Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Up In The Morning Early

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

UP IN THE MORNING EARLY (J8x32) 3C (4C set) SCD of the 18C

1- 8 1s set, cast 2 places, meet below 3s and lead up to top. Finish in centre facing down nearer hands joined
9-12 1s make arch and dance down while 2s+3s lead up under arch (2 bars), 1s turn inwards, dance up to face 2s while 3s cast to 3rd place. 213
13-16 2s+1s circle 4H round to left
17-20 1s nearer hands joined face 3s (who step in to face up nearer hands joined) and set to them, 1s+3s set to partners and 1s end facing up, 3s retire back to side
21-24 1s nearer hands joined face 2s (who step in to face down nearer hands joined) and set to them, 2s+1s set to partners and both couples retire to sides
25-32 1s+3s circle 4H round to left; 2s+1s dance LH across. 213

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

Dance Instruction Videos

Up In The Morning Early - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video

Dance Information

This dance shares its title with the Up In The Morning Early - Song, a traditional Scottish song to which Robert Burns contributed two new stanzas for The Scots Musical Museum in 1788. Burns recorded that the chorus was already old.

The song describes the discomforts of rising early during a Scottish winter, when the hills are covered with snow and the birds struggle to find food.

Chorus
Up in the morning's no for me,
up in the morning early;
When a' the hills are cover'd wi' snaw,
I'm sure it's winter fairly.

Up In The Morning Early Song - Information Video

Songs Of Robert Burns, Page 301.
Up In The Morning Early - The Glen Collection Of Printed Music, Songs Of Robert Burns, Page 301
Image from (cropped) National Library Of Scotland, licensed under Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0.

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