Bliadhna Mhath Ur
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
Bliadhna Mhath Ur A forty-eight bar Jig for four couples in a longwise set, devised by John W Mitchell, Published in Whetherly Book 1.1- 8 Reels of four on the sides of the set. First and third couples cross down to the opposite side as they commence, on bar 1; they finish on the opposite side. The ladies pass left shoulders at the ends to commence, continuing by passing right shoulder in the middle on the ladies' side of the set.
9-12 First and second couples dance half rights and lefts; third and fourth couples do the same.
13-16 First and second couples dance a ladies' chain half way; third and fourth couples do the same. As the ladies change places with the right hand, the men dance across the set to meet the other lady coming up or down. The ladies finish on the sidelines, the men finishing ready to pass right shoulders.
17-24 The four men dance a complete reel of four to finish back in the sidelines, second and fourth men still on the opposite side, in first and third place respectively.
25-28 First and second couples dance half rights and lefts, crossing, giving right hand, to commence; third and fourth couples do the same.
29-32 First and second couples dance a ladies' chain half way; third and fourth couples do the same. The men finish on the sidelines, the ladies finishing ready to pass right shoulder.
33-40 The four ladies dance a complete reel of four to finish back in the sidelines, first and third ladies still on the opposite side.
41-42 First and second couples dance right hands across in a wheel half way.
43-44 First and third couples dance left hands across in a wheel half way.
45-46 First and fourth couples dance right hands across in a wheel half way.
47-48 All join hands on the sides and set.
Repeat with new top couple.
Note
As an alternative to crossing on the first bar, a second chord may be played to permit first and third couples to cross and commence by dancing in and down, this variation being more in accordance with modern practice.
(Dance crib reproduced from The Whetherly Book of Scottish Country Dances, revised and republished by Alison Mitchell)
Keith Rose's Crib Diagram
Published in The Whetherly Book Of Scottish Country Dances Number 1, by John W Mitchell, revised and republished by Alison Mitchell. Instructions reproduced under the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence (CC BY-ND 4.0).
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