The Real McGhie

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

The Real McGhie (J8x48) 3C (4C set) Lewis N Derrick 1988

1-8 The 1st man and 2nd woman, likewise the 2nd man and the 3rd woman, set on the diagonal, dance back to back, and set again
9-16 The 1st woman and 2nd man, likewise the 2nd woman and 3rd man, repeat bars 1-8
17-24 The 1st and 2nd couples dance a knot; on the last two bars, while the 2nd couple are dancing over to own sides in top place, the 1st couple turn quickly by the left hand to first corners
25-32 The 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance a spoke
33-40 Giving left shoulder to first corners to begin, the 1st woman with the 2nd couple, likewise the 1st man with the 3rd couple, dances a reel of three across. The 1st couple end in second place on own sidelines
41-48 The 1st couple dance reels of three on own sidelines. To begin the 1st and 2nd men, likewise the 1st and 3rd women, pass left shoulders. The 1st couple end in second place on own sidelines

Repeat having passed a couple

(Dance Crib compiled by the deviser, Lewis N Derrick 2020)

Dance Notes

The spoke: the 1st couple, retaining left hands throughout, balance in line with first corners, move on a quarter turn anticlockwise, balance in line with second corners, move on a quarter turn, balance in line with partners' first corners, move on a quarter turn, and balance in line with partners' second corners. When not balancing in line the corners set facing diagonally inwards.

For details of the phrasing of the spoke as devised by Neil Grant see RSCDS Book 32, No. 1 (Johnnie's Welcome Hame), 1982.

(Dance notes by the deviser, Lewis N Derrick)

Dance Information

Suggested tune: The Berwickshire Volunteers.

Devised February 1988; first published 1992; republished electronically 2020.

(Dance information reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Lewis N Derrick)

Published in The McGhie Scottish Country Dance Books, Volume 5, The Real McGhie and Other Scottish Country Dances, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Lewis N Derrick.

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