Auld Toon Of Ayr (Burrage)

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

THE AULD TOON OF AYR (S8x32) 3C (4C set) Priscilla Burrage Cross-Country Capers

1- 8 1M casts 1 place and ½ turns 3L RH as 1L crosses to opposite side, casts 1 place and joins (in front of partner) for 3H across to end 1s in 2nd place own sides
9-16 1L casts up and ½ turns 2M LH as 1M crosses to opposite side, casts up and joins (in front of partner) for LH across to end 1s facing 2nd corners
17-24 1s set to and turn 2nd corners ending in 2nd place, 2s+1s+3s set and turn 2H all ending on own sides
25-32 2s+1s+3s circle 6H round and back

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

Dance Information

Also see the dance The Auld Toon Of Ayr (Mitchell) by John W Mitchell.

Recommended tune: The Auld Toon of Ayr.

"The Auld Toon of Ayr" is a strathspey tune for the violin that has been passed down through generations of Scottish musicians. The tune is also known as "Auld Toun o' Ayr" and is one of the most popular traditional tunes in Scotland.

The tune is believed to have originated in the town of Ayr, which is located on the west coast of Scotland. It is a lively and upbeat tune that is typically played at a moderate tempo. The tune is written in the key of D major and is characterized by its use of dotted rhythms and syncopation.

"The Auld Toon of Ayr" has been transcribed and published in several collections of Scottish music. One of the earliest known publications of the tune was in "Middleton's Selection of Strathspeys, Reels etc. for the Violin" in 1870. The tune has since been included in many other collections of Scottish music, including "The Athole Collection" and "The Skye Collection".

The tune has been performed by many notable musicians over the years, including the Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser and the Irish fiddler Kevin Burke. It has also been arranged for other instruments, such as the bagpipes and the guitar.

The Auld Toon Of Ayr - From Page 19 Of 'The Glen Collection Of Printed Music, Middleton's Selection Of Strathspeys, Reels, Etc. For The Violin', c. 1884

Image from (cropped) National Library Of Scotland, licensed under Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0.

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