and go below, skipping (couple 1 move up);

 

8

couple 2 half figure-eight up through couple 1.

B1

4

First corners change places by right;

 

4

second corners change places by right;

 

4

all circle left half-way

 

4

and turn single left.

B2

8

Back to back with partner;

 

8

three changes of rights and lefts (with hands) beginning with partner.

 

 

Parson's Farewell
 two couples facing

1651, reconstructed by Cecil Sharp 1911.

 

Part I

A

4

All forward a double to meet;

 

 

4

All slip four steps to their own left;

 

 

4

all fall back a double;

 

 

4

and all four slipping steps right back to place.

 

B1

2

Honors: Gentlemen acknowledge each other with a nod,

 

 

2

ladies the same;

 

 

4

all acknowledge first neighbor, then opposite, lastly partner;

 

 

8

all turn opposite with both hands once around using skip step.

 

B2

2

Honors: Ladies acknowledge each other with a nod,

 

 

2

gentlemen the same;

 

 

4

all acknowledge first neighbor, then opposite, lastly partner;

 

 

8

all turn opposite with both hands once around using skip step.

Part II

A1

4

With partner, forward a double to meet;

 

 

4

lead neighbor away from the set;

 

 

4

lead neighbor back to the center,

 

 

4

and fall back with partner.

 

B1

8

Gentlemen's chain: skipping, gentlemen touch right hands, then take left to pass and turn neighbor by the right hand;

 

 

8

gentlemen continue back first touching right hands then taking left to pass, and turning partner right, back to place. Ladies accommodate the chain by dancing into their partner's place to turn gentlemen wide and well.

 

B2

8

Ladies' chain: skipping, ladies touch left hands, then take right to pass, turning neighbor by the left hand;

 

 

8

ladies continue back first touching left hands then taking right to pass, and turning partner left, back to place. Gentlemen accommodate the chain by dancing into their partner's place also.

Part III

A

4

Partners take both hands and slip into the center;

 

 

4

with neighbor, take both hands and slip away;

 

 

4

then slip back into the center;

 

 

4

and with partner's right hand, fall back a double into place.

 

B1

4

Skipping changes, gentlemen's diagonal change: start by turning partner both hands once around;

 

 

4

gentlemen change places on the diagonal, passing right shoulders, then turning right to face partner (now across the set);

 

 

4

two changes rights and lefts, beginning with partner by the right shoulder (no hands);

 

 

4

and (with walking step), all turn partner halfway by the left.

 

B2

4

Skipping changes, ladies diagonal change: start by turning partner both hands once around;

 

 

4

ladies change places on the diagonal, passing left shoulders, then turning left to face partner (now across the set);

 

 

4

two changes lefts and rights, beginning with partner by the left shoulder;

 

 

4

and (with walking step), all turn partner halfway with both hands.

 

 

Parthenia
 four couple set longways.

Marjorie Heffer and William Porter, 1932.

 

Part I

A1

4

With partners, all lead up a double,

 

 

4

fall back,

 

 

8

gypsy partner by right shoulder once around;

 

A2

4

With partners, all lead down a double,

 

 

4

fall back,

 

 

8

gypsy partner by left shoulder once around.

 

B1

4

partners set,

 

 

4

cross by the right shoulder and turn right to form a large oval circle of six,

 

 

8

and dance in single file halfway around the set.

 

B2

4

Set to partner (re-form lines briefly);

 

 

4

cross by the right shoulder and turn right to form a large oval circle of six,

 

 

8

and dance in single file halfway around the set (end in original places).

Part II

A1

4

Come forward to meet partner by right shoulder,

 

 

4

then cast over left shoulder back to place (i.e., side-by-side variation),

 

 

8

gypsy partner by left shoulder once around.

 

A2

4

Come forward to meet partner by left shoulder,

 

 

4

then cast over right shoulder back to place (i.e., side-by-side variation),

 

 

8

gypsy partner by right shoulder once around.

 

B1

4

Top and bottom couples come forward to meet as the people in the middle fall back, to form two lines of four across the set -

 

 

4

in these lines across, set.

