Origins of, and Stories about, the Titles of Dances in the RSCDS Books

RSCDS Book 1 No.  12 "The Merry Lads of Ayr " Date of Publication: "The Ballroom 1827" Origins/Composer: Stories: Picture: Note: Instructions: MERRY LADS OF AYR  (R8x32) 3C (4C set) RSCDS Book 1 1- 8 1s turn RH, cast 1 place, turn LH and cast to 3rd place 9-16 1s lead down the middle and back to face 1st corners 17-24 1s set and turn 1st corners, set and turn 2nd corners ending in 2nd place opposite sides 25-32 1s dance reels of 3 on opposite sides giving LSh to 1st corners, 1s cross RH to own sides bars 31-32 (MINICRIB, Dance Crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors) Video: None

RSCDS Book 1 No.  11 "The Cumberland Reel " Date of Publication: Origins/Composer: Collected locally "The Cumberland" is mentioned as a Country Dance early in the 19th Century Ref. RSCDS Stories: As with many dances of ceilidh origin, there are several variants of the "Cumberland Reel". In the RSCDS version (Book 1 #11) the figure "dance down and lead up" is 6+6 bars [bars 17-28]. The crib shows this version. Ref. SCDDB Picture: Google images Note: Instructions: CUMBERLAND REEL  (J4x32) 4C set RSCDS Book 1 1- 8 1s+2s dance RH across and LH across back to places 9-16 1s lead down the middle and back 17-32 1s followed by 2s+3s+4s cast down on own sides and lead back up to top, 1s lead down to bottom under arches made by 2s+3s+4s (MINICRIB, Dance Crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors) Video: https://www.scottish-country-dancing-dictionary.com/video/cumberland-reel....

RSCDS Book 1 No. 10 "Fight About the Fireside " Date of Publication: Included in Gow's "Five Favourite Country Dances. 1822". Ref. RSCDS Origins/Composer: Stories: Picture: Note: Instructions: FIGHT ABOUT THE FIRESIDE  (R8x32) 3C (4C set) Nathaniel Gow RSCDS Book 1 1- 8 1s lead down the middle and up to end facing 1st corners 9-16 1s dance reels of 3 across giving RSh to 1st corner (1s end facing 1st corners) 17-24 1s set and turn 1st corners, set and turn 2nd corners ending in 2nd place opposite sides 25-32 1s set twice and turn 2H 1½ times (MINICRIB, Dance Crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors) Video: https://www.scottish-country-dancing-dictionary.com/video/fight-about-the-fireside.html

RSCDS Book No.  " " Definition: Date of Publication: Origins/Composer: Music: Stories: Picture: Note: Instructions: Video: