Tibby Fowler O' The Glen

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1s+2s set twice, 1M turns 2L as 1L turns 2M (1s pass RSh to turn 2s on sides) ending back in original places
9-16 1s dance RSh reels on own sides 1s ending in 2nd places
17-24 2s+1s circle 4H round to left twice
25-32 2s+1s dance R&L

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

Keith Rose's Crib Diagram

Tibby Fowler O' The Glen - Full Size And Key To Symbols

Dance Instruction Videos

Dance Information

The dance takes its name from the old Scottish song "Tibbie Fowler O' The Glen", about a wealthy young woman pursued by numerous suitors attracted by her money. The tune was known by 1724, when Allan Ramsay used it for his song "Genty Tibby and Sonsy Nelly". Verses of "Tibbie Fowler" appeared in David Herd's collection in 1776, followed by a longer version in James Johnson's "Scots Musical Museum" in the 1790s. Robert Burns contributed to the preparation of the latter version.

A tradition recorded in nineteenth-century accounts identifies Tibbie as Isobel Fowler, daughter of Ludowick Fowler of Burncastle, who married George Logan of Restalrig in the seventeenth century. Although their marriage is documented, there is no firm evidence that she was the woman described in the song. A house in Leith, dated 1636, was formerly identified as their residence.

The names "Tibby Fowler's Glen" and "Tibby Fowler's Cottage" were recorded near Edrington Castle in Mordington parish, Berwickshire, Scotland, during the Ordnance Survey of 1856. Both appear on the published map of 1862, although the cottage had already disappeared by the time of the survey.

Tibbie Fowler O' The Glen - Song contains the complete historical lyrics.

The traditional song begins:

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