The St Edmund Strathspey

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1s dance reels of 3 on own sides dancing down between 2s to start
9-16 1s followed by 2s+3s cross down to dance large Fig of 8 (through 1st and 3rd positions)
17-24 1M+2M+3M circle 3H round to left while 1L+2L+3L circle round to right, 1s followed by 2s+3s lead down below 3rd place and cast up to original places
25-32 1s+2s dance reel of 4 across (1L+2M pass RSh to start) and 1s end in 2nd place

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

Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams

The St Edmund Strathspey - Full Size And Key To Symbols

Dance Information

Few historical facts about Edmund are known, as the kingdom of East Anglia was devastated by the Vikings, who destroyed any contemporary evidence of his reign. Coins minted by Edmund indicate that he succeeded Ethelweard of East Anglia, as they shared the same moneyers. He is thought to have been of East Anglian origin, but 12th century writers produced fictitious accounts of his family, succession and his rule as king.

Edmund's death was mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which relates that he was killed in 869 after the Great Heathen Army advanced into East Anglia. Medieval versions of Edmund's life and martyrdom differ as to whether he died in battle fighting the Great Heathen Army, or if he met his death after being captured and then refusing the Viking leaders' demand that he renounce Christ.

A popular cult emerged after Edmund's death, and he was canonised by the Church. A series of coins commemorating him was minted from around the time East Anglia was absorbed by the kingdom of Wessex in 918, and in about 986, the French monk Abbo wrote of his life and martyrdom.

St Edmund Manuscript Illumination, c. 1130

Back to the top of this Scottish Country Dancing Instructions 'The St Edmund Strathspey' page