Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

The Highlandman Kissed His Mother (MMM)

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

THE HIGHLANDMAN KISSED HIS MOTHER (R8x32) 3C (4C set) MMM 1

1- 8 1s turn RH, cast 1 place and turn LH 1½ times to end facing 1st corners
9-16 1s set and turn 1st corners 2H, set and turn 2nd corners 2H ending facing 1st corners
17-24 1s dance reels of 3 on opposite sides giving LSh to 1st corner and cross RH to 2nd place 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)


The Highlandman Kissed His Mother (MMM)
Anon Miss Milligan's Miscellany Vol 1
Reel 8 x 32 bars 3 Couple Repeat 4 Couple Set Longwise Set

  1-4   1s turn by the right and cast;

  5-8   1s turn by the left 1½ times to finish facing first corners;

  9-12 1s set to and turn first corners, finishing facing second corners;

13-16 1s set to and turn second corners, finishing facing first corners;

17-22 reels of 3 on the sides, 1s giving left shoulder to first corners to start and finishing in 2nd place on opposite sides;

23-24 1s cross by the right;

25-32 2s1s3s 6 hands round and back.

(MAXICRIB. Scottish country dancing instructions compiled by Reuben Freemantle)

Dance Notes

  1-16 Exuberant dancers frequently embellish this so that it becomes unrecognizable to the inexperienced.

  3-4   2s step up, starting diagonally forward to help 1s complete their turn before casting.

11-12 Pas-de-basque turn (both hands).

15-16 Pas-de-basque turn (both hands).


Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams


Dance Instruction Videos

The Highlandman Kissed His Mother (MMM) - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video

Dance Information

Also see the dance The Highlandman Kissed His Mother (Border Dance Book 9).

The title of this dance comes from the name of the traditional Scottish reel "The Highlandman Kissed His Mother".

The Highlandman Kissed His Mother Tune - Information Video

The Highlandman Kissed His Mother
The Highlandman Kissed His Mother, From Glen Collection Of Printed Music, National Dance Music Of Scotland, Page 28, c. 1856


Image copyright (cropped) https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/120549919 under this Creative Commons Licence 4.0.

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