Lady MacIntosh's Rant

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1s cast to 2nd place, turn RH, cast to 3rd place and turn LH
9-16 1s lead up to top and cast to 2nd place, 2s+1s+3s circle 6H round to left
17-24 2s+1L and 1M+3s circle 3H round to left, 1M+2L+3L and 1L+2M+3M circle 3H round to left
25-32 1s lead down below 3s and cast up to 2nd place (opposite sides), 2s+1s dance R&L

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

Keith Rose's Crib Diagram

Lady MacIntosh's Rant - Full Size And Key To Symbols

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Dance Information

(Dance information copyright, reproduced here with the kind permission of George Williams)

Born in 1723, she became known for her prominent role in the Jacobite rising of 1745, when she supported Prince Charles Edward Stuart despite her husband's allegiance to the government. Contemporary accounts record that she used her influence within Clan Chattan to raise its fighting men for the Jacobite army, an action that earned her the nickname "Colonel Anne". Her leadership during the campaign made her one of the few women of the period to be recognised for direct involvement in military organisation.

Lady MacIntosh's Rant is also a traditional Scottish melody, dating from around 1750, that became associated with the work of Robert Burns through his reuse of the tune for more than one song.

Burns first set the air to his piece, 'I Am A Bard Of No Regard', a satirical song in which he adopts the voice of a wandering poet. He later returned to the same melody for 'Is There Honest Poverty', the song more widely recognised by its opening line and alternative title, 'A Man's A Man For A' That'.

Lady Mackintosh Portrait, c. 1745–1746

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