Gude Ale Keeps the Heart Aboon 8x32 R

Posted by on Jul 05, 2009 in Reels

GUDE ALE KEEPS THE HEART ABOON

32-bar reel for 3 couples in a 4-couple set

1-8 1st couple set, dance a half figure of eight around 2nd couple, then dance in and down to finish back to back facing opposite sides (2nd couple step up on bars 7 & 8). (1st couple may take near hands briefly as they dance in and down on bars 7 & 8.)
9-12 1st couple and corners set as in double triangles, then 1st couple and first corners turn with right hands to finish in position as on bar 9.
12-16 1st couple and corners set as in double triangles, then 1st couple and second corners turn with left hands to finish in position as on bar 9.
17-24 1st couple and corners dance inverting double triangles (1st couple and corners set as in double triangles, then all advance setting and turn right about so 1st couple is in second place on opposite sides facing in and 2nd and 3rd couples are back to back in the center facing out. All set with hands joined, then all advance setting and turn right about to finish in position as on bar 9 (1st couple back to back in the center facing out)).
25-32 1st couple dance out opposite sides and cast around their first corners to face each other up and down in the center of the set, then turn 1 ¼ times with the right hand to finish in second place on own sides ready to begin again. (If desired, 1st couple may substitute a Tulloch turn or birl for the right hand turn at the end of the dance.)

Devised 2009 by Lee Fuell (fuell [at] mindspring.com)

O gude ale comes and gude ale goes;
Gude ale gars me sell my hose,
Sell my hose, and pawn my shoon--
Gude ale keeps my heart aboon!
Robert Burns, 1795

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Quaternary Knot 8x32 J

Posted by on Jul 05, 2009 in Jigs

QUATERNARY KNOT

32 bar Jig for 3 couples in a 4-couple set

1-2 1st and 2nd couple set with nearer hands joined.
3-4 Releasing hands, 1st couple cast into 2nd place while 2nd couple dance in and up then, turning away from each other, curve into 1st place.
5-8 1st couple dance down the middle between 3rd couple and cast into 2nd place on own side.
9-12 1st couple cross up to dance half reels on opposite sides with their corners, 1st woman passing 2nd man by the left shoulder and 1st man passing 2nd woman by the right shoulder (a.k.a. mirror reels").
13-16 On bar 13, 1st couple cross down and dance half reels on own sides. The reels finish with 1st couple in the middle of the set in 2nd place, both pulling back their shoulders, turning toward the bottom of the set to finish back to back facing their own side.2
17-24 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance double triangles.
25-32 2nd, 1st, and 3rd couples circle six hands round and back.
  Repeat from progressed position

Devised 2009 by Gary Lindsey (gary.lindsey [at] sbcglobal.net)

NOTES:
Bars 9 - 16 Quaternary Knot: Basically a crossover mirrored reel of three with 1st couple crossing at the top and bottom. From their starting position, they are dancing a diagonal oval around the couple above then the couple below while 2nd and 3rd couples dance a mirror reel on the side.

Bars 13-16: The turn to finish back to back is an excellent opportunity for good eye contact with your partner. 2nd and 3rd couples can finish the reels the long way into place ready for double triangles

A few meaning possibilities of your Quaternary knot design:

  • Indication of the four directions: North, South, East, West.
  • Indication of the four seasons.
  • Indication of the four great treasures of the Tuatha
  • A more modern indication of the four Latin Gospels in the Book of Kells
  • Indication of the four elements: Earth, Fire, Water, Air
  • Indication of the four Celtic fire festivals, Samhain, Beltane, Imbolc, Lughnasadh.
  • An emblem of Brigid, also known as the Queen of the Four Fires a she demonstrates her four-branched wisdom of hand, hearth, head and heart.

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The Falls of Lana 8x32 R

Posted by on Jun 16, 2009 in Reels

THE FALLS OF LANA

32-bar reel for 3 couples in a 4-couple longwise set

1-8 1st woman, followed closely by her partner, casts behind 2nd woman, dances across the set, casts around 3rd man, and dances up the center to finish facing her first corner. 1st man finishes facing his first corner.1 2nd couple steps up on bars 7 and 8.
9-16 Set to corners and partner. On bar 15, 1st couple sets to each other up and down the set and on bar 16 sets advancing and turns right about to finish back-to-back in the center of set, 1st man facing up and 1st woman facing down.2
17-24 Right-shoulder reels of three across the set in six bars (17-22). 1st couple begins the reels by passing right shoulder with the person on their right (1st man with 2nd woman and 1st woman with 3rd man). 1st couple ends the reels with 1st couple in the center, right shoulder to right shoulder facing opposite sides. On bars 23 and 24, 1st couple turn ¾ with right hands to second place on own sides.
25-32 2nd, 1st, 3rd couples dance six hands round and back.

