The Morris Book, Part 1: A History of Morris Dancing, With a Description of Eleven Dances as Performed by the Morris-Men of England — John Shaqi
The Morris Book, Part 1: A History of Morris Dancing, With a Description of Eleven Dances as Performed by the Morris-Men of EnglandSharp, Cecil J. (Cecil James)
History
The Morris Book, Part 1: A History of Morris Dancing, With a Description of Eleven Dances as Performed by the Morris-Men of England
Sharp, Cecil J. (Cecil James)
Morris dance
In "Down-and-back" and "Up-and-back," "Chain," "Cross-over,"
"Back-to-back," "Go-and-come," movements of the hands are always the
same. That is: Commencing with the preliminary Jump, when the hands are
above the head, on beginning of first bar, with first step (of 4/3 or 6/3
step), hands are swung backward; forward on half-bar; back again,
beginning of bar 2, and forward on half-bar of bar 2. In bar 3 (4/2 or
6/2 step) the hands, being already upward and forward, are swung twice in
a circle, commencing inward, so that the handkerchiefs are waved in a
double circle over the head. At beginning of bar 4 the hands are lowered
straight in line with the body, and at half-bar of bar 4, with the Jump,
they are thrown straight above the head on rigid arms.
These movements of the hands are always the same in every Handkerchief
and Corner dance. Whenever the 4/3 or 6/3 step is used the hands are
swung as already described. Also, wherever there are the two bars of 4/2
or 6/2 step, the hands are also used as already described--double circle
overhead; down, and up on the Jump.
In Capers, wherever the 4/1 or 6/1 High Step is used, the hands are swung
backward on beginning of bar, forward and upward on half-bar; and this
movement is continued all the time the High Step (4/1 or 6/1) is used.
The arms in all these movements described, should really be swung as far,
both backward and forward, as possible. The Morris-men themselves swing
the arms behind to an angle of 45 degrees or so; but in the forward swing
their hands are raised forward and a little higher than the head, on arms
slightly bent at the elbows.
THE CALL.
In the Notation it will be seen that at the end of some dances the side
is instructed to "Call." This means that on last half-bar all raise their
voices on a high-note "Ah!" something after the manner of Scottish
dancers, though the Morris "Call" is less of a war-whoop and more of a
lusty shout.
LENGTH OF DANCES.
It must always be remembered that the Morris-men themselves vary the
length of their dances, according to the humour of the moment, and their
freshness or fatigue. A dance can always be shortened by leaving out one
or more figures: the musician will know what to do by the call of the
leader.
In "Blue-eyed Stranger," for instance, if the side is feeling
particularly high-spirited, the whole sixteen bars of "B" music may be
danced; but as a rule this will be found too long. Again, to extend "Rigs
o' Marlow" (another trying dance) the music may be played four times
instead of three, when Back-to-back will be danced to "A" music. "Bluff
King Hal," danced to its full length as shown in the Notation, will as a
general rule also be found too long. It can easily be shortened by
leaving out repetitions or certain figures. In brief, once the dances are
learned it is a very simple matter, and quite according to tradition, to
lengthen or abbreviate them in any way desired.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR VARIOUS DANCES.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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