Folk dancing, English; Folk music -- England -- History and criticism; Folk songs, English -- England -- History and criticism
The next is “The Dancing Master, ... second edition, enlarged and
corrected from many grosse errors which were in the former edition.”
This was printed by John Playford in 1652 (112 pages of Music). The
two next editions, those of 1657 and 1665, each contain 132 Country
Dances, and are counted by Playford as one edition. To both were added
the tunes of the most usual French Dances, and also other new and
pleasant English Tunes for the Treble Violin. (The tunes for the Violin
were afterwards printed separately as “Apollo’s Banquet,” and are not
included in any other edition of the _Dancing Master_.) The date of
the fourth edition is 1670 (155 pages of Music). The fifth edition,
1675 (160 pages of Music). The sixth edition, from advertisements in
Playford’s other publications, appears to have been printed in 1680.
The seventh edition bears the date 1686 (208 pages), but to this “an
additional sheet,” containing thirty-two tunes, was first added, then
“a new additional sheet of twelve pages,” and lastly “a new addition of
six more.” The eighth edition was printed by E. Jones for H. Playford,
and great changes made in the airs. It has 220 pages, date 1690. The
ninth edition, 196 pages, date 1695. The second part of the _Dancing
Master_, 24 pages, date 1696. The tenth edition, 215 pages, date
1698, also the second edition of the second part, ending on page 48
(irregularly paged), 1698. The eleventh edition, 312 pages, date 1701.
The twelfth edition, 354 pages, date 1703.
A sixteenth and a seventeenth edition, which, however, are identical,
are in the Bodleian Library.
The directions for the dance were written under each, but only the
figures are given, but no steps. The following directions for one of
the dances, “All in a Garden Green,” will give an idea of the curious
phraseology of the book:—
ALL IN A GARDEN GREEN. Longways for six.
Lead up all a D. forwards and back, set and turn S. [·_]; that again
[:_].
First man shake his own Wo. by the hand, then the 2, then the 3, by one
hand, then by the other, kisses her twice and turn her [·_], shake her
by the hand, then the 2, then your own by one hand, then by the other,
kiss her twice and turn her [:_].
Sides all, set and turn S. [·_]; that again [:_]. This as before, the
We. doing it [:_].
Arms all, set and turn S. [·_]; that again [:_]. This as before, the
men doing it [:_].
_A Table explaining the characters which are set down in the Rules for
Dancing_
D. Is for double. A double is four steps forward
and backward, closing both feet.
S. Is for a single. A single is two steps, closing
both feet.
Wo. Stands for Woman.
We. Stands for Women.
Cu. Stands for Couple.
Co. Stands for Contrary.
2. Stands for Second.
3. Stands for Third.
4. Stands for Fourth.
[·_] This is for a strain play’d once.
[:_] This is for a strain play’d twice.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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