General Murray's Reel

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

GENERAL MURRAY'S REEL (R8x32) 3C (4C set) A Boode

1- 8 1s set and 1L followed by partner casts 2 places, 1L crosses and dances up behind 3M to 2nd place as 1M dances up middle to 2nd place
9-16 1s dance reels of 3 on opposite sides (LSh to 2s) and both end facing Ladies side (1L on left)
17-24 1s dance out and cast (1L up, 1M dn) into middle to dance out Mens side, 1s cast as before to end 2nd place own sides as 2s+3s cross RH and set, cross back RH and set
25-32 2s+1s+3s chase clockwise ½ way and circle 6H round to left back to places

(MINICRIB, Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton. Deeside Caledonian Society.)

GENERAL MURRAY'S REEL (32 bar reel for three couples in a four-couple set)

1 – 8 1st couple set, 1st woman casts off two places, crosses over and dances up behind 3rd man to 2nd man's place – at the same time 1st man follows his partner, crossing over and dancing behind 2nd and 3rd women, then up the middle to 2nd woman's place (2nd couple step up on bars 7 – 8).
9 – 16 1st couple dance reels of three on opposite sides with 2nd and 3rd couples, giving LEFT shoulder to begin, i.e.: 1st man and 2nd woman pass left shoulder and 1st woman and 2nd man pass left shoulder, to finish 1st couple in the centre with nearer hands joined, man having his partner on his left, facing the women's side. 2nd and 3rd men turn the long way round to places.
17 – 24 1st couple dance out between 2nd and 3rd women, woman casts up and man casts down, they meet in the middle, dance between 2nd and 3rd men and cast as before to finish in 2nd place on own sides of the dance. At the same time, 2nd and 3rd couples cross over giving right hands, set, cross back again giving right hands and set.
25 – 32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance clockwise round the set halfway (4 bars), then join hands and dance six hands round to the left to own side.
Repeat, having passed a couple.

(Dance crib compiled by the devisor, Aad L.M. Boode, Livingston, 2010.)

Dance Notes

Recommended Tune: Duke John, by Niel Gow. Written for John Murray (1729-1774) who became the 3rd Duke of Atholl; he was the eldest son of Lord George Murray.

Dance Information

Devised to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the death of General Lord George Murray, a Scottish Jacobite general, most noted for his 1745 campaign under Bonnie Prince Charlie into England. Born 4 October 1694, he was the sixth son of John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl.

After the defeat at Culloden in 1745 he escaped to the European continent where he lived in numerous places. The last few years of his life he lived in Medemblik, Holland where he died on 11 October 1760. He is buried in the Church of St. Boniface in Medemblik.

(Dance Notes and Information by the devisor, Aad L.M. Boode 2011.)

Additional search terms; Murrays.

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