 

 

8

The four people at each side of the line do three changes of a circular hey, starting with right shoulder to the person facing.

 

B2

4

The people at the ends of the line come forward to meet and the middle people fall back (up / down), forming lines of four along the set -

 

 

4

in lines up and down, set.

 

 

8

The top four people and the bottom four people do three changes of a circular hey, starting with right shoulder to the person facing (i.e., partner).

Part III

A1

8

Arm partner right,

 

 

8

gypsy partner right shoulder.

 

A2

8

Arm partner left,

 

 

8

gypsy partner left shoulder.

 

B1

8

Form open circles of four at the top and bottom of the set (couple 2 and couple 3 take hands with each other and with the end couple, but couples 1 and 4 don't take hands with partner). The far first corners (gentleman 1 and lady 4) lead their group of four across the set and up / down the opposite side into reversed places.

 

 

4

In lines on the side, fall back a double

 

 

4

and come forward.

 

B2

8

Reform open circles of four but with the top four and the bottom four people, and the same far first corners lead their group across the set and down / up their own sides back to place.

 

 

4

In lines on the side, fall back a double

 

 

4

and come forward.

 

 

The Punch Bowl
 longways for as many as will

1728, reconstructed by Charles Bolton 1991.

 

A1

12

Couple 1 cross and go below; meet and lead through a new couple below; and cast back to place to meet their original couple 2

WHILE

couple 2 meet to lead up; separate around the couple coming towards them (go outside); then turn inward to partners and lead down between a couple to meet their original couple 1.

 

6

These four circle half-way;

 

6

couple 1 cast as couple 2 lead up (couple 2 end improper.)

A2

12

Reverse roles and repeat: Couple 2 (now at the top) cross and go below; meet and lead through a new couple below; and cast back to place to meet their original couple 1

WHILE

couple 1 meet to lead up; separate around the couple coming toward them (go outside); then turn inward to partners and lead down between a couple to meet their original couple 2.

 

6

These four circle half-way;

 

6

couple 2 cast as couple 1 leads up. (All finish improper.)

B

3

First corner people change places,

 

3

second corner people change;

 

6

same four circle half-way;

 

6

first couple cast as the second couple lead up;

 

6

turn partner half-way to finish proper.

 

 

Red House
 duple minor

1726, reconstructed by Rich Jackson and George Fogg, 1990.

 

A1

4

Couple 1 dance a double forward to each other

 

4

and a double back;

 

4

set,

 

4

cast into second place (couple 2 move up).

A2

4

Couple 2 dance a double forward to each other

 

4

and a double back;

 

4

set,

 

4

cast into second place (couple 1 move up).

B1

16

Couple 1 chase: gentleman casts and his partner follows, going below second gentleman, crossing up the middle and around second lady, then across set into progressed places. Couple 2 wait until they both pass above the second lady before they move up into first place.

B2

16

Couple 2 chase: lady casts and her partner follows, going below first lady, crossing up the middle and around first gentleman, then across set into progressed places. Couple 1 wait until they both pass above the first gentleman before they move up into first place. Second gentleman continues into --

C1

16

Full hey for three across the set with couple 1, starting with the second gentleman crossing up to pass right shoulders with first lady. As all come back to place, second lady then -

C2

16

Crosses up to pass left shoulder with the first gentleman to start a full hey for three with couple 1; ending with couple 1 casting into progressed places as couple 2 move up.

 

 

Step Stately
 (tune "Jack Pudding")
three couple longways set

1651, reconstructed by Cecil Sharp 1916

 

Part I, Introductory honors: danced twice

 

4

With partner, lead up a double;

4

Still facing up, gentlemen slip four steps to their own right behind their partners while ladies slip four steps to their own left;

8

On the sides, join hands in lines of three facing away, and couple 1 lead their lines looping down to the bottom of the set to form a line of six, all facing up;

4

All six in a line lead up a double

4

and fall back;

8

First lady leads her line to the right (in front of the gentlemen) and up to place while the first gentleman leads his line to the left and up to place.

