The Bluebells Of Scotland
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
THE BLUEBELLS OF SCOTLAND (R8x40) 3C (4C set) Iain Boyd Cairdin O't1- 8 1M sets to 2L and casts 1 place, 1L sets to 2M and casts 1 place
9-16 2s+1s+3s dance Allemande Right (Advance for 2, give RH to partner and Lady turns under Men's arm, Lady dances back to place as Man retires), repeat using LH
17-24 1s set, petronella turn, set and turn RH to face 1st corners
25-32 1s dance ½ diagonal reel with 1st corners, pass RSh and dance ½ diagonal reel with 2nd corners ending BtoB in centre with Man facing up
33-36 1s circle 3H round to left (1L with 2s, 1M with 3s) opening out with 1M leading 3s down Ladies' side as 1L leads 2s up Men's side.
37-40 3s+1s+2s circle 6H ½ round to left to end 213 (own sides) and all 3 couples set
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams
Dance Information
This reel, The Bluebells Of Scotland, was devised by Iain Boyd to celebrate the wedding of Gillian Brown and Richard Tunley.In Scotland the Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) is often known as the Bluebell.
There is some debate as to what the true national flower is in Scotland. Mostly the Scottish thistle just wins over the Scottish bluebell however in 2014, the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh named the Scottish bluebell as Scotland's favorite flower.
The Bluebells Of Scotland is also the usual modern name for a Scottish folksong The Bluebells Of Scotland - Song written by Dorothea Bland (Dora Jordan), first published in 1801, and a suspiciously similar Scottish folksong by the Scottish poet and author, Mrs Anne Grant of Laggan.
The Blue Bell Of Scotland - Dorothea Bland (Dora Jordan)
Oh! where and oh where is your Highland laddie gone?
He's gone to fight the French for King George upon the throne.
And its oh in my Heart I wish him safe at home.
The Blue Bell Of Scotland - Mrs Anne Grant Of Laggan
Oh where, tell me where, is your Highland Laddie gone?
O where, tell me where, is your Highland Laddie gone?
He's gone with streaming banners, where noble deeds are done,
And my sad heart will tremble till he come safely home.
He's gone with streaming banners, where noble deeds are done,
And my sad heart will tremble, till he come safely home.
The Bluebells Of Scotland Song - Information Video
The Bluebell Of Scotland (Campanula Rotundifolia)
Dance information licensed under this Creative Commons Licence 3.0.
Text from this original Harebell, Scottish Bluebell article on Wikipedia.
Image copyright Anne Burgess under this Creative Commons Licence 2.0.
Back to the top of this Scottish Country Dancing Instructions 'The Bluebells Of Scotland' page