Devised 2009 by Lee Fuell and Patty Lindsay (fuell [at] mindspring.com)

Recommended recorded music: "Shetland Reels," Track 2 from Steppin' Out by John Taylor and Andrew Imbrie

The Falls of Lana are near Salisbury, Addison County, Vermont, USA and are easily accessible if you don't mind scrambling over some rocks uphill along a pipeline. The view is worth the trouble, as is Silver Lake if you continue up the trail for another hour or so and 500+ feet elevation. See photos of the Falls of Lana here.

Bars 1-8 represent the trail to Silver Lake, 9-16 greeting other hikers on the trail, 17-24 the tumbling and roiling waters of Sucker Creek over the falls, and 25-32 is Silver Lake at the top.

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Triangle Reel 8x32 R

Posted by on May 31, 2009 in Reels

TRIANGLE REEL

32-bar Jig for 3 couples in a 4-couple long set

1-4 1st couple cast down one place, 2nd couple step up on bar 3 and 4.
5-8 1st couple dance down and cast up to 2nd place, finishing back to back facing own sides.
9-12 The Men dance a half Reel of 3 on the mens side, 1st Man start left shoulder to 3rd man; while the Ladies set as in Double Triangles. 1st couple finish back to back facing opposite sides.
13-16 1st Man, 2nd and 3rd Lady set as in Double Triangles; while 1st Lady dance a half Reel of 3 on the Men's side, starting right shoulder to 3rd man on top place. 1st couple finish back to back facing own sides.
17-20 The Men set as in Double Triangles; while the Ladies dance a half Reel of 3 on the ladies side, 1st Lady start right shoulder to 3rd lady. 1st couple finish back to back facing opposite sides.
21-24 1st Man dance a half Reel of 3 on the Ladies' side, starting left shoulder to 3rd Lady on top place; while 1st Lady, 2nd and 3rd Man set as in Double Triangles. 1st couple finish in the middle, left shoulder to partner, Lady facing up, Man down.
25-28 1st couple dance Right Hands across on the sides.
29-32 1st couple dance right shoulder round their 4th corner to 2nd place, own sides.
  Repeat from new positions

Music: Tilliedudlem on Music Makars: Sing, Dance and Rejoice

Devised by Ilona Stitz (i.stitz [at] onlinehome.de)

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Anna's Homecoming 8x32 R

Posted by on Feb 11, 2009 in Reels

ANNA'S HOMECOMING

32-bar reel for 3 couples in a 4-couple longwise set

 Anna 1-8 Mirror reels of 3 on the sides, 1st couple dancing in and down to begin, 2nd couple out and up.
9-16 1st couple with nearer hands joined dance down the middle and up, finishing facing out ready for. .
17-20 Mirror turns 1-1/2 times to change places with the 2nd couple, i.e. 1W and 2W turn RH 1-1/2, 1M and 2M turn LH 1-1/2.
21-24 2nd, 1st, and 3rd couples taking hands on the sides advance and retire
25-32 2nd, 1st, and 3rd couples circle six hands round and back.
  Repeat having passed a couple

Music: A frolicsome reel, yet to be determined.

Devised by Lara Friedman-Shedlov (lfriedmanshedlov [at] gmail.com), as a possible entry for the RSCDS "Homecoming Scotland" dance competition, and dedicated in memory of Anna Laino, who left us far too soon. Anna, you'll always be part of the dance.

Anna Laino, 1983-2009, was a member of the RSCDS Twin Cities Branch. A gifted musician, Anna was also fiddler for Duck or Grouse Rapper Sword Dancers. In addition to fiddle, her repertoire of musical instruments included piano, accordion, organ, and trumpet, and she sang like an angel. She completed her Masters in Sacred Music in 2008 and was organist and choirmaster for St. David's Episcopal Church in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

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