Grand Chain
Also known as: Grand Right and Left, Right and Left 6, 1st. 2d. & 3d. Cu: Right and Left, Chain Figure of six.
An online definition may be found here.
Bars: 8.
A "grand" chain is a chain that involves everybody in the set (A chain here means right and left). It is most often applied to square sets, and minor set with 3 couples in them.
In a square set you face your partner, pull-by with the right hand, face the next person, pull-by with the left hand, and so on until you get back to your original position. At 2 bars per change, this takes 16 bars to return home (8 bars to end diametrically opposed but still with partner for a half chain)
In a three couple set, the top (or bottom) couple face their partners, and everyone else their neighbors then pull-by right with the person you face, and left with the next, and so on until you get home. This is normally allotted 8 bars, but it takes 6 changes. In Scottish Country Dance the first two changes take 1 bar each and the third takes 2, then the 4th and 5th changes take 1 bar each, and the last takes 2.
History
John & William Neal call for a grand chain in their dance Rossmore published in 1726 when they say: 1st. 2d. & 3d. cu: right and left. They make it clear that the right and left applies to all three couples.
In 1752, John Johnson uses Right and Left 6 in Lord Anson for Ever.
The first use of the term "grand chain" I can find is in Cent Contredanses en Rond by d'Aubat de St. Flour, published ~1757: La grande Chaine contient 16. mes. & la grand demi-chaine 8. mes. This is a book of cotillions, so this figure is for a square set.
Thomas Wilson in his Complete System of English Country Dancing, 1815 gives a diagram and description of a three couple grand chain, though he calls it a "chain figure of 6". He reserves the term "grand chain" for quadrilles, see his other book The Quadrille and Cotillion Panoramma, 1822.
Some dances which (probably) use this figure
- Dances for which I have animations
- Dances in (R)SCDS Books
Note: This list may be incorrect or incomplete.
See Also
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