Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

John McCormick

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

John McCormick 32 bar Strathspey for 4 couples Rod Downey The Golden Bear Collection
A 4 couple strathspey in a longwise set

1-4 1C with 2C, 3C with 4C circle 4 hands round, finishing with 1C facing 2C and 3C facing 4C nearer hands joined.
5-6 Zig-Zag setting: Facing couples set forward on right and forward on left to pass finishing in a similar line, but now with 1C facing 4C, 2C facing up an 3C down.
7-8 2C and 3C turn with 2 hands to finish in sidelines in first and 4th places respectively. 1C and 4C dance 4 hands across about ½ with 1L turning in (pulling back RS) and similarly 4M so as to finish in a diagonal line with "corners" and nearer hands joined, 1C back to back with 4C and in a line with 2M and 3L.
9-10 1C sets to 3L and 4C sets to 2M, and on bar 10 beginning to turn to the right to anticipate the next movement.
11-12 1M following 1L, 4L following 4M dance 4 hands across clockwise in a small circle, to finish facing "2nd corners "with nearer hands joined (1C facing 2L, 4C facing 3M), if possible 1L and 4M pulling back RS.
13-14 1C sets to 2L and 4C sets to 3M.
15-16 While 2M and 3L set, 1L casts to ladies side with a petronella turn followed by her partner, and similarly 4M casts to men's side followed by his partner, and face clockwise.
17-20 1C dances clockwise around the outside of the set, to finish with 1L in 2M, and 1M in 3M's place still facing clockwise, and similarly 4C on the ladies' side.
Meanwhile Corners (2C and 3C) advance to the centre (2 bars) and then pull back RS to cast back to corner positions.
21-22 4M followed by partner, 1L followed by partner continue to dance clockwise, but now across the set, to finish with 1C in 2nd place and 4C in 3rd place.
23-24 All take hands on the sidelines and set.
25-32 1C and 4C dance a the tourbillon progression.
Finishing order 2, 4, 1, 3.

Repeat 3 more times.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser Rod Downey, Johnsonville SCD Club Tutor)


Dance Information

This strathspey, John McCormick, was devised on 20 September, 2019, but modified when danced with Johnsonville on 30th September.

John is a friend who leads the Milwaukee group, and has done so for many years.

This is a little note of thanks for his kindness in driving me from Milwaukee to O'Hare after I taught a class late on the night of 16th September. His favourite figure is tourbillon, and step is Strathspey.

The recommended tune is "Red Plaid" (traditional) and I particularly like the set "Red Plaid/The Iron Man/The Banks of Spey" from Peter Elmes recording of "Glenys Pearce's Strathspey" from the Lochiel Collection.

Should this not be available, I would recommended tune "Miss Janet Laing's Strathspey" by Nan Main, and either of the society's recordings for book 22 would be good.

Failing that use any reasonable recording of "The Balmoral Strathspey".

(Dance information from The Golden Bear Collection Of Scottish Country Dances, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Rod Downey)


Published in The Golden Bear Collection, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Rod Downey.

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