Song Cycle
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
Song Cycle (J4x32) A 32 bar jig for four couples in a longwise set, Murrough Landon March 20233rd and 4th couples start on opposite sides.
1- 8 1st and 2nd couples, also 3rd and 4th couples, each dance a chain progression. 2nd and 3rd couples end on the sides, but 1st and 4th couples end in allemande hold, 1st couple facing up, 4th couple facing down.
9-14 1st and 4th couples dance the first 6 bars of a circulating allemande. They end right hands joined with their partner in the centre, 4th couple in 2nd place, 1st couple in 3rd place.
15-16 4th and 1st couples dance half right hands across. They end taking promenade hold with the person who is not their partner. 4th man and 1st woman face out and up on the men's side, 1st man and 4th woman face out and down on the women's side.
17-24 All dance 8 bars of "Maggieknockater" reels:
17-20 4th man with 1st woman dance half a reel of three on the men's side, starting right shoulder to 2nd man at he top while 1st man with 4th woman dance half a reel of three on the women's side, starting right shoulder to 3rd man. On bar 20 1st and 4th couples change to take their partner in promenade hold.
21-24 1st couple dance half a reel of three on the men's side starting left shoulder to 2nd man at the bottom while 4th couple dance half a reel of three on the women's side starting left shoulder to 3rd man. On bar 24 1st and 4th couples separate to face out on the sidelines. 1st man and 4th woman, also 4th man and 1st woman, briefly touch nearer hands.
The order is 2,4,1,3 with 4th and 3rd couples on opposite sides.
25-28 4th and 1st couples each dance half a figure of eight, casting out round the nearest end and giving left hands when crossing in.
29-32 All dance back to back. 2nd and 3rd couples, at the ends, start by passing their partner right shoulder while 4th and 1st couples, in the middle, start by passing left shoulder.
The final order is 2,4,1,3 with 1st and 3rd couples now on opposite sides.
(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Murrough Landon, CC BY-SA March 2023)
Dance Instruction Videos
Song Cycle - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction VideoDance Information
Recommended music: Suggested tune: Lin Wood's Jig (Muriel Johnstone).Suitable recording (though with only one chord): Trip Around the World (Muriel Johnstone: Dancing Fingers #5 - The Merse Collection).
(Dance information by the deviser, Murrough Landon, CC BY-SA March 2023)
Published in Song Cycle, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Murrough Landon. Licensed under CC BY-SA.
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