 

Part II (duple progression, danced until original couple 1 is back at the top of the set)

 

8

Couple 1 lead up a double; change hands and lead down to meet couple 2;

4

Couples 1 and 2 circle four halfway;

4

First corners change places;

8

Ladies' partial half figure eight: with left hands, ladies lead up between the two gentlemen; second lady handing the first lady in front, they cross to go behind their opposite gentlemen, ending in a line of four (two facing two);

8

Gentlemen take right hands to pass, both couples turn partner left hand and progress as they turn to end with couple 2 above, couple 1 in the middle.

8

Couple 1 lead up a double; change hands and lead down to meet couple 3;

4

Couples 1 and 3 circle four halfway;

4

In these four, first corners change places;

8

Ladies' partial half figure eight: with left hands, ladies lead up between the two gentlemen; third lady handing the first lady in front, they cross to go behind their opposite gentlemen, ending in a line of four (two facing two);

8

Gentlemen take right hands to pass, both couples turn partner left hand and progress as they turn to end with couple 3 above, couple 1 at the bottom.

Repeat until all couples are back in their original places.

 

Part III (triple progression, danced until original couple 1 is back at the top of the set)

 

8

Couple 1 cross and go below (couple 2 moving up); couple 1 cross in the middle and turn to end facing in the center of lines of three at the sides;

4

Lines fall back a double on the sides

4

and come forward (but not as far);

4

Couple 1 meet in the middle and face up while couples 2 and 3 change places with partners;

8

Couple 1, from the center position, lead to the top of the set and cast to the bottom of the set

WHILE couple 3, from the top position, cast below the others and lead to the top of the set

WHILE couple 2, from the bottom position, lead to the top, then cast into the middle of the set;

4

New top two couples circle four halfway and fall back, ending with couple 2 as the new top couple

WHILE the couple at the bottom arm right once around.

 

Part IV (closing honors, danced once)

 

4

With partner, lead up a double;

4

Still facing up, gentlemen slip four steps to their own right behind their partners while ladies slip four steps to their own left;

8

On the sides, join hands in lines of three facing away, and couple 1 lead their lines looping down to the bottom of the set to form a line of six, all facing up;

4

All six in a line lead up a double

4

and fall back.

4

All six lead up a double;

4

all step right and honor the Presence.

 

 

Up With Aily
 (tune "Hare's Maggot")
longways for as many as will

1651, reconstructed by Cecil Sharp 1922.

 

A1

3

Second corner people (second gentleman and first lady) dance into line with first gentleman;

 

3

joining hands in a line of three they advance to second lady,

 

3

they fall fall back ;

 

3

second corner people retire to places,

 

6

ladies turn single

WHILE first gentleman casts down and second gentleman turns single up to exchange places.

A2

3

Second couple dance into line with first lady,

 

3

joining hands in a line of three they advance to first man,

 

3

they fall back;

 

3

second gentleman and second lady retire to places,

 

6

gentlemen turn single

WHILE first lady casts down and second lady turns single up to exchange places.

B1

6

Couple 1 back to back,

 

6

couple 1 cast up as couple 2 turns single (outward) down;

 

6

all four circle left once around;

 

6

couple 1 cast as couple 2 leads up.

(In A, the center person of the lines of three takes a step back and "gathers" the others, while the other two come to meet him/her with three steps. Then firmly as a line, they advance forward and fall back. That line dissolves with another three steps for the end people to go back to place, and then the progression happens.)

 


Wooing Mari
 (tune "Hare's Maggot")
three couple longways set

Dance by Scott Higgs and tune by Eric Scott, 1985

Top couple improper, mirror hey for six, with the top couple crossing to start (ending all proper)
Couple 1 turn halfway with both hands; top two couples (1 and 2) circle four halfway; all circle six halfway.
Couple 1 gate out the top of the set with couple 3: then gate out the bottom of the set with couple 2.
All set to partner, turn single; couple 1 half figure 8 down through the couple below.

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