Speed The Plough
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
SPEED THE PLOUGH (Inverness Country Dance) (R8x32) 3C (4C set) RSCDS Book 21- 8 1s+2s dance RH across and LH back to places
9-16 1s lead down the middle and back to face 1st corners
17-24 1s set and turn 1st corners, set and turn 2nd corners (1s end in lines across Lady between 2s facing down and Man between 3s facing up)
25-32 1s set twice and turn 2H 1ΒΌ times to own sides
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams
Dance Instruction Videos
Speed The Plough - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction VideoDance Information
While this dance's creation cannot be definitively attributed to any one person, it shares its name with a well-known tune that first appeared in the late 18th century, adding to the confusion about its origins.The name has been carried forward in dance and music collections like Joseph Lowe's "Collection of Reels, Strathspeys, and Jigs" (1844-1845), further embedding it in Scottish cultural tradition.
The tune, "Speed the Plough", is a lively traditional tune whose composer also remains unclear. It was first documented in the late 18th century and became popular, appearing in sources across the British Isles and America.
The melody was first heard in English theatres, giving it an English association, though it has Irish influences. Early publications appeared in Dublin in the 1790s.
The expression "Speed the Plough" is an old saying that conveys a wish for success in farming and agriculture. It originated in rural Britain, where ploughing was vital to crop production. The phrase can be seen as a traditional blessing or encouragement for farmers, wishing them good fortune in their work. It has also been used more broadly to symbolize progress and industrious effort. The expression gained further recognition from its use as the title of a popular 18th-century British play by Thomas Morton, which focused on rural life and values.
Speed The Plough Crib - Before Minicrib
Image copyright L Abbott, all rights reserved, reproduced here with kind permission.
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