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 this, sticks are held and used, both in the "A" and "B" music, as
explained in "Rigs o' Marlow" (_see_ p. 55).
Stick-tapping in "B" music is done according to the following diagram:
signs, &c., to be read as in diagrams for "Rigs o' Marlow" (_see_ X
in music). The beats whereon stick-tappings occur are written in diagram
as b. (bar); and h.-b. (half-bar).
In the first bar of "B" music, at half-bar, No. 1, with top end, taps
butt of No. 2. In the second bar, at half-bar, No. 2, with top end, taps
butt of No. 1. In the third bar, at half-bar, No. 1 taps No. 2 as in
first bar. In the fourth bar, No. 1, at the beginning, with the butt,
taps No. 2's top end; and at half-bar, No. 1, with top, taps top end of
No. 2, thus:--
[Illustration: DIAGRAM OF STICK-TAPPING.]
The steps are the same for all. When tapping is continued (_see_
Notation) for eight bars, then, in the last four, all start on the left
foot, and step thus: L.L.R.R.L.L.R.L. Tapping is the same in first and
second four bars.
In tapping, of course, odd numbers do as No. 1 in diagram, even numbers
as No. 2.
RIGS O' MARLOW (STICK DANCE).
In this the sticks are held throughout by the middle, in the manner
explained (_see_ p. 60). In all single-tapping passages, to "A" music,
sticks are held slanting upward, like a single-stick, but with the upper
arm close to the body. In Column formation, odd numbers--that is, leading
file--hold the forearm to rightward; even numbers--right file--hold the
forearm across the body, so that the sticks cross between files, ready
for tapping. Leading file always taps the other file, which holds the
sticks firm.
In the double-tapping, to "B" music, sticks are held in the middle, hand
below stick, which is now held straight, parallel with the ground,
advanced towards partner, and raised about as high as the neck.
The following diagram will show how sticks are tapped in this movement.
Angles and numbers, as in p. 54, &c., represent the leader and partner,
Nos. 1 and 2: the other pairs, of course, tap precisely as these two, odd
and even numbers respectively.
The arrows between angles represent sticks. As tapping has now to be done
with both ends of the sticks, these are shown in this way. The barbed end
is the top, the feather the butt-end. The top is held always to the
right--butt, or barb, to leftward of each dancer. The tapping will be
shown bar by bar. The steps shown apply to _all_ the dancers.
In the first bar of "B" music, No. 1, with top end, taps the butt of No.
2, on beats 3 and 4, thus:--
[Illustration: DIAGRAM OF STICK-TAPPING.]
In the second bar of "B" music, No. 2, with top end, taps the butt of No.
1, on beats 3 and 4, thus:--
[Illustration: DIAGRAM OF STICK-TAPPING.]
In the third bar of "B" music, No. 1 taps No. 2 precisely as in bar 1.
Same step.
In the fourth bar of "B" music, No. 1 taps No. 2 on every beat, as
follows:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account