The Mercat Cross
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
THE MERCAT CROSS 1 (J8x32) 3C (4C Set) J Attwood Alexander Bk 4
1- 8 1s set, cast 1 place, 1s lead down between 3s and cast up to 2nd place own side
9-16 1s turn 1st corners RH, pass RSh, turn 2nd corners RH and PdB in to end BtoB facing opposite sides
17-24 1s dance Crown Triangles and ¼ turn to right to end Man facing up and Lady facing down
25-32 1s dance reels of 3 on opposite sides (RSh to 2nd corner to start) and cross RH to 2nd places
(MINICRIB, Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton. Deeside Caledonian Society.)
THE MERCAT CROSS 2 (R4x48) 4C Set B Skelton Blue Bk
1- 8 1s cross RH, cast 1 place, set and ½ turn LH to face 1st corners
9-16 1s dance diagonal reel of 4 with 1st corners
17-24 1s LH to partner and RH to 1st corner Balance-in-Line, 1s and 1st corners turn right about and Balance-in-Line, 1s turn RH to face 2nd corners
25-32 1s dance diagonal reel of 4 with 2nd corners
33-40 1s LH to partner and RH to 2nd corner Balance-in-Line, 1s and 2nd corners turn right about and Balance-in-Line, 1s turn RH to 2nd place own sides
41-48 1s set, cast 1 place 1s+4s Set+Link
(MINICRIB, Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton. Deeside Caledonian Society.)
THE MERCAT CROSS 3 (S3x32) 3C set J Dickson Dunedin 3
1- 8 1s+3s set; petronella turn into centre and dance ½ reel of 4 in centre of dance
9-16 1M+3L (centre couple) dance LH across with 2s while 1L+3M chase clockwise ½ way; 1s+3s dance ½ reel of 4 in centre of dance
17-24 1M+3L (centre couple) dance LH across with 2s as 1L+3M chase clockwise ½ way; 1s+3s turn RH 1¼ times ending with 1s facing down
25-32 1s+2s dance the Rondel but on bars 29/32 3s set advancing to make an arch and dance up to 2nd place as 1s dance under to 3rd place
(MINICRIB, Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton. Deeside Caledonian Society.)
The Mercat Cross (Dickson)
John Bowie Dickson Dunedin Book 3
Strathspey 3 x 32 bars 3 Couple Repeat 3 Couple Set Lengthwise Set
1-2 1s 3s set;
3-4 1s 3s petronella turn to the centre line, finishing 1M3L back to back facing partners;
5-8 1L1M3L3M half reel of 4 up and down, finishing with 1M below 2s, 3L above;
9-12 3M 1L chase clockwise halfway WHILE 3L2s1M left hands across, 1M finishing facing down, 3L up;
13-16 1L3L1M3M half reel of 4 up and down, finishing with 1M above 2s, 3L below;
17-20 3M 1L chase clockwise halfway WHILE 1M2s3L left hands across, 1s 3s finishing facing partners;
21-24 1s 3s turn partners by the right 1¼ times, finishing 3s in original places, 1s on the centre line, retaining hold and facing down;
25-32 3-couple rondel, finishing 2s3s1s:
25-26 1s cross down under arch made by 2s dancing up, 2s finishing half a place above 1st place, 1s half a place below 2nd place, all on opposite sides facing out;
27 2s cast to 1st place WHILE 1s cast up to 2nd place, finishing 2s1s on opposite sides;
28-29 2L1L cross under arch made by 2M1M dancing across, all finishing in original places, 1s facing up, 2s down;
30 1s dance up, in and down WHILE 2s dance down, in and up WHILE 3s advance (left foot step) and face up, finishing 1s facing down, 2s 3s up, all with nearer hands joined;
31-32 1s lead down under arches made by 2s3s, all finishing 2s3s1s.
(MAXICRIB, Scottish country dancing instructions compiled by Reuben Freemantle.)
Dance Notes
24 To be ready for the rondel, 2s dance in (left foot step) and face up, nearer hands joined.
25-32 These instructions for the rondel are phrased and worded differently from the RSCDS form but would be interpreted in the same way.
28-30 These instructions for the 3-couple rondel differ from the devisers' but avoid any risk of collision between 2L and 3L on bar 29.
THE MERCAT CROSS 4 (R4x32) 4C Set 2s and 4s on opp sides B Priddey Jacobite Bk
1- 8 All dance RSh reels of 4 on sides
9-16 1s+2s also 3s+4s dance Men's Chain and end holding RH and LH to next Lady for...
17-24 All Balance-in-Line, keeping RH (dropping LH) rotate into lines across (Men side by side) all Balance-in-Line, drop LH and rotate into lines on sides and Balance-in-Line, drop LH and ½ turn RH to original places all facing in
25-32 1s+2s also 3s+4s dance ½ RandL, 1s+4s dance ½ RandL
(MINICRIB, Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton. Deeside Caledonian Society.)
Dance Information
A mercat cross is a market cross found in Scottish cities and towns where trade and commerce was a part of economic life. It was originally a place where merchants would gather, and later became the focal point of many town events such as executions, announcements and proclamations. To this day several important announcements and proclamations are still ceremonially made at the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh, including the calling of general elections and the succession of new monarchs.
Despite the name, the typical mercat cross is not actually cruciform - variations range from a short pole stuck in the ground to the grand pillar rising out of the "cross house" in Edinburgh.
One Of The Finest Examples Of A Mercat Cross In Inverkeithing In Fife
Dance Information licensed under this Creative Commons Licence.
Text from this original Mercat Cross article on Wikipedia.
Image Copyright Kilnburn